Education and political career; experience as Commissioner of Housing and Relocation; views on urban renewal; negative impact of President James E. Carter on urban renewal projects; West Side Urban Renewal Project and frustrated efforts in South Bronx; problems with implementation of President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty programs; failure of educational system in New York City; Mayor Edward I. Koch's [Koch] decision to close Sydenham and Metropolitan Hospitals and political repurcussions in Puerto Rican and black communities; evaluation of Koch's tenure as mayor.