Corruption and racketeering were high on his list, with one of the earliest cases involving the 1946 NFL Championship Game between the Chicago Bears and New York Giants.

He prosecuted high-profile crime figures Joseph Lanza, Joe Adonis and Frank Erickson, as well as corrupt politicians such as Manhattan borough president Hulan Jack and former deputy city controller Eugene Sugarman.

Another high-profile case involved the exoneration of George Whitmore, Jr. in 1963, after his confession regarding the murder of two women in their upper east side Manhattan apartment was found to be false.

In 1965 Consolidated Edison purchased a plot of land near Columbia University with the intention of building a small electrical substation there, but was unready to start work.

Eighteen months later Con Ed was ready to start construction, and bought the land back from Columbia for one dollar.

While Democratic leaders Averell Harriman and mayor Robert Wagner Jr. preferred a candidate with a larger statewide profile, Carmine DeSapio, the head of Tammany Hall pushed Hogan's candidacy.

Chairman Whitman Knapp said that Hogan did not properly investigate corruption in the New York City Police Department leading to Nadjari's appointment.

[1][5] The Knapp fallout and a primary challenge from William vanden Heuvel led to speculation that Hogan would not seek a ninth term in office.

Several days before the election, the New York City Bar Association gave vanden Heuvel an "unqualified" rating, which may have affected his support.