THE FALL OF SPITZER

Eliot Spitzer, Governor of New York, resigned earlier today. A man who was elected based on his resume of fighting crime and corruption, was brought down by his own corruption.

But, we should have known this would happen. After all, the TV ads he ran while campaigning for Governor ended with: "Bringing passion back to Albany." Perhaps someone should have questioned what he meant by those words. I guess we know now.

Here is the text of the news conference announcing his resignation followed by newspaper covers and video coverage.

"To whom much is given, much is expected." Eliot Spitzer used this quote while resigning as Governor of New York. The man who came into office with a record of cleaning up crime is now himself involved in illegal activity. It's a shame that he never lived up to the expectations. He had the potential to be great.

In the past few days I have begun to atone for my private failings with my wife Silda, my children and my entire family. The remorse I feel will always be with me. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for the love and compassion they have shown me. From those to whom much is given much is expected. I have been given much: The love of my family, the faith and trust of the people of New York and the chance to lead the state. I am deeply sorry that I did not live up to what was expected of me.

"To every New Yorker and all those who believed in what I tried to stand for I sincerely apologize. I look at my time as Governor with a sense of what might have been. But I also know that as a public servant I and the remarkable people with whom I work have accomplished a great deal.

"There is much more to be done -- and I cannot allow my private failings to disrupt the people's work.

"Over the course of my public life I have insisted, I believe correctly, that people, regardless of their positions or power, take responsibility for their conduct. I can and will ask no less of myself. For this reason I am resigning from the office of Governor. At Lieutenant Governor Paterson's request my resignation will be effective Monday, March 17, a date he believes will permit an orderly transition. I go forward with the belief, as others have said, that as human beings our greatest glory consists of not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.

"As I leave public life I will first do what I need to do to help heal myself and my family. Then I will try, once again, outside of politics, to serve the common good and move forward the ideals and solutions which I believe can build a future of hope and opportunity for us and for our children.

"I hope all of New York will join my prayers for my friend David Paterson as he embarks on his new mission -- and I thank the public once again for the privilege of serving.

"Thank you very much."






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