THROUGH MIDNIGHT TO THE DAWN

By Edwin Cooney

The sudden, shocking, sad and melodramatic prostitution ring scandal engulfing New York governor Eliot Spitzer has -- like many human tragedies -- its victims and its benefactors.

The victims are the governor’s daughters Elyssa (age 18), Sarabeth (15), and Jenna (13) and his wife Silda Wall Spitzer. Additionally, the governor (forty-eight-year-old Eliot Laurence Spitzer) is also a victim — but a victim of himself.

A brilliant student, investigator, and lawyer, a determined and successful prosecutor, and State Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer had an almost limitless political future until it was revealed a week ago that he’d participated in a “prostitution ring.” Then it seemed, without warning to his political supporters, his associates, and most heartbreaking of all, to his family and friends, it all came crashing down. Far more important, the shattering sounds of a collapsing political career were muffled by the sound of the tearing fabric of the Spitzer family’s expectation of loyalty and love.

How such an energetic and righteous individual as Eliot Spitzer could possess such a hypocritical demon is beyond the ability of most of us to comprehend. Nevertheless, the public’s disillusionment with Mr. Spitzer’s inconsistent behavior surely pales in comparison to the heart rending befuddlement of his wife and three daughters.

Out of the Spitzer family’s midnight there has dawned the unlikely opportunity for public service and political glory for the family of David Alexander Paterson of Harlem, New York. Born into politics, New York’s fifty-fifth governor is the son of Basil Paterson who served as the state’s Secretary of State and who, ironically, was himself once a candidate for Lutennant Governor on the Democratic ticket. That was back in 1970 when Basil Paterson and his gubernatorial candidate running mate Arthur M. Goldberg were defeated by Nelson A. Rockefeller and Malcolm Wilson. Basil Paterson was appointed by Governor Hugh Carey as New York State’s Secretary of State in 1979 and served in that position until January of 1983.

Already the Empire State’s highest ranking office holder, thus out-achieving his father, David Paterson will become only the fourth African-American in history to become a state governor. The others were; P. B. S. Pinchback of Louisiana who served for 36 days in 1872-73 while the sitting governor fought impeachment charges; L. Douglas Wilder of Virginia elected in 1989; and Deval Patrick of Massachusetts who was elected in 2006.

No doubt more fascinating to many than Governor Paterson’s racial identification is the fact that he will be the nation’s first legally blind governor as far as can be determined. This fact was forcefully brought home to me some months ago by a former high school sweetheart of mine who chided me for my ignorance of then Lieutenant Governor Paterson’s disability saying: “So much, Ed, for your knowledge of politics!”

The victim of a childhood infection, Paterson, who was born May 20, 1954, has no sight in his left eye and very limited vision in his right. He blames his limited vision for his failure to pass the bar examination following his 1983 graduation from Hofstra University Law School. Elected to the State Senate in 1985, Paterson became Senate Minority Leader when he overthrew incumbent leader Martin Connor in 2002. A reformer, Paterson has championed such causes as stem cell research; state alternative energy programs; and state supported opportunities for increasing women and minority business ownership. The new governor lives in Harlem with his wife Michelle and their two children Ashley and Alex. A super delegate to the Democratic National convention, Governor Paterson has already endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton for President.

Watching Governor Paterson grapple with his new challenges will perhaps be the best balm for healing the public’s stress and disappointment over Governor Spitzer’s personal failings. Governor Spitzer is only the second New York State governor forced from office. The first was William Sulzer, who was, many believe, unjustly railroaded out of office in October 1913 by Tammany Hall for refusing to appoint its favorites to key public positions. His offense allegedly was misappropriation of funds during his 1912 gubernatorial campaign. Governor Sulzer’s misfortune was more political than it was moral. It’s even likely that Governor Sulzer’s departure went largely unnoticed by most New Yorkers.

As for the Spitzer family healing process, that will rightfully be a private matter apart from any possible legal developments. However, with all of the political pitfalls which face elected office holders today, I’m sure that most of us would rather face David Paterson’s agenda than that of private citizen Eliot Spitzer.

David Paterson’s task is to marshal his energy, talents and resources to successfully administer the agenda of an often fickle public. Eliot Spitzer’s daunting task is to retrieve his -- and his family’s -- self esteem.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

EDWIN COONEY