http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/...y/index.html?hpPaterson Is Sworn In as New York’s 55th Governor
Updated, 1:47 p.m. | Lt. Gov. David A. Paterson gathered with leaders of New York State’s Legislature and judiciary in the Assembly chamber at the State Capitol in Albany at 1 p.m. as Mr. Paterson prepared to take the oath of office as New York State’s 55th governor. In a 26-minute inaugural address — the first half of which was devoted to humor-filled acknowledgments of dignitaries and family members — he warned “our economy appears to be headed toward crisis,” but also called for a bipartisan spirit of unity and hope. He made indirect reference to his predecessor, Eliot Spitzer, who announced his resignation on Wednesday amid a sex scandal, pledging to move beyond the often confrontational style Mr. Spitzer exhibited in his relations with the Legislature.
Rabbi Shmuel Lefkowitz, vice president for community services of Agudath Israel of America, an Orthodox Jewish organization in Brooklyn, delivered an invocation at the start of the ceremony. “David sees the image of God in each and every person,” he said in remarks praising the lieutenant governor.
The Rev. Msgr. Wallace A. Harris, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Church, a Roman Catholic parish in Mr. Paterson’s home community of Harlem, led the gathering in prayer: “Rescue those unable to survive without him and bless his family, bless them in their gift of support to him and the strength they must give. Mighty God, your amazement never ceases.”
At 1:10 p.m., the Assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver, formally convened a joint session of the Legislature. Mr. Paterson entered the chamber to loud applause and cheers, flanked by his parents, wife, daughter and son. The standing ovation lasted more than two minutes. Mr. Paterson wore a dark pin-stripe suit with a light blue tie.
Judith S. Kaye, the chief judge of the Court of Appeals, New York State’s highest court, delivered the oath of office. Repeating after her, Mr. Paterson said, “I, David A. Paterson, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Governor of the State of New York…”
At that point, applause and cheering interrupted the oath. Judge Kaye gently admonished, “Not yet,” and Mr. Paterson resumed: “…according to the best of my abilities, so help me God.” He completed the oath at 1:13 p.m., and applause again ensued.
Mr. Paterson then began his remarks with a joke: “NPR took a DNA test for me as they did in the program ‘African-American Lives,’ and they found a number of hits from Ireland and Scotland, so I want to wish you all St. Patrick’s Day.”
He then took turns offering ritual thanks to Judge Kaye, the two clergymen, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli and State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo.
Mr. Paterson then made a self-effacing joke about his visual impairment; he is the first legally blind governor in the state’s history. He recalled that at a State of the State address, while presiding over the Senate as lieutenant governor, “Apparently I was going to bring the gavel down on a glass, like this one,” grasping a water glass. Lowering his voice into a deadpan, Mr. Paterson imitated the Assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver, who, Mr. Paterson said, jokingly warned that he was not going to allow the proceeding to be turned into a Jewish wedding.
The reference to the ritual crushing of a glass at Jewish weddings — as well as Mr. Paterson’s acknowledgment of the Senate majority leader, Joseph L. Bruno, whom he called “my good friend,” and of the Senate minority leader, Malcolm A. Smith — drew warm applause. Indeed, the speech had a strikingly informal nature. “I don’t play basketball, Jimmy, I teach it,” Mr. Paterson jokingly recalled telling the Assembly minority leader, James N. Tedisco, whom he also acknowledged.
Mr. Paterson also acknowledged the presence of two former governors, George E. Pataki, who served from 1995 to 2006, and Hugh L. Carey, who served from 1975 to 1982; a former lieutenant governor, Stanley N. Lundine, who served from 1987 to 1994; and a former state comptroller, H. Carl McCall, who served from 1995 to 2002. He also acknowledged Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Referring to the state’s Congressional delegation, Mr. Paterson asked aloud whether Representative Charles B. Rangel, the Manhattan Democrat who is the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, was present. “Is he with us today?” Mr. Paterson asked. Told no, he continued, “O.K., well, he is in our thoughts. He is recovering from a severe case of the flu, told us he would try to get up here and so far has not been up here.”
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and former Mayors David N. Dinkins and Edward I. Koch were in the audience and also received thanks, as did Gov. Jon S. Corzine of New Jersey, Gov. Deval L. Patrick of Massachusetts (the only other sitting black governor, besides Mr. Paterson) and Gov. M. Jodi Rell of Connecticut.
The new governor — who appeared to have an unusual recall of middle initials — also thanked his father, Basil A. Paterson, a former New York secretary of state; his mother, Portia; and his wife’s mother.
Mr. Paterson also told an amusing anecdote as he acknowledged his stepdaughter, Ashley Dennis, who is a college student. On the day in 1992 that he married her mother, Michelle Paige Paterson, Mr. Paterson recalled, “I said, ‘Ashley, can I sit here next to your mom?’ and she said, ‘No, I sat here first.’ … I said ‘Ashley, I just got married. Can I sit next to your Mom?’ She said, ‘Get over it, David.’”
Mr. Paterson began his speech at 1:27 p.m., evoking not only the scandal that led to his becoming governor but also an agenda that includes economic development, affordable housing and making college more affordable:
Today, like we always do, in spite of the obstacles, regardless of the circumstances, we move forward. Of course I never expected to have the honor of serving as governor of New York. But our Constitution demands it. This transition today is an historic message to the world that we live among the same values that we profess, and that we are a government of laws and not individuals. Today we can be proud of our democracy.
Look, folks, this has been a very difficult week but there have been turbulent weeks in New York’s past and there will be anxious weeks in our near future, but we move forward. Today is Monday. There is work to be done. There was an oath to be taken, there’s trust that needs to be restored. There are issues that need to be addressed. And all of us, as we set to it, must be aware of one truth that rises above all else. It’s that New York families are more challenged today than they even were yesterday.
Calling for bipartisan unity, Mr. Paterson elicited loud applause when he declared, “Let us grab the unusual opportunities that circumstance has handed us today and put personal politics, party advantage and power struggles aside, in favor of service, in the interests of the people.”
In an indirect but unmistakable reference to his predecessor, Mr. Paterson quoted Robert F. Kennedy as saying, “No matter how talented an individual may be, no matter how much energy he might posses, regardless of how much integrity and honesty he or she may have, if that person is alone, they can accomplish very little.”
Mr. Paterson added:
And so what we are going to do from now on is what we always should have done: we are going to work together. With conviction in our brains and compassion in our hearts and the love for New York on our sleeves, we will dedicate ourselves to principle but always maintain the ability to listen. And now we look forward in this great state, we look forward with our eyes very much on the greatness of New York, and we look forward – ever forward – together.
Mr. Paterson acknowledged that to many he is “an unknown quantity,” but added, “What matters is what we are able to accomplish, today, tomorrow, and all the days ahead. It’s Monday, and there’s work that needs to be done.”
Then the new governor turned his attention to the state of the economy, declaring, “Our economy appears to be headed toward crisis.” He referred to the fire-sale-like takeover of Bear Stearns by JPMorganChase and the Federal Reserve’s intervention to provide liquidity to large investment firms.
“We are looking at an economy that is reeling and I must say to all of you in government and all of you in business that you must meet with me in the next couple of weeks and adjust our budget accordingly,” Mr. Paterson said, suggesting that budget austerity may be needed.
But Mr. Paterson also offered some hope. Again referring to his blindness, he said, “I know a little bit about finding one’s way through the dark.” He mentioned that he was born in Brooklyn and educated on Long Island and had lived in Harlem most of his life.
At 1:37 p.m., he declared, “Let me reintroduce myself: I am David Paterson and I am the governor of New York State!” Again, the crowd gave a standing ovation.
Mr. Paterson concluded his 12-minute address at 1:39 p.m. with another call to unity:
We are Asian, white, Hispanic and black. We are upper middle class and social service customers. We are homeowners, landlords, tenants, cooperators and even the homeless. We send our children to public and private schools, and yet New Yorkers, in spite of the perceived problems inherent in our differences, we have an immense opportunity, if we start to look at who we are, and what we can be. God bless you all for coming today, and God bless the great State of New York.