NY Newsday

Chief Judge Judith Kaye administers the oath of office to Gov. David Paterson at right is Paterson's son, Alexander (Newsday, J. Conrad Williams Jr.)

ALBANY, NY — David A. Paterson, minutes after being sworn in as New York's 55th governor, sought yesterday to woo lawmakers with humor, inspiring words about public service and a call for compromise in the face of a potential economic meltdown.

More pictures and videos of the speeches in the Extended Article!

Paterson Sworn in as State’s First Black Gov.

NY Newsday

Chief Judge Judith Kaye administers the oath of office to Gov. David Paterson at right is Paterson’s son, Alexander (Newsday, J. Conrad Williams Jr.)

ALBANY, NY — David A. Paterson, minutes after being sworn in as New York’s 55th governor, sought yesterday to woo lawmakers with humor, inspiring words about public service and a call for compromise in the face of a potential economic meltdown.

More pictures and videos of the speeches in the Extended Article!

It was a stark contrast to his predecessor, Eliot Spitzer, who warred with lawmakers for much of his 141/2-month tenure. The audience seemed relieved and thrilled that a man they perceived as a self-righteous bully had been replaced by one of their own.

While the 40-minute ceremony lacked the pomp and music of Spitzer’s inauguration, the crowd of several thousand relished witnessing history as Paterson became the state’s first black governor and the nation’s second legally blind governor.

“There’s been tension here for months and confrontation,” said Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Brunswick), Spitzer’s nemesis. “So I think there’s relief. … It’s a new day and the sun is shining.”

Paterson briefly acknowledged the bizarre sex scandal that caused Spitzer’s downfall but didn’t mention him by name. Instead, Paterson signaled he would pursue elements of Spitzer’s ambitious agenda but also add initiatives of his own.

Echoing his predecessor, Paterson vowed to boost the depressed upstate economy, build affordable housing and reduce property taxes. He then added, “I have a vision for New York. It’s a New York where achievement is developed only from hard work, where doors are always open and where anyone can achieve no matter where they live.”

Paterson’s oath of office, administered by Chief Judge Judith Kaye, was interrupted by applause. And later, lawmakers jumped to their feet, some chanting “David, David,” when he declared, “Let me reintroduce myself. I am David Paterson and I am the governor of New York State!”

About half of Paterson’s 26- minute speech was devoted to heaping praise on 22 notables in the audience, including Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, former Gov. George Pataki and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Paterson reserved his kindest words for the four legislative leaders with whom he must negotiate a budget by April 1.

Paterson joked that Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, an observant Jew, stopped him from accidentally breaking a water glass in January when pounding the gavel to start Spitzer’s second State of the State speech. “The speaker at the last second grabbed the gavel away from me and he told me in his own inimitable way … ‘I will not allow you to turn the State of the State into a Jewish wedding,’ ” said Paterson, mimicking Silver’s voice. The chamber broke out in laughter.

Barely an hour after Paterson’s plea for unity, however, Silver and Bruno were criticizing each other’s budget proposals as unworkable.

Still, veteran politicians predicted Paterson, 53, would succeed, in part because state leaders want to demonstrate that Albany works. “He’s going to have the longest honeymoon that any governor’s ever had,” said former New York City Mayor Edward Koch.

Clinton added, “The way he connected his own personal story with the challenges that confront the families of New York, I think said volumes about what his priorities are going to be.”

Her presence at Paterson’s swearing-in was tribute to his steadfast support of her presidential aspirations — but also provided an awkward moment. As Silver introduced her, someone shouted “Go, Hillary” and then another shouted support for Clinton’s rival, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, which was met with loud boos.

Yesterday’s ceremony also was a triumph for Paterson’s family, particularly his father, Basil, who served as the first black secretary of state and ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor, a post his son won in November 2006.

“I’m proud,” the elder Paterson said after leaving a Capitol reception. “I thought he made a hell of a wonderful speech, without notes or a TelePrompTer. And the substance of the speech was right on.”


Swearing in


Innaguration Speech

6 Comments

  • Rosey

    We are fortunate to have such a positive and dignified new Governor who has a history of working with all.

  • Observant Jew

    Maybe something should have been written about an observant Jew being the one to introduce David Paterson…

  • ceo

    I heard that during the Crown Heights rioting that he was controversial in his stance. Does anyone know more about this, and does anyone with real intelligent insight care to comment on what they think Patterson will be as a support for Jewish affairs at this time?
    As a human being, he sounds refreshingly honest and forthright.

  • Shaking head and sighing

    Dear Rosie, he isn’t so “dignified.” New admissions in the Daily News.

  • Its monday

    Harlem’s State Senator David A. Paterson, son of the important black leader and friend of Dinkins,

    shomrim get ready for the next riot.

    our new Gov. David Paterson is a friend of David n. Dinkins and al (Antisemite) sharpton

  • scared

    The man is obviously weak in the fidelity dept. as we see with the issues he had in his marriage. He also strikes me as an incompetent man, as he failed to pass the bar, and only went into politics, after he saw that he didn’t have a future in law (because his failure to pass the bar). A dangerous cocktail of [lack of] leadership. New York deserves better as the largest (arguably the most important) state in the Union.