WNYC obtained emails sent to and from top aides to Gov. David Paterson. (Azi Paybarah / WNYC)
David Paterson's tenure in the governor's mansion hasn't been easy. He came in amid a sex scandal that led his predecessor to resign halfway though his first term. Then, the overnight governor had to face an imploding state budget. He tried to reign in spending while an ambitious state attorney general quietly plotted to oust him in a Democratic primary.
So, what would you say to a governor and his top aides in that position?
WNYC obtained a little more than a thousand pages of emails sent to and from three key aides to Governor Paterson between January 1, 2009 to April 29, 2010.
The administration declined to release most of those correspondences, citing exemptions to the disclosure law, saying the request for those emails was an "unwarranted invasion of personal privacy," contained "intra-agency" correspondence or contained "trade secrets" which could "cause substantial injury" if disclosed.
What was revealed in the emails released is a portrait of a governor facing a likely uphill fight for his party's nomination against an unannounced rival - the state's popular and well-funded state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
There was also an influx of well-wishers who sent seemingly unsolicited advice - and in one case, even a job offer - after The New York Times ran a series of damaging reports about one aide to the governor. Those stories eventually led Paterson to end his gubernatorial campaign six days after it officially started.
Here are highlights of what the emails to Paterson's top aides revealed:
Date: February 17, 2010
Time: 9:58 a.m.
From: Reginald Love
To: David Johnson
"I enjoyed reading the article this morning about you.
The more attention you get the more attention people want to give you.
Proud to see you've never let up.
Let me know if you ever make down to the district.
-Reggie"
Reggie Love, President Barack Obama's personal aide, sent a note to Governor Paterson's top aide, David Johnson the morning that Mr. Johnson was featured in a front-page New York Times story that described Mr. Johnson's meteoric rise to power.
The story was the first in what later proved to be a career-ending expose about Mr. Johnson's alleged use of state police officers to help discourage an ex-girlfriend from filing a restraining order against him after a violent altercation on Halloween.
The February 17 story was preceded by weeks of rumors that became so pervasive in New York political circles that Governor Paterson was forced to deny the substance of the rumors in an interview with the Associated Press. The details of the rumors varied widely, but seemed to indicate Mr. Paterson would be forced from office once they were revealed.
The olive branch extended by Mr. Love was a rare nicety from the White House. Back in September 2009, President Obama had reportedly asked Paterson not to seek election as governor in deference to state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. At the time, Republicans like Rudy Giuliani had not ruled out a gubernatorial bid.
If Mr. Johnson replied to Mr. Love via email, it was not disclosed in the released emails.
Date: February 17, 2010
Time: 11:27 a.m.
From: Charles Breslin
To: David Johnson
Subject: Great pictures and they spelled your name correct, the good outshines the neg!
As they told me after my first big story about me "welcome to the BG leagues" !
Mr. Breslin is a political hand and lobbyist in Pennsylvania who once was a close confident of Governor Ed Rendell. He's still considered part of Mr. Rendell's political orbit, albeit, now with some distance.
After working on Rendell's successful 2002 campaign, Mr. Breslin was arrested "on misdemeanor charges for heroin possession and reckless endangerment after he was stopped for erratic driving,"according to InsiderPA.com. Two days after the arrest, it was reported that Mr. Breslin "had a criminal record" for "drug and aggravated assault charges dating back to 1977."
Mr. Johnson seemed to take comfort in Mr. Breslin's encouragement. At 11:44, Mr. Johnson replied, "Thanks my friend. Not as big as you but I am working my way there."
Date: February 25, 2010
Time: 12:44 p.m.
From: Charles Breslin
To: David Johnson
Call me I want to hire you during this time if your[sic] allowed to advise my company on a part time basis, with Andrew, Richard and I?
Mr. Breslin's job offer came the day after The New York Times' most explosive and damaging story about Mr. Johnson. The Times reported that state police officers repeatedly visited a woman in her Bronx apartment as she tried to get a restraining order against Mr. Johnson after she said he attacked her in a violent quarrel on Halloween, tearing her costume and ripping her phone from the wall.
The first New York Times story about Mr. Johnson focused on his unorthodox rise to power - going from Mr. Paterson's driver while he was in the state Senate to gatekeeper and confident as Mr. Paterson assumed the governorship. The earlier story revealed Mr. Johnson had been arrested for drugs as a teenager. Critics of the story said Mr. Johnson's turnaround from a rocky beginning should have been celebrated.
But few if any vocalized support for Mr. Johnson following the February 24 story, which depicted him as an explosive, violent and possibly powerful enough to quash the entire episode with his girlfriend.
Mr. Breslin did not immediately respond to an email inquiry from WNYC. It is unclear if Mr Breslin was successful in hiring Mr. Johnson. [UPDATE: After publication of the emails, Breslin emailed WNYC to say, "David didn't respond to the offer."]
Date: February 21, 2010
Time: 2:53 p.m.
From: Bill White
To: David Johnson
I would be the pitbull against cuomo and know exactly where to hit him HARD where david couldn't. It would SPLIT people away from Cuomo BIGTIME.
I am LOYAL to the death and love david.
We could get major political pundits behind it because of my 20 year friendships and relationships. I'm very serious about it. Also openly gay (and NOT tom duane like) would bring all that to bear. Very mainstream support.
As The New York Times was rolling out their expose about Mr. Paterson, prominent Democratic supporters stepped forward, like former Intrepid museum president Bill White. In the emails reviewed by WNYC, Mr. White often acted as a cheerleader and unsolicited consultant to the governor. The energy and level of support Mr. White offered was among the most vociferous among the emails reviewed.
Mr. White abruptly resigned in May from the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum and two related charities amid an investigation into his fund-raising activities. The investigation was part of a probe of former State Comptroller Alan Hevesi's oversight of the state pension fund. The State Attorney General - that would be Mr. Cuomo - is looking into whether there was a quid-pro quo where money managers gained access to the state's pension fund after delivering money to people associated with Mr. Hevesi. (Mr. Hevesi has not been formally charged and denies any wrong-doing.)
Mr. White was among the people subpoenaed by Mr. Cuomo.
In an earlier email, Mr. White tries to steer Mr. Paterson to talk radio host Don Imus, who he says could help the cash-strapped governor raise money.
Date: January 13, 2010
Time: 8:16 a.m.
From: Bill White
To: David Johnson, Richie Fife and others
Imus said afterwards he was definitely voting for gdap [Governor David Paterson], that he was very smart. He was VERY impressed w gdap said a lot of that. That he was Great and he will support him for gov not that "phony cuomo or whoever that 'phony" obama supports. :)
Let's schedule him back on imus now that the formalities are done gdap can talk about the issues important to him and use dons audience to get HIs message out. Don WILL help and this is great for gdap. He was fabulous. So much good gdap can use this show for. Also I can have don talk about fundraising too in a way that's helpful!!!!
Based on a review of emails, Mr. White often acted as a liaison between Governor Paterson and Don Imus. Mr. White sent this email the same morning that Governor Paterson appeared on Imus in the Morning.
Mr. White had appeared on Mr. Imus’ show and was eager to help Mr. Paterson resuscitate his political fortunes.
Mr. Paterson did appear on Mr. Imus’ show at least twice after this email, once in February of this year and again in March.
Mr. Imus, for his part, strongly denies he had an interest in actively helping Mr. Paterson politically. Mr. Imus also says he did not call either Mr. Cuomo or President Obama “a phony,” as Mr. White’s email described.
When contacted by WNYC, Mr. Imus emailed to say, “Bill white is full of [obscenity]. I never said any of those things.”
When asked if he’d like to comment on the wider issue of Mr. Paterson’s political career, Mr. Imus offered a one-word reply: “No.”
Date: July 7, 2009
Time: 10:59 p.m.
From: Julie Kuehndorf
To: David Johnson
Subject: SALT photos
Hi David,
It was great meeting you recently, when you came by the set of SALT with Governor Paterson. It was a real thrill for all of us in the cast and crew to meet the Governor and we are very grateful that he's extended the tax incentives for the film industry in New York State.
I know it's been a while, but I wanted to let you know that two photos from the Governor's visit with Angelina Jolie are in the mail to you. Please note that the photos are just for the Governor's personal collection, and are not to be reproduced.
And good luck up there in Albany! I know you must be very busy lately!
Best,
Julie Kuehndorf
It was a difficult spring for Governor Paterson. On June 24, 2009, a Quinnipiac poll offered a silver lining, saying Paterson's approval rating "may have bottomed out with voters disapproving 61-28 percent."
Mr. Paterson's selection of Kristen Gillibrand to replace the U.S. Senate vacancy left by Hillary Clinton had been a messy and unseemly process. It had left possible appointee Caroline Kennedy publicly smeared, with Paterson's administration implausibly denying that they were involved in the mudslinging.
Mr. Paterson was also busy dealing with a revolt in Albany, where a narrowly divided state Senate was thrown into turmoil when two Democrats briefly caucused with Republicans - switching control of that house. One defector immediately returned, leaving Republicans and Democrats evenly split at 31 a piece. There was also no lieutenant governor in place, a successor for Mr. Paterson - should he leave the state or become incapacitated - was indeterminable, which prompted him to stay within the state's borders.
But at some point, Mr. Paterson did get a respite from all the ugliness: a visit to the movie set where Angelina Jolie was working.
The visit to the set of Angelina Jolie's movie does not appear to have been publicized before and Ms. Kuehndorf's July 7 email to Mr. Johnson appears unprompted.
But the reason for a subsequent email from Ms. Kuehndorf was more apparent.
"I didn't think I 'd need to take you up on your kind offer of assistance, now I find myself compelled to write," Ms. Kuehndorf wrote.
"My daughter...is an 8th grader in the New York City school system and was notified recently that she did not receive an offer of a seat at Beacon High School, the school she had her heart set on," she wrote.
Ms. Kuehndorf adds, "I know that Governor Paterson has a son at Beacon High School, so he is fully aware of what a terrific school it is. A word from him on her behalf would mean the world to us."
Ms. Kuehndorf wrote the email in response to Mr. Johnson's reply to her original July 7 email about the SALT photos.
"Thank you Julie it was a pleasure meeting you and Mrs. Jolie," Mr. Johnson wrote on July 7.
Kuehndorf, in an email to WNYC, says Mr. Paterson "politely declined the request of a mother having trouble navigating the labyrinthian and arbitrary New York City high school application process for her daughter. (BTW - Other Beacon parents and several teachers wrote recommendations on my daughter's behalf, to no avail.)"
She also defended the governor's visit to the movie set, saying, "It's not unusual for production companies to arrange set visits for dignitaries when requested. The stipulation regarding the use of personal photos taken on set was from the production company and is fairly common, especially on high profile motion pictures."