David A. Paterson papers, 2005-2011
Summary Information
Abstract
At a Glance
- Call No.:
- MS#1705
- Bib ID:
- 10611989 View CLIO record
- Creator(s):
- Paterson, David A
- Repository:
- Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- Physical Description:
- 38.75 linear feet (31 record cartons and 1 flat box and digital files)
- Language(s):
- English .
- Access:
- You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
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There are no access restrictions to the majority of the records. Records that are designated as privileged papers by the donor are restricted for 15 years from the date of donation.
Digital records are not fully processed at the time; the Rare Book & Manuscript Library anticipates that digital records will be available for research in the second half of 2015.
This collection is located off-site. The paper records in this collection are located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
Description
Scope and Content
The papers consist primarily of records related to David A. Paterson's tenure as Lieutenant Governor and Governor of New York. Records dating from 2005-2008 also include records related to the tenure of Governor Eliot Spitzer. The papers include approval and veto messages, budget materials, certificates, correspondence, litigation records, messages of necessity, photographs, press releases, proclamations, program bills, resolutions, schedules, speeches, video recordings, and visitors' logs.
The papers document the legislative, programmatic, and policy priorities of the Paterson administration. The records include approvals, vetoes, and messages of necessity on legislation, clemency records, correspondence, directives of the Governor's Office of Taxpayer Accountability, proclamations for extraordinary sessions of the legislature, program bills, and public statements. These records not only document goals and priorities, but also the strategies that the Paterson administration used to further these goals within the realities of the political system in New York State.
The papers include all correspondence maintained by the Governor's Correspondence Unit, which consists of nearly all incoming correspondence and responses made by the Governor or his representatives. In addition, the records include daily visitors' logs for visitors to the Executive Chamber in both Albany and New York City that document the individuals and organizations that sought to influence state policy. These records serve to document contacts, discussions, and the development of policy by the Paterson administration.
The records also document high-profile policy decisions. In particular, the collection includes records related to the appointments of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch. The papers include constituent correspondence that was received by the Governor's Office on the subject of the pending appointment to the U.S. Senate in late 2008 and early 2009. This correspondence documents public opinion on the appointment of a replacement for Senator Hillary Clinton, especially with regards to the consideration of Caroline Kennedy for the seat. The records also include correspondence of the General Counsel and litigation records related to Skelos v. Paterson While the Counsel's correspondence is incomplete, the papers that were preserved document high priority matters in the administration. The litigation records document the historic case of Skelos v. Paterson, in which the Court of Appeals upheld the right of the Governor to appoint a Lieutenant Governor in the event of a vacancy.
The papers are rich in materials that document the Governor's public appearances, events, and statements. The papers include daily media advisories of the Governor's schedule, photographs, press releases, speeches, and video recordings. The majority of these records are arranged chronologically, except that the speeches in the paper files are filed by subject. These materials make it possible to look at several types of records that are related to the same public event. These records document the administration's public relations strategy, as well as the public dissemination of information, on issues, policies, and events that occurred during Paterson's term in office.
The papers include some records that are also available from other sources, but as they are helpful to the understanding of the Paterson administration these records have also been kept in this collection. These records include executive budget materials, appointment records, approval and veto messages, certificates, designations, executive orders, resolutions, press releases, and board and commission records.
The majority of the records exist only in digital format. All video recordings and the vast majority of correspondence and photographs exist only in digital format. There is some duplication between other digital records and the paper records in the collection, particularly for records related to appointments, approval and veto messages, budgets, clemency, designations, executive orders, press releases, proclamations, resolutions, schedules, and speeches. There are a few records that are only available in paper format, particularly the constituent correspondence related to the appointment of a replacement for Senator Hillary Clinton, program files, selected correspondence files, and the visitors' logs for the Executive Chamber in New York City. The arrangement of the papers largely follows the folder structure of the digital records.
According to a survey of the records in this collection created by Glen Bruening, former Assistant Counsel to the Governor Paterson, in 2012, there are important records missing from the papers of Governor Paterson. Bruening expressed concern that valuable records were either discarded or not transferred in the period of time before efforts were made to collect the archival records of the Paterson administration. In particular, Bruening noted that few records related to programmatic matters had been received from either the Director of State Operations or the Secretary and Deputy Secretaries to the Governor.
Websites of former Governors of New York State are archived and maintained by the New York State Archives; this collection does not include a copy of Governor Paterson's website.
Digital records are not fully processed at the time; the Rare Book & Manuscript Library anticipates that digital records will be available for research in the second half of 2015.
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Series I: Appointments, Nominations, and Designations, 2007-2010
This series consists of certificates, correspondence, and other records related to appointments, nominations, and designations.
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Series II: Boards, Commissions, and Programs, 2006-2010
This series contains records related to boards, commissions, and programs. The files include correspondence, reports, resolutions, subject files, testimony, transcripts, and white papers.
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Series III: Budget and Finance, 2007-2010
This series contains records that document activities related to government spending and state budget planning, as well as actions taken during the state's fiscal crisis in 2009 and 2010.
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Series IV: Clemency, 2007-2010
This series contains copies of certificates of pardon or commutation that were signed by the Governor and sent to applicants.
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Series V: General Correspondence, 2007-2010
This series contains correspondence received by the Governor, and the responses sent by either the Governor or his representatives. The correspondence documents events, policy decision, and other activities related to the work of the Governor and the Governor's Office. The majority of the correspondence is available only in digital format.
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Series VI: Daily Public Schedule, 2001-2010
This series contains copies of daily media advisories regarding the Governor's public schedule for 2007-2010. The 2007 file includes daily media advisories for both the Lieutenant Governor and the Governor.
The original record is the digital file of the schedule; the paper record is a copy.
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Series VII: Executive Chamber Daily Visitors Logs, 2007-2010
This series contains the Executive Chamber Daily Visitors' Logs for the Governor's Offices in New York City and the State Capitol in Albany. These logs contain the names and affiliated organizations of visitors to the Executive Chamber.
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Series VIII: Election Proclamations, 2007-2010
This series contain copies of proclamations signed and issued by the Governor.
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Series IX: Executive Orders, 2008-2010
This series contains copies of the Governor's Executive Orders.
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Series X: Governor's Counsel's Correspondence, 2008-2010
This series contains a portion of the Counsel's correspondence but it does not contain a complete record of the Counsel's activities. The correspondence that was retained documents high priority matters. The general correspondence in the paper file appears to largely duplicate the general correspondence in the digital file, except that correspondence for 2008 is only available in the digital file.
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Series XI: Legislative Materials
This series contains records that document the activities of the Governor's Office that relate to the Legislature. The records include approval messages on legislation, messages of necessity, proclamations for extraordinary sessions, program bills, and veto messages on legislation.
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Series XII: Litigation Related to the Appointment of Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch,, 2009
This series contains copies of the legal papers filed in the Skelos v. Paterson case. In this case, the New York State Court of Appeals upheld the Governor's constitutional authority to fill a vacancy in the office of Lieutenant Governor by appointment.
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Series XIII: Media Files, 2007-2010
This subseries contains photographs, press releases, speeches, and video recordings.
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Series XIV: Other Approvals and Requests, 2008-2010
This series contains copies of the Governor's requests for federal disaster designations and miscellaneous approvals.
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Series XV: Miscellaneous Directories and Reports, 2007-2010
This series contains an Executive Chamber Directory (2010) and copies of miscellaneous reports; the majority of these files are related to the 2007 Report to the People.
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Series XVI: Privileged Records, 2005-2011 (Restricted Until 2029), 2005-2011
This series contains privileged records related to both Governor Spitzer and Governor Paterson. The records include briefings, calendars, monthly call reports, and records related to Spitzer's campaign and transition into the Governor's Office, Paterson's debate preparation in 2006, programs, speeches, state asset maximization, and the transition to the Cuomo administration in 2010.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in sixteen series and several subseries.
- Series I: Appointments, Nominations, and Designations, 2007-2010
- Subseries I.1: Appointments and Nominations, 2007-2010
- Subseries I.2: Judicial Appointments and Designations, 2007-2010
- Subseries I.3: Senator Appointment--Constituent Correspondence, 2008 November -2009 January, 2008
- Subseries I.4: Miscellaneous Designations, 2007-2010
- Series II: Boards, Commissions, and Programs, 2006-2010
- Subseries II.1: Records of Boards and Commissions Created by the Governor,, 2008-2010
- Subseries II.2: Approvals of Civil Service Commission Resolutions, 2006-2010
- Subseries II.3: NYS Commission on Higher Education, 2007-2008
- Subseries II.4: Miscellaneous Program Files, 2007-2010
- Series III: Budget and Finance, 2007-2010
- Subseries III.1: Executive Budget Materials, 2007-2010
- Subseries III.2: Directives of the Office of Taxpayer Accountability, 2009-2010
- Subseries III.3: Governor's Line Item Vetos of 2010 2010, 2010, 2010
- Series IV: Clemency, 2007-2010
- Series V: General Correspondence, 2007-2010
- Subseries V.1: General Correspondence, 2008-2010
- Subseries V.2: Special Correspondence, 2008-2010
- Subseries V.3: Selected Original Correspondence, 2008-2010
- Subseries V.4: Correspondence Received with Reports, 2007-2010
- Subseries V.5: Miscellaneous Correspondence, 2009-2010
- Series VI: Daily Public Schedule, 2001-2010
- Series VII: Executive Chamber Daily Visitors Logs, 2007-2010
- Series VIII: Election Proclamations, 2007-2010
- Series IX: Executive Orders, 2008-2010
- Series X: Governor's Counsel's Correspondence, 2008-2010
- Series XI: Legislative Materials
- Subseries XI.1: Approval and Veto Messages on Legislation, 2007-2010
- Subseries XI.2 Messages of Necessity on Legislation
- Subseries XI.3: Proclamations for Extraordinary Sessions of the Legislature
- Subseries XI.4: Program Bills Submitted to the Legislature, 2007-2010
- Subseries XI.5: Miscellaneous Legislative Files, 2009
- Series XII: Litigation Related to the Appointment of Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch,, 2009
- Series XIII: Media Files, 2007-2010
- Subseries XIII.1: Photographs, 2007-2010
- Subseries XIII.2: Press Releases, 2007-2010
- Subseries XIII.3: Speeches, 2008-2010
- Subseries XIII.4: Video Recordings, 2008-2010
- Series XIV: Other Approvals and Requests, 2008-2010
- Subseries XIV.1: Requests for Federal Disaster Designations, 2008-2010
- Subseries XIV.2: Miscellaneous Approvals of the Governor
- Series XV: Miscellaneous Directories and Reports, 2007-2010
- Series XVI: Privileged Records, 2005-2011 (Restricted Until 2029), 2005-2011
Using the Collection
Restrictions on Access
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
There are no access restrictions to the majority of the records. Records that are designated as privileged papers by the donor are restricted for 15 years from the date of donation.
Digital records are not fully processed at the time; the Rare Book & Manuscript Library anticipates that digital records will be available for research in the second half of 2015.
This collection is located off-site. The paper records in this collection are located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); David A. Paterson Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Accruals
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Source of acquisition--David A. Paterson. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--2013. Accession number--2013-2014-M127.
About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Processing Information
Processed by CCR 2014.
Finding aid written by Catherine C. Ricciardi October 2014.
Revision Description
2014-10-10 File created.
2014-10-13 XML document instance created by Catherine C. Ricciardi
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
Biographical Note
David A. Paterson was born on May 20, 1954 in Brooklyn, New York, to Portia (née Hairston) and Basil Paterson. Basil Paterson, a labor lawyer, was also involved in politics and served as the first non-white New York Secretary of State and as the first African-American Vice-Chair of the National Democratic Party. In order for Paterson, who has been legally blind since infancy, to be educated in a regular classroom, the family maintained residences in Harlem and Hempstead, Long Island. Paterson attended elementary school and high school in Hempstead, graduating from Hempstead High School in 1971. He earned a bachelor's degree in history from Columbia University in 1977, and a J.D. at Hofstra Law School in 1982.
After finishing law school, Paterson worked in the Queens District Attorney's office, and then as an aide to New York City Clerk David Dinkins. In 1985, Paterson was elected to represent Harlem in the New York State Senate. In late 2002, Paterson was elected Minority Leader of the New York State Senate, unseating incumbent Martin Connor, and became the first non-white legislative leader in the history of New York State.
In 2006, Paterson was elected as the first African-American Lieutenant Governor in New York State. As Lieutenant Governor, Paterson provided leadership on several key issues including passing legislation for stem cell research, presenting a statewide plan for renewable energy, working to prevent domestic violence, and advocating for minority and women owned businesses.
In 2006, Paterson was elected as the first African-American Lieutenant Governor in New York State. As Lieutenant Governor, Paterson provided leadership on several key issues including passing legislation for stem cell research, presenting a statewide plan for renewable energy, working to prevent domestic violence, and advocating for minority and women owned businesses.
Paterson became Governor of New York on March 17, 2008, following the resignation of Governor Eliot Spitzer. He was the first African American and first legally blind Governor of New York State. The largest issues facing the state were the recession and the resulting fiscal crisis in the state, and Paterson was the first elected official in the State to speak openly and frankly about the severity of the state's fiscal crisis. Budget negotiations were tense throughout Paterson's tenure, and the state ultimately made $42 billion in budget cuts by the time he left office in 2010. Some of the tactics that the Governor used in handling the fiscal crisis, particularly that of using temporary spending bills to advance his own fiscal priorities when state budgets were not adopted on time, set precedents for the future governance of the state. Paterson's handling of the state's fiscal crisis helped the state to avoid insolvency, a downgrading of its credit rating, and the state of financial hardship experienced in other states. However, the budget cuts, layoff plans, tax increases, payment delays for Medicaid and education, among other decisions, made him unpopular in the state at the time.
Despite the economic downturn, the Governor made progress on immigration, same sex marriage, the Rockefeller Drug laws, and other issues. The Governor created panels to review pardon applications from immigrants with prior criminal records who were facing deportation; ultimately, 24 applicants were pardoned at the end of his term. The Governor was also successful in working with the Legislature to reform the Rockefeller Drug Laws by eliminating harsh mandatory minimum sentences and by giving more latitude to judges in sentencing non-violent offenders. The Governor was less successful on same-sex marriage: he successfully issued a directive that that required New York State agencies to recognize same-sex marriage licenses from other states, but the Legislature did not legalize same-sex marriage during his term. The Governor also pursued initiatives that would support minority and women owned businesses, enacted the Bigger Better Bottle Bill, reformed the Empire Zone Program, and ended New York City's practice of warehousing data on individuals who were stopped due to "stop and frisk" but ultimately found to have done nothing illegal.
The Governor also established legal precedent in his appointment of Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch. The appointment helped to resolve the leadership crisis in the State Senate in 2009. A lawsuit challenged that the Governor did not have the constitutional authority to make this appointment, but his right of appointment was upheld by the courts. The case established the Governor's right of appointment of the Lieutenant Governor, allowing for adequate provision for the gubernatorial succession in the event of a vacancy.
Governor Paterson intended to run for a full term as Governor. However, it was thought that he was too unpopular, and so a liability to the Democratic Party, and it was revealed advisors to President Obama asked him to withdraw his candidacy in September 2009. Paterson persevered, but additional concerns surfaced over the next few months. By early February 2010, there were two ethics investigations involving the Governor. The first charge was witness tampering, as it had been established that Paterson had contact with a woman who was seeking an order of protection against David A. Johnson, his long-time aide, while the case was active in the courts. The second charge was perjury, where it was alleged that the Governor sought and accepted free tickets to the World Series from the New York Yankees, but later claimed that he intended to pay for the tickets during an inquiry. As support for his candidacy continued to erode in light of these allegations, Paterson ended his campaign on February 26th stating that, "I am being realistic about politics. It hasn't been the latest distraction; it has been an accumulation of obstacles that have obfuscated me from bringing my message to the public. Therefore there are times in politics when you have to know not to strive for service but to step back, and that moment has come for me." He ignored calls for his resignation, however, and finished the remainder of the term in December 2010.
Outside of politics, Paterson is nationally recognized as a leading active advocate for the visually and physically impaired. He is a member of the American Foundation for the Blind. In addition, he serves on the Board of the Achilles Track Club, having completed the New York City Marathon in 1999. Paterson has also worked in higher education, serving as an adjunct professor at Columbia University's School for International and Public Affairs from 2000-2007, as an adjunct professor of Government at New York University from 2011-2012. Most recently, Paterson was appointed the Distinguished Professor of Health Care and Public Policy at Touro College in 2013.
Paterson has also served the Democratic Party and the Coalition of Northeast Governors (CONEG). He has served as a member of the Democratic National Committee, as a board member of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, and as the Chair of the Coalition of Northeast Governors (CONEG). He became the Chair of the New York State Democratic Committee in May 2014.
Paterson has been active in other areas since leaving office. He serves on several boards, including the board of CODESMART Group Inc., a national subject matter expert for ICD-10 education and compliance, which he joined in March 2014, and the board of Medient Studios, Inc., an entertainment content creation company, which he joined in May 2014. He began a five year term on the Board of the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) in June 2012. He is also a founding member of the Job Channel Network (JCN).
Paterson has also worked in the media, hosting a radio show on WOR 710 in New York City from 2011-2012, and co-hosting another radio show with Curtis Sliwa on WNYM 970 in 2013. Governor Paterson continues to be active in speaking engagements, and often appears as a guest commentator on political news programs.
Subject Headings
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
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