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Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer

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With a combination of talent, hard work, connections, and family wealth, Eliot Spitzer built an amazing career. By his late forties, he'd gone from Princeton to Harvard Law to dramatic success as a prosecutor and attorney general to the governorship of New York. Many thought he would become the first Jewish president of the United States. Then came the prostitution scandal that shocked and mystified the nation.Peter Elkind's definitive account gets at all sides of this complex man: the well-intentioned do-gooder, the aggressive lawyer, the hardball politician, the dutiful son, the loving husband and father, and the secretive "Client 9" of the Emperor's Club escort service.Elkind interviewed dozens of key sources, ranging from Spitzer's family, friends, and closest aides, to targets of his high-profile investigations, to central players in the prostitution ring. He reveals many groundbreaking new details about Spitzer's rise, his short time as governor, and the way his enemies plotted against him.The result is a gripping, almost Shakespearean narrative-a tragedy of one man's noble intentions and fatal flaws and the powerful forces (both internal and external) that destroyed him.

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

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Peter Elkind

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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for Erin .
1,627 reviews1,523 followers
August 21, 2021
Everyone loves a sex scandal. Political sex scandals are even better. In your run of the mill sex scandal involving a celebrity or some other sort of high profile person(usually a man) the scandal is fun and usually juicy. But with a political sex scandal you have the fun and the juiciness but you also have America's favorite thing....Moral Outrage!

When Ben Affleck screws his kids nanny, it's fun and scandalous...but when a Republican congressman who talks about the horrors of "The Gay Agenda" gets caught trying to get some strange in a men's room, you get to be morally outraged and you get to point out the hypocrisy of the situation.

I remembered the Eliot Spitzer story, although I didn't remember his name. I remembered him as "The Lov Gov" and I remembered him having a news show on either CNN or MSNBC(I didn't watch it). His story was one of those political sex scandals that was everywhere 1 day and then was quickly replaced by a another political scandal(Hiking the Appalachian Trail). I hadn't completely forgotten about this story and I didn't remember owning this book, until I was perusing my books for something political and came across it.

I have to tell you I thought this would be more juicy and salacious but instead it was a straight forward biography of Eliot Spitzer that explored his upbringing and political philosophy. It only touched on the scandal in the way it impacted not only The Spitzer family and Eliot's career but also how it impacted the state of New York and maybe The US as a whole.

Eliot Spitzer was forced to resign as Governor of New York during his first term. Governor Spitzer was known as a tough on Wall Street politician and that made him some powerful enemies of both sides of the aisle. Spitzer wanted to crackdown on the unethical practices of Wall Street power brokers. He feared that if left to run free Wall Street would destroy the economy(spoiler alert: he was right). Spitzer fought hard against Wall Street deregulation and made several cases against the barons of Wall Street. He also as it turned out unfortunately for him came down hard on high end escort businesses. He wanted to make it harder to run an escort business in New York state and he wanted harsher penalties for "Johns".....Then it was discovered that Spitzer know alot about the escort business and about "Johns" because he was one.

The ensuing scandal and the discovery of Spitzer as "Client #9" became a media circus. The Spitzer scandal also inspired one of my mom's favorite tv shows The Good Wife. Spitzer's downfall also inadvertently lead to the rise of Andrew Cuomo and if you follow the news at all then you've heard of Andrew Cuomo. I dont live in nor have I ever been to New York but even I know that the New York statehouse is a disaster. The last 3 New York Governor's Spitzer, Paterson and Cuomo have all left office in disgrace(for different reasons) and the whoever becomes Governor next will also probably leave office covered in scandal.

But are all scandals the same?

No.

I think Cuomo should have resigned long ago and he should go to jail.

Paterson was just your everyday scummy money hungry politician but he was nothing special.

Spitzer on the other hand was a hypocrite and he did break the law by paying for sex but as Governor he actually did his job. Anyone who is hated by Wall Street, other politicians, police unions and the Bush administration might be on the right side of history.

Should he have resigned?

No but he had to. Politically with the exception of Bill Clinton Democrats dont survive sex scandals. Had Spitzer been a Republican he might still be Governor but as a Democrat he had to go.

What did I learn from this book?

That even smart people are dumb. Eliot Spitzer could have been President one day but he couldn't keep his wiener in his pants.

Overall thoughts?

Politics isnt fair. You cant give people a knife and expect them not to stab you with it. No one but Spitzer himself bought him down. Did the Bush administration go after him for political reasons yes but if he hadn't been out here using the services of sex workers it would have never happened.

One last thing: I believe that sex work should be legalized and regulated. Sex work is work and it's a valid way to make a living.

No rec.
Profile Image for Book Shark.
783 reviews167 followers
May 14, 2012
Rough Justice: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer by Peter Elkind

"Rough Justice" is the interesting story of the political career of the very complex and unique Eliot Spitzer. Award-winning investigative reporter and coauthor of the national best seller "The Smartest Guys in the Room", Peter Elkind, provides a comprehensive account of the rise and fall of one of the most promising political careers in America. This is a very solid and even-handed book that takes the reader inside the houses of government, the workings of Wall Street and the political dynamics of our leaders. This 323-page book is composed of the following fifteen chapters: Ironbutt, 2. Becoming a Pol, 3. Eliot Time, 4. Wild Kingdom, 5. Irwin, 6. "Daddy, Please Don't Hit Me Anymore", 7. The Big Ugly, 8. The Haunted House, 9. Sharks vs. Octopus, 10. "Bangbang", 11. "Animals", 12. Crossing the Rubicon, 14. Client 9, and 15. "Who Killed Eliot Spitzer?.

Positives:
1. Well-researched, engaging prose that makes for an enjoyable read.
2. An even-handed account and respectful treatment of the subject.
3. The fascinating rise and fall of a complex man, Eliot Spitzer.
4. The author does a wonderful job of providing keen insights into the life of Eliot Spitzer. From his upbringing to now.
5. An interesting look at Spitzer's family life, his interactions with his wife Silda.
6. No doubt in my mind that Spitzer was born to be an AG (Attorney General). This is one of the most fascinating aspects of this book. His exploits as an AG is remarkable and admirable. Very few people have the guts and intellect to go after Wall Street with the conviction of Eliot Spitzer. He became the most feared regulator. Kudos!
7. Great quotes. One of my favorite Spitzer gems, "The worst thing about political jokes is that some of them get elected."
8. An inside look at the dynamics within the Spitzer team.
9. The inner workings of Wall Street. Regulations and the AG. Spitzer's overall strategy. Great stuff!
10. Spitzer's targets...the war between titans. Spitzer a bully?? "Bullies pick on little people" Spitzer scoffed.
11. Spitzer's rise to becoming governor of New York. Once again, the dynamics of his team.
12. The growing pains of being a governor and the differences between being a governor and an AG.
13. A clash between titans, Spitzer versus Bruno.
14. The scandals, the details of "Troopergate".
15. The scandal that brought Spitzer to his knees. The details.
16. The inner workings of a an escort service.
17. A good summary of prominent politicians who also had their sex scandal.
18. A look at Patterson, the replacement governor.
19. Links worked great.

Negatives:
1. The biggest problem that any book of this ilk faces is that a lot of the most interesting/controversial details are made public before the book is even available for the public.
2. The author failed to give a more detailed account of what drove Spitzer to risk it all. Of course, we all suspect the obvious but with a man of Spitzer's intellect and straight-arrowed facade I was hoping for a bit more.
3. No notes.
4. In spite of my personal interest for this story, the book may have a limited audience outside of New York.

In summary, I enjoyed reading this book. Eliot Spitzer is a fascinating man who I hope will one day return as a politician. It's not every day you encounter a Democrat with the guts of a pitbull. Peter Elkind does a wonderful job of capturing the essence of Eliot Spitzer. My only minor gripe is the lack of detail or even an educated theory of why Spitzer faltered. The other shortfall of course is that the book offers very few new details of the most controversial aspects of the fall. The media and the public devoured the most seedy details of the story so by the book came out well it was like old news. Be that as it may, the political dynamics at the center of Eliot Spitzer is what makes this book compelling. Every reader will be able to speculate what could have been based on the thorough details provided. Personally, I thought Spitzer was working his way through the growing pains of being a governor and was ultimately going to get "it". It's too bad that he allowed a personal shortcoming become his downfall, hopefully, he can bounce back, he is too valuable a leader to be sidelined for too long. Shortcomings aside this is a fascinating political account of an interesting and important political leader, a leader once dubbed, "America's Best Public Servant."

Further suggestions: "Decision Points" by former President George W. Bush, "The Politician: An Insider's Account of John Edwards's Pursuit of the Presidency and the Scandal That Brought Him Down" by Andrew Young, "The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust" by Diana B. Henriques, "King of Capital: The Remarkable Rise, Fall, and Rise Again of Steve Schwarzman and Blackstone" by David Carey, "The Post-American World: Release 2.0" by Fareed Zakaria, "That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back" by Thomas L. Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum, "The Monster: How a Gang of Predatory Lenders and Wall Street Bankers Fleeced America--and Spawned a Global Crisis" by Michael W. Hudson, and "Winner-Take-All Politics: How Washington Made the Rich Richer--and Turned Its Back on the Middle Class" by Jacob S. Hacker & Paul Pierson.
Profile Image for Amanda.
935 reviews13 followers
March 6, 2011
I didn't think the first book this year to suck me in and keep me turning pages as quickly as I could would be this one. I know this story, I live in Albany NY. I lived here through the whole scandal, from Day One to Troopergate to Day 442. To Paterson explaining before anyone asked him that he had had dozens of affairs.

I...like I said in my blog, this hurt. Politicians inherently end up corrupted, and we expect them to have something wrong with them. I'd gone through this with John Edwards. But somehow, we NYers viewed Spitzer as different. Sheriff of Wall Street -- he fought for the little guy. He worked for US. And he was gonna finally fix our corrupt state government.

And then our hero fell. Abruptly, awfully, messily, and it was awful. Looking at the Lehman Bros fiasco and the meltdown of the financial system in 2009, and you just think, "What if..."

This book brought that back, powerfully, painfully. I got another view of our current Gov., Andrew Cuomo. It hit me harder because I do live here, I live a mile down the street from the Capitol. From the executive mansion. From the restaurants where Spitzer's crew celebrated. I've been to those places, eaten dinner there. And it just is like a punch to the gut.

I don't know how well this story plays out for non New Yorkers. But to this NYer, it was incredibly moving and an important book. It is worth every star I gave it, to me.
Profile Image for Christopher Febles.
Author 1 book163 followers
July 28, 2021
Reminds me very much of Smartest Guys in the Room. Gets a little stuck in legislative minutiae. Gov doesn't come off well, morally or personally. Very interesting reporting, definitely worth it for this era. Could use a revised edition, I suppose, since much has happened since its publication. I'll definitely read more of Elkind's work.
622 reviews9 followers
November 4, 2020
I breezed through the book very quickly. Interesting and a tragic cautionary story. Two stories here. First, Spitzer’s career and results as NY AG and Governor. Second, his role as “George Fox” to satisfy his sex addiction.

Politician who sets out to reform the political process as NY Attorney General and Governor and gets caught with paying money for sex to hookers. Seems incredible to mind how he was able to get away and meet up with his hookers. Also interesting that Spitzer was not found out much sooner.

Spitzer betrayed his wife, his kids and the people who worked for him. Spitzer was not an easy man to work for as the book shows. He was prone to fits of temper and indecision. One does not feel bad for Spitzer’s downfall as he comes off as a jerk throughout the book.

Anoter smart guy like Gary Hart whose political career was derailed by a sex scandal.
Profile Image for Drilling.
9 reviews
October 26, 2025
Good book - but wish it had more on what Spitzer accomplished as a prosecutor vs how much time was spent on the prostitution scandal
Profile Image for Wendy.
377 reviews
December 4, 2018
Obsessed with the story of former New York Governor Eliot Spritzer and how someone with so much potential could fall and lose so much. Also watched the documentary “Client 9”.
Profile Image for Kathleen Hulser.
469 reviews
March 19, 2011
Financial reporter Peter Elkind understands Spitzer's accomplishments as the crusading Attorney General who nailed the testosterone-driven suits whose reckless antics made them wildly rich without ever risking any losses for themselves. It took Spitzer, outfitted with similar balls to duel with these power-mad financial barons, and yet was it those very same hormonal excesses that made Spitzer self-destruct by patronizing the high-priced call girl operation when he was governor? The public was the loser in this, and it is sad in the wake of the financial crisis that followed these events, to think that our only public servants with the knowledge and the drive to actually target Wall St. misconduct had blown himself out of public life. My reading of the classics renders me little aid in placing bets on the outcome of hubris v. hubris. But as the Republican Imperium plans the great trashing of the American economy in the thinly veiled guise of deficit reduction which is really their strategy of regaining the presidency in 2012, we all must greatly regret the absence of the Eliot Spitzers in the public realm. And how vapid is our public sphere that can find the scandalous appeal of Spitzer's private misconduct outweighs his enormous public accomplishments, which in light of the events of 2008 seem even more significant? Meanwhile as talk show host Spitzer seems pretty lively, especially when shielded by the no ad hominem questions prohibition imposed on his guests.
Profile Image for Susan.
112 reviews5 followers
August 10, 2010
An accurate and illuminating report of the rise and fall of Eliot Spitzer. This is excellent and fast-paced reportage. Someone looking for motive or psychological analysis should look elsewhere. As I had not yet returned to New York when 7/8 of the events in this book took place, I found it very helpful in filling in details. Rings true to my experience and perception of Albany. A well-written easy read for anyone interested in New York politics, if one can call reading about a wincingly painful situation an "easy read".
Profile Image for Eric W.
156 reviews11 followers
July 22, 2016
The writing and reporting aren't bad, but the topic seems better suited for a lengthy Vanity Fair article. The book is about 350 pages, but only 50 or so are intersting -- the 50 pages about the escort scandal. The rest of the book, about Spitzer's childhood and career, probably wouldn't even interst Spitzer's mom.

This book was the subject of a documentary -- I'd watch the movie instead.
Profile Image for Steven Pattison.
122 reviews2 followers
July 28, 2019
I voted for Eliot Spizter and remember the general feeling in NYC that a run for president was a possibility if not inevitable for him. Unfortunately instead of cheating on his wife (like ever other politician) he engaged in "activity" with high class prostitutes that resulted in the end of his political career. Oh what could have been.
Profile Image for Jeff.
377 reviews
August 12, 2012
If you are interested in the life and downfall of Eliot Spitzer, this is the book for you. I saw this on the library shelf, and I was interested after seeing the documentary about Spitzer. It was interesting to read an account of both is accomplishments and what cost him his job as governor of NY.
Profile Image for Ris.
222 reviews10 followers
May 31, 2010
Very well-written and impeccably researched, this was nonetheless a tough read. Watching such a smart man implode amidst so many other government officials doing ridiculously selfish and stupid things gives a bleak picture of mankind.
Profile Image for Kodiaksm.
129 reviews3 followers
June 1, 2010
The question of "Why did Eliot Spitzer pay for sex and jeopardize his career?” was not answered! Was this just a book to highlight political activities of other New York politicians? The title of the book misled the reader.

However,this book was interesting from a west coast point of view.
Profile Image for Melyssa.
1,403 reviews36 followers
May 18, 2010
Well researched, well written. Learned a lot not only about Eliot Spitzer but also the world of Wall Street. No wonder the economy is in a mess.
Profile Image for Jim.
269 reviews2 followers
September 1, 2010
Excellent book telling the story of Eliot Spitzer's political career and his self inflicted implosion. A character study of a man with a fatal flaw.
144 reviews
November 18, 2010
Great read for politics junkies. Spitzer never fails to fascinate and Elkind does a great job of giving us his story of Spitzer's rise and fall.
Profile Image for Bev.
29 reviews21 followers
December 2, 2010
So far - so fascinating. See the sub-prime usual suspects already doing the nasties in early part of 2000's. He was a better DA than a governer. "Hubris is Terminal".... interesting read.
Profile Image for Bella.
113 reviews
June 3, 2016
read 1/2 book; interesting & dynamic details about Eliot's upbringing and career.
Profile Image for Heather.
879 reviews33 followers
Read
April 4, 2011
I was reading this for work things. Work things are postponed so I'm not going to read it unless I have to. The end.
Profile Image for Lisa.
34 reviews
January 3, 2013

A very fair portrait, I could have gone for a bit more of the aftermath.Like a Phoenix, eliot has resurrected himself on cable news, once again in the public eye.
Profile Image for Mark.
Author 2 books15 followers
January 12, 2013
Whenever Eliot Spitzer starts sounding reasonable, read this to remind yourself what a deeply scuzzy pol he is.
Profile Image for Lesley.
91 reviews8 followers
June 14, 2010
Well that was fun. I would have given him 5 stars if he had interviewed me.
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