Eliot Spitzer American Democratic politician, former governor of New York Date of Birth: 10.06.1959 Country: USA

Biography of Eliot Spitzer

Eliot Laurence Spitzer was an American Democratic politician and former governor of the state of New York (2007-2008). He was born on June 10, 1959, in the Bronx, New York City. His father, Bernard Spitzer, moved to the United States from Austria and became a successful real estate developer in Manhattan. His mother, Anna Spitzer, was a literature professor.

Spitzer grew up in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx and attended the elite Horace Mann School, graduating in 1977. He then went on to graduate from Princeton University in 1981 and Harvard Law School in 1984, where he served as an editor for the Harvard Law Review.

After completing his education, Spitzer worked as a law clerk for Judge Robert W. Sweet and then joined the law firm Skadden, Arps. In 1986, he became an assistant district attorney for Manhattan under Robert M. Morgenthau, specializing in combating organized crime. In 1992, Spitzer successfully ended the control of the Gambino crime family over trucking and textile production in Manhattan.

In 1992, Spitzer left public service and entered private practice. He made an unsuccessful bid for the position of New York State Attorney General in 1994 but was elected to the position in 1998. As Attorney General, Spitzer gained national attention for his crusade against financial corporations on Wall Street. He exposed Merrill Lynch's fraudulent practices, resulting in a significant drop in the company's market value. He also targeted other investment banks and reached settlements totaling $1.4 billion.

Spitzer's tenure as Attorney General made him a prominent figure outside of Washington, and he was often referred to as the "Sheriff of Wall Street." In 2006, he ran for and won the position of governor of New York, receiving 69% of the votes, the largest margin in New York's history for a first-term governor.

However, his time as governor was marred by controversies and failures. His proposed reforms, such as legalizing same-sex marriage and granting driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, faced opposition and ultimately failed. Additionally, a scandal emerged in 2008 when it was revealed that Spitzer had been secretly engaging the services of high-priced prostitutes. He resigned from his position as governor in March 2008.

Spitzer is married to Silda Wall Spitzer, and they have three daughters together. Despite the controversies surrounding his career, Spitzer's work as Attorney General left a lasting impact on corporate practices and established him as a prominent figure in American politics.