[ inaudible question ] >> so i would like to say that the goal of the treatment, and i think it will be achieved, is for president clinton to resume his very active lifestyle. this was not a result of either his lifestyle or his diet which have been excellent. excellent condition as evidence both by what he does and by objective testing with stress testing. his cholesterol numbers have, and other risk factors that we follow, have all been excellent. this is part of the natural history, just as illnesses have natural history, treatments have natural histories. this particular type of bypass graph has about a 10% to 20% failure rate at five to six years.

[ inaudible question ] >> no, it makes him less susceptible to future heart attacks. this graph is gone. the stents have opened the vessel. the primary driver for his heart surgery was not this blood vess vessel. the primary driver was the main artery in the front of the heart. the bypass of that artery is what conveys the longevity benefit of bypass. that's what's called a left internal mammary bypass. that bypass looked pristine. we know from multiple studies if that bypass is opened at this point after the surgery it will re main open. >> what is the prognosis going forward after this in. >> his prognosis is excellent. [ inaudible ] >> i think this is like high blood pressure. this is a chronic condition. we don't have a cure for this

condition, however we have excellent treatments that involve lifestyle modification, medications, and occasionally when necessary, procedures. also president clinton responded appropriately and promptly to warning symptoms that had been discussed with him on numerous occasions in the past. >> we'll take a couple more. [ inaudible question ] >> again, the memory -- without getting too technical the graphs are of different kinds. this -- so the main blood vessel on the front of the heart is what's called a left internal mammary artery is not prone to this type of blockage. >> one at a time. take this one. >> yes?

>> he's had chest pain for a couple of days. >> i didn't say chest pains. he had some vague chest discomfort. when it became repetitive he recognized it might be a problem with his heart and that's when he consulted me and that's when we acted. so -- >> were they ever chest pains? >> i'd like to keep using the word discomfort. that's what he felt. and also just educationally often heart symptoms are not pains. they can be pressures, they can be constrictions. in his case he felt sort of a pressure or constriction. i'm sorry? >> when can he resume -- >> he is back on his feet. >> -- activities he is scheduled? >> i told him he could be back in the office on monday. back in the office on monday. >> do you call it a wake-up call? >> i wouldn't call it a wake-up call. the wake-up call happened in

2004. he has really towed the line in terms of diet and exercise. he's followed an excellent program. this particular complication is not hardening of the arteries. this sort of failure is the -- the history, excuse me, the history of this type of treatment that is not related to anything he did. >> it's cold out here. one more for the doctor. the circumplex. [ inaudible question ] >> the procedure, it took on the order of an hour and he -- he was able to get up about two hours afterwards. >> thank you, guys. thank you. >> larry: good evening. we will be speaking with new york governor david paterson later in the hour. we'll get right to the breaking news about bill clinton.

you saw his cardiologist, dr. allen schwartz, spoke about the situation. we have with us in our studios here in new york the man who did the surgery on me, some 23 years ago this month, dr. wane isam, chairman of department prm of cardiothoracic surgery. that's a sister to this hospital. >> it's the -- new york presbyterian is the hospital. there's the uptown campus at columbia and downtown campus. >> larry: president clinton was at the uptown. you could have done his surgery. they called you but you didn't come. >> there's been a lot of misconception there. i think the cardiologist, that was on a holiday weekend. the cardiologist was calling probably a lot of people to see who was in town. i've said this before. i wanted to know who it was. they said, we can't tell you.

so i'm thinking it's probably a gangster or a type of lawyer that i don't like. i said, well, i don't want to do him. i'm not coming in. >> larry: what occurred with bill clinton today is fairly normal in post-operative patients? >> well, you know, it's hard to say. the -- usually if a graft is going to close off it closes off fairly soon within the first, oh, few weeks. then there's another period of time that it will close off. that may be four, five years. but i think allen schwartz explained this, that's usually people who don't take care of themselves. >> larry: he takes care of -- >> he took care of himself. i'm not sure why it closed off. the important thing is if they got the circulation open, that's the blood supply, so a stent would be the thing to do, especially -- >> larry: we'll explain in a little while what a stent does and tell you something about

myself in a little while. let's check in with james carville, former clinter a eeror in new orleans. have you spoken to the president today in. >> i haven't spoken to him today. i spoke to him sunday before the football game. last time i checked in with him he was getting ready to watch the super bowl. i was heartened by the news i first got the phone call that he was at the hospital. obviously i was pretty upset about it. as i day goes on, i was very, very reassured about what dr. schwartz said. he seemed like a very competent guy. i feel much better now than i did four, five hours ago. i'll tell you that. >> larry: have you talked to hillary? >> i have not. i have not spoken to anybody in the family, but i've spoken to other people and everything that i hear is in line with what dr. schwartz said. and it seems very, very encouraging. >> larry: what do you make of all the running around he does, which is like nonstop? haiti, again haiti? >> he is.

he's always been a nonstop guy. he's very, you know, very, very involved in what goes on down there. as everybody's been very clear that this has nothing to do with the artery closure he had. he'll be back in office monday and he'll be going full speed ahead. i mean, president clinton, like i said earlier today, he doesn't have a accelerate. he has a switch. it is generally on 21 hours a day. i'm sure he's not even -- i bet you he's not going to listen to dr. schwartz and will be back working the phones saturday or sunday. >> larry: you do not think this will slow him down? >> no, i don't. i mean, look, larry, all of us we get old and slow down somewhat. i don't think he has intention of this slowing him down and i don't think it will at all. like i say, i was very, very heartened by what dr. schwartz said. he seemed like a man who knew what he was talking about.

as somebody who has had a lot of emotions to go through in the course of the day it seems pretty good now. >> larry: thanks, james. james carville, former clinton adviser. we planned to be on tape tomorrow night. we're doing another special show tomorrow night, dealing with bill clinton and dealing with heart disease. i know a thing or two about stents. when we come back i'll let you in on my own health news. don't go away. (announcer) the #1 prescribed acid reducer

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>> larry: as regular viewers of this program know i never get personal on this show, but in view of the events today and after discussing it with everyone at cnn, i had heart surgery -- had a heart attack 23 years ago this month. five months later had quinn tup l bypass surgery. dr. wayne isom here with me is the man who did that surgery. a month ago, maybe five weeks ago, i had the same procedure at cedars-sinai hospital in los angeles that bill clinton had today president presbyterian. i felt some strange feelings in my shoulder, where i had the original heart attack. went into the hospital. they checked me overnight and scheduled me for this. four, five days later, they go. . i'll have dr. isom explain what they did. i was back here at "larry king

live" on tuesday night. dr. isom, you tell them what you did to me. >> your doctor called me on that and actually sent me the films, the angiograms which i could see, and actually your other grafts were all open and your right graft which is the one that closed off was still open 23 years later, but it had narrowed down a little bit in the front part of it. >> larry: that's plaque, right? >> probably that's what it is. they were able to slide a stent or a couple of little stents in there and open it up. so that vein graft is still open. it's got the stent in that -- >> larry: does the balloon go in? >> the balloon goes in. >> larry: what does the stent do? >> actually, you know, when the angioplasty first started, the balloon it opened it up and 40% of it would come back. they started putting stents in then it would stay open longer but 35% of those would come back. then they started putting the medicated stents in and it looks

like -- that's relatively new. looks like those are going to stay for longer. it's like a japanese finger trap. you turn your hand this way and it opens up. >> larry: the president, what artery did he -- >> from talking -- from listening to dr. schwartz, and i don't know, but it sounds like the vein graft the right coronary artery had closed off. >> larry: that wasn't mine? >> that wasn't yours. then what they did is -- his own vessel that had a blockage in it, they opened that up with the stent. you might ask the question, okay, well why didn't you do that the first time? there will probably be cardiologists who will say, if i'd done that he wouldn't have ever had the surgery. the big reason that they did it, and craig smith is a great surgeon who did it and really smart and technically adept. what he did was he took the left internal mammary and with another vessel, right internal mammary bypassed three vessels

on the left side. sounds like those are all good. like dr. schwartz said, that's your life insurance. if that stays open you're going to be okay. >> larry: so some -- actually this extends life. >> yes, it does. i've got some people who have -- walter dickinson in california, his left internal mammary has been open for 33, 34 years. he skis at high levels and -- >> larry: the only thing i noticed different was i have no discomfort. i feel fine. >> the other grafts are open. they're profuse. your heart is getting plenty of blood supply. >> larry: a person watching, to not be too technical, a graft is what? >> graft is like putting a side road along the long island expressway. you go around that exit. >> larry: once you click on which is the graft. >> you hook it up.

like somebody said, it's a plumbing job. all we are are glorified plumbers. >> larry: you hook the graft and hope it stays open? >> there's a thing called runoff. if you don't have a good runoff, if the long island expressway farther down is blocked up it will stop and it won't stay open. >> larry: i can report to the waiting public that i never felt better. they got it open. they put the stents in. i share a common bond with the former president and i feel very good. i only didn't make it public because i just like to keep things private, but i feel terrific. by the way, the doctor will stay with us. a panel is coming. a spokesman for president george w. bush had this to say tonight. president bush spoke to chelsea clinton this afternoon and was glad to hear her father was doing well and that his spirits are high. president bush looks forward to continuing his work with his friend on haiti relief and

rebuilding. president and mrs. bush send their prayers for a speedy recovery. next, more on president clinton and then in a little while the governor of new york. back in 60 seconds. tdd# 1-800-345-2550 (announcer) we believe in giving every investor tdd# 1-800-345-2550 a lot more for a lot less. tdd# 1-800-345-2550 that's why, at schwab, every online equity trade tdd# 1-800-345-2550 is now $8.95. tdd# 1-800-345-2550 no matter your account balance, tdd# 1-800-345-2550 how often you trade or how many shares... tdd# 1-800-345-2550 you pay what they pay what everyone pays: $8.95. tdd# 1-800-345-2550 and you still get all the help and support tdd# 1-800-345-2550 you expect from schwab. tdd# 1-800-345-2550 millions of investors. one price.

tdd# 1-800-345-2550 at charles schwab investors rule. tdd# 1-800-345-2550 are you ready to rule? >> larry: dr. wayne isom, chairman of the department of cardiothoracic surgery who did my surgery, david letterman, walter cronkite, a host ofs others. paul begala in washington. dr. sanjay gupta, cnn's chief medical correspondent in port-au-prince, haiti. david gergen, former adviser to president clinton in boston. on the phone, terry mcauliffe, close friend of the president's, former chairman of the hillary clinton presidential campaign. quick look back. president clinton called into this show just before his heart surgery in 2004. listen. >> i know what's involved and i know what the options are. i mean, i think that there's

virtually -- my blockage is so substantial i think if i don't do this there's virtually 100% chance i'll have a heart attack. i've been very lucky. i don't have any heart damage now. if i do the procedure, it's been done now for some few decades, and an enormous number of them done. you've pointed out, you had it. david letterman's had it. a whole slew of my friends have had it. without exception the people i know have good years afterward. i'm going to have to be really careful. i put ten pounds of that weight i lost back on on my book tour. i have to take it off. you know, just do everything i can to try to keep my cholesterol down, keep my blood pressure down. >> larry: paul begala, have you heard from him or those close to him? >> i heard from those close to him. he did speak to president obama around 6:00, the president called former president clinton. as you pointed out president bush has called.

he's receiving calls from well wishers. she's a w he's awake. i bet he's watching this. he feels kinship to you. in a book called "you're having a heart attack, mr. king?" the attention you brought to this, and i know you're a person who doesn't like to bring his private life on to the air. the attention you've brought to this is a wonderful way to remind people to keep a close watch on that ticker and do the things you do and that president clinton does. he has the right diet, he has the right exercise. he works like a dog but he always will. that has not been the cause of this as dr. schwartz said in the press conference. >> larry: he sent me a cartoon of a cardiologist visiting a patient and the patient has a tie stuck in his chest. and the cardiologist is apologizing and bill clinton said, thank god this didn't happen to either of us. dr. gupta, from what you heard from hearing from dr. isom and

the others, this is a classic case, isn't it, of a thing well done? >> reporter: yeah. i mean today -- first of all, larry, let me say i'm glad you're doing well. you didn't share that with me, but i'm glad to hear that the procedure you had a few weeks ago, you're feeling well. that's good news. this does happen and as dr. isom and dr. schwartz both pointed out this has more to do with the natural history of his heart disease. he had this bypass operation six years ago. i know a lot of people have had bypass operations they've done well for 20, 30 years. sometimes you get blockages that occur in those bypass grafts and in this case they decided we're going to leave the bypass graft alone. we're going to open up the artery that was blocked in the first place. that's what they did today and sounds like it went very well for him. >> larry: david gergen, do you think he might slow down? >> well, thank goodness he's doing as well as he is. larry, i actually think he might. he's been living a relentless

full life, full embrace of life. you know, he's a survivor, too. when he had this first operation, i'm among those who wonder whether it was successful as it first seemed, when he had the first operation, he did change his life and went on this diet. he's exercised regularly. and i think if a doctor is telling, now, you have to take it down a peg, i bet he'll do that, too. listen, one thing bill clinton is, he's very smart. and he understands survival very, very well. i think -- and look at -- i think his self-discipline is more than people understand. look -- i can't want to change the subject a little bit but look at when hillary clinton came in as secretary of state. everybody said he's going to be a loose cannon, he'll be saying things. he has played this perfectly since she became secretary of state. he's been extremely supportive. >> larry: let me get a break, come back, get terry mcauliffe's

thoughts. more with wayne isom as well.

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>> larry: president clinton has been a frequent guest on "larry king live." i asked him about his health. he talked to me briefly about it just last september. listen. how's your heart? >> as far as i know it's okay. my last medical exam i got a good report. >> larry: terry mcauliffe, you're as close to bill clinton as anyone. how's he doing? have you talked to him?

>> i called up there. i talked to the folks in the recovery room. he is in great spirits. he'll probably be in tonight for observation, larry. he'll be out tomorrow morning. he'll be raring to go. the great story is he's been so passionate about helping folks in haiti. ta were wheeling him into the operating room, literally as they were about to go through the double doors he was still on a conference call in haiti. they said, i'm taking that phone away from you. right up until the time he went into surgery he was dealing with haiti. i think he'll take a day or two off. you know bill clinton. if anybody thinks this is going to change his lifestyle, you don't know bill clinton. he gets out of bed every day, try to figure out how he can help people. he's in great spirits. he will be back to his old self a couple days and going to be just as before he went in. >> larry: we're going to try to contact him tomorrow and get him to be with us tomorrow night. we're going to devote the whole show to the heart tomorrow night, appropriate for valentine's day.

what, dr. isom, is his prognosis would you say? short term, long term? >> i think his prognosis is great, especially the fact those other vessels, those other grafts are open. as i said that's your million-dollar life insurance. if those will stay open, in fact, internal mammary will keep you alive forever. >> larry: other quick things for the panel. sanjay, what part in this does stress play? >> reporter: i don't think it plays a big part in this particular situation. obviously stress is associated with lots of different diseases. i think it's pretty clear. people are saying maybe this was related to his trip he took to haiti and was that too stressful for him? in this particular case it sounds pretty clear this was a natural progression of something that had happened back in his operation in 2004. that was sort of the wake-up call for him, as dr. schwartz pointed out. now 2010, 6 years later he had some gradual closing off of one

of his bypass grafts. i don't think stress played a big role. >> larry: paul begala, do you expect him to bounce right back? >> absolutely. i saw dr. schwartz say he was allowed to go back into office by monday. try to stop him. you talked to him about it so many times. the work he does with childhood obesity, the work he does in africa with hiv/aids. haiti, where he has a 35-year commitment. he and president bush raised millions of dollars. sanjay is down there helping a lot of them. they don't have the kind of health care president clinton has. i know, i know he would want folks to do that. if you're concerned about him, he's going to be fine. say a prayer and maybe send another dollar or two to the people in haiti at clintonfoundation.org. >> larry: his popularity still remains quite high, doesn't it? >> it certainly does, larry. people have seen he has not only

a passion for life but as paul begala just said a passion for helping others. bill clinton has a big, big heart. just not a very strong heart. >> larry: yeah. and terry i know you're going to go see him tomorrow. you let us know tomorrow night, too, won't you? >> you bet. he'll be raring to go. you know that, larry rk dr. isom, you're saying this may have been a good thing, right? >> let me comment on one thing that's mentioned about stress. if you take somebody like bill clinton and say, go sit in the rocking chair and don't do anything, they get sick. some people need to -- you've done, what, 7,000 shows since yours. letterman's done it. you want to be busy. if you take somebody who's the type "a" personality and stop them then they have problems. >> larry: can't stop. thanks, wayne. thanks, panel. lot more tomorrow night on heart disease this valentine's weekend with the concentration, of course, on the former president. new york governor david

paterson, facing gossip, innuendo and the people writing about it. he takes it on head-on next. su. i knew the subaru legacy was the smart choice, what i didn't expect was the fun. the subaru legacy, feel the love. subaru, the only manufacturer with 2010 iihs top safety picks for all models. that's why we created the tide "loads of hope" program, a free laundry service that provides clean clothes to families affected by disasters. [ woman ] it feels so good to be able to know that i've got clean clothes. you don't know how very basic essentials are until you have none. ♪ this is what gives us hope. [ female announcer ] you too can join us by purchasing a tide vintage t at tideloadsofhope.com.

for just $29.99 at red lobster. with fresh salads and biscuits... your choice of entrées... and an appetizer or a dessert to share. ends soon...at red lobster. i watched what i ate. i worked out. personally, i thought i was invincible. once it happened, i realized it's a different story. i'm on an aspirin regimen now because i never want to feel that helplessness again.

[ male announcer ] aspirin is not appropriate for everyone. so be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. i was the guy who was doing everything right. i was wrong. talk to your doctor, and take care of what you have to take care of. [ male announcer ] learn more about protecting your heart at iamproheart.com. >> larry: new york governor's david paterson has been dogged for weeks of rumors. he vows he will not be driven from office. he plans to run for another four-year term in november. he joins us now with things like the "new york post," i did not have sex with that woman. the daily news, captain chaos.

news day, only voters can out me. >> for the last few weeks i've been depicted in unflattering ways. the pretiquit of is the -- >> larry: not yet printed. >> described by aspects of the media sourcing the "times" to be a bombshell to drive the governor out of office because of a scandal. now the information that was justifying this predicted outcome manifested itself in salacious and outrageous charges that only uninformed sources could produce. >> larry: for the record a spokeswoman for the "times" diane mcnulty has told us this. "we didn't start the rumors about the governor. we haven't trafficked in those rumors." the "times" metropolitan editor

says, "obviously we're not responsible for what other news organizations are reporting. it's not coming from the "times." what do you make of that? >> they said the same thing to me when i talked to them several times and i take them at their word. >> larry: nothing's been printed. >> they didn't start the rumors when they sat down with me for an hour and a half to talk about the profile piece. they didn't not ask me questions about any of this. i would think, look, i'm going to leave for the journalist like yourselves and other analyzers of the media to come to a conclusion. i'm not a journalist. i am an elected official. i have the right to say this. the human decency if not journalists ethics would compel an organization when they see a person slandered for over two weeks now. i've been waiting for three weeks for this article to come out. to clear the air and at least say the charges that are being made are not in the perimeters of our investigation. >> larry: you're saying "the new york times" should print

something tomorrow? >> i wish they would so i could be out of my misery. the reality is these charges have been unsubstantiated. they are speculations. >> larry: let's get rid of them then. all right, chance to set the record straight. >> i don't want to do that. i'll tell you why. i've already denied these charges in several media outlets. i think every time i even address the charges i give them momentum. there was no source, no one that said any of this. >> larry: the "new york post" said about ten weeks ago a state trooper caught you snuggling with a woman in a closet at the governor's mansion. they quoted a police source saying the trooper opened the door. first thing they saw was the governor and women snuggling. snuggling and had their clothes on. is that a false story? >> not only a false story. there is no such closet as they described in the executive mansion and no troopers in the executive mansion.

troopers do not patrol or check inside the mansion at any time. you know something, larry, i won't kid you. i think i have thought about who might be after me, but for me to speculate about it would be as wrong as the speculations that were made about me. i can't prove it. i don't know who it. maybe those in the media might check their sources more. maybe those in the media might investigate why the sources are saying what they're saying. until that time i'm not going to commit the same act that has injured me. >> larry: do you think it's some sort of plot, conspiracy against you? a group, a person, what? >> larry, i -- >> larry: what do you think? what goes through your mind? we won't name names. is somebody after you? >> clearly somebody is. three different media outlets for contacted in the first quarter of the super bowl and they called us before the first quarter could end to confirm the governor's resigning over a

scandal. and there was no such conversation about resigning because none of this is true. it's a flat-out lie. what i would say is that what this has happened in the last two weeks, it's distracted us from one of the most difficult deficits we've had in our time. our sources are depleted. our revenues are depleted. we've cut $33 billion in the 2 years i've been governor, four times as much as any governor ever cut in a similar period of time. and we need to be focusing on how we're going to balance our budget and not be put in the place where other states are. >> larry: let me get a break. governor patters governor paterson is here the rest of the way. we'll have a clinton update next.

>> larry: we're talking to new york governor david paterson about the rumors swirling around him. we have more questions for him. let's check in get the latest on the bill clinton breaking news with cnn's mary snow at new york's columbia presbyterian hospital. >> reporter: president clinton is said to be up and walking around and described as being in great spirits. secretary of state hillary clinton, her daughter chelsea also at the hospital tonight. president clinton's cardiologist said president clinton felt discomfort in his chest the past couple days. he came in. when tests were done it was

found the bypass graft stemming back to surgery in 2004 was blocked and he was treated with two stents. his cardiologist said the procedure lasted about one hour today and the president was back and up at about two hours after that. his prognosis is said to be excellent. his doctor also stressed that there was no sign of any heart attack. he also stressed that this was not a result of his lifestyle or diet which he said were excellent. and president clinton is said to have gotten the green light to go back to work on monday. larry? >> larry: thank you, that update from mary snow. president clinton will be released from the hospital hopefully tomorrow. we're back with the governor of new york david paterson. after the governor was sworn in he went public with this admission about the past. let's get rid of that and listen to it. >> i betrayed a commitment to my wife several years ago and i do not feel i betrayed my commitment to the citizens of

new york state. i haven't broken any laws. i don't think i've violated my oath of office. i saw this as a private matter, but both of us committed acts of infidelity. >> larry: you have an open marriage, governor? >> no, we were separated actually at the time. >> larry: why did you do pgo pu with that? >> i went public with it. since i became governor overnight, the state was already ala alarmed. we had a fiscal crisis going on at the same time as the government crisis. the open and transparent way to address it, my wife thought so, too, we had been separate during our marriage. we wanted to clear that up. i thought at that time it was the right thing to do and i still do. however, the basis of those admissions i have always thought have created a feeding frenzy any time anybody has a problem with me they go to those

revelations under what i think -- >> larry: if you could go back in time would you not have said it? >> i think it was right to say it. >> larry: what do they have with you? they report two friends reported you nuzzling a neck of a family friend at the statehouse. the "new york post" seems to have a daily headline. >> larry, i've already addressed that. several people in the restaurant contacted our office. the manager threw two "new york post" reporters out for harassing two people that they later used as sources. the sources told the manager of the restaurant he's trying to put words in our mouth. so this is -- >> larry: why is the "post" after you? >> well, i'm on a pretty big list of people the "post" has big problems with. >> larry: what about, this is -- >> what i would say, larry, our state had a change in leadership in a rather shocking way a couple years ago. i think people have still sort of sensitivity to that to the point people would tend to believe anything they hear these

days. that opens the door for these kinds of scurrilous rumors that only uninformed serio eed sourc produce. >> larry: the question of drug use. have you been ever a drug user? >> i denied that just the other day. when i was younger in my 20s i did try drugs. >> larry: what's your wife -- how's your wife handling all this? how are your children handling it? >> i think my wife sets an example for me. she seems to be one of those people who can walk through walls and has an indomitable spirit. i borrow from her. of course, your children, that's the reason when we were separated that we never really discussed it or publicized it and never told our children that we were having these problems because the unfortunate effects of separation, adult problems, manifesting themselves in the lives of children is what we wanted to avoid. we agreed if we ever got to that

situation, we agreed when we got married that's how we would handle it. >> larry: how old are you children? >> my daughter's now 21 and graduating from ithaca college in new york and my son is in high school. >> larry: how are they dealing with this? >> i think they have become immune to these kinds of attacks and scurrilous charges. >> larry: you think your eyesight has an effect on the way you can challenge some of this? the fact you can be -- not a pun intended -- blind to this? in other words, people have to read these headlines to you, right? >> well, that's true. i don't think my legal blindness has anything to do with this. >> larry: not to do with the problem. to do with the way you can respond to the problem. >> i would say that my disability probably causes me to look at life through a different prism and really at times when i never thought i would finish college, at times i never naught

anyone would hire me. the anxiety i went through at that particular time is far more manifested than going through this today. >> larry: do you think it makes you tougher. >> i think overcoming challenges makes everyone tougher. >> larry: we'll be right back with the governor of new york.

>> larry: anderson cooper is standing by in port-au-prince, haiti. what's up tonight, anderson? >> reporter: larry, obviously we're going to have continuing coverage of the condition of former president bill clinton.

he's still hospitalized as you've been covering. we'll get the latest on his condition. we'll talk to paul begala, david gergen, dr. sanjay gupta about the former president's health and what this might mean for work moving forward. we'll have a lot of stories from haiti. the latest on the ten american missionaries still in custody. a lot of rumors today they might be released. that did not happen. some of the haitian government officials saying they -- some of them at least could be released in the coming days. we'll get the latest update on that. we're going to introduce you to american missionaries doing everything right in port-au-prince. working with the haitian government. not trying to take kids out of the country illegally. trying to help the kids who are here now live better lives here by supporting families and by supporting orphanage. we'll take you to a remarkable orphanage. we're going to meet great kids and see the work these american missionaries and haitian counterparts are doing to save lives and give new lives to a lot of very needy kids, larry. >> larry: anderson cooper, 10:00 eastern, 7:00 pacific.

we're with governor david paterson. are you surprised more fellow democrats aren't coming forward to support you? >> i think they are. i'll tell you what, larry, when i came on the show tonight i knew that i'd get asked about the scurrilous unsubstantiated rumors i shouldn't have to answer because they're not even sour source. the reason i came on here tonight is i wouldn't want anyone, no matter who they are, to be subjected to what i've gone through in the last few weeks, particularly when they're informed there's no remedy for this. so i think that democrats and republicans, this isn't a political issue. this is an issue about fairness. this isn't good for people. this isn't good for elected officials. it sure isn't good for people who would think of running for office in the future they'd be treated this way. >> larry: what is the remedy? >> i think the remedy is fairness. i think the remedy are standards. i'll leave to you and your journalistic colleagues to determine what they are. for me the remedy is to try to

get new yorkers and this country back on the real issue that new york is basically flat broke. we are struggling for survival living on the margins of our means. we have to learn we can't spend money we don't have. >> larry: he hasn't announced yet. everyone expects andrew cuomo, son of the former governor, to run for this office. has he said anything at all publicly about what you're going through? >> not that i'm aware of. >> larry: do you expect him to? >> he hasn't said much in the last year. that's part of the new political strategy in america. sit back and let others fight the problems and sail in if permissible to get elected. >> larry: they urged you to drop out -- >> no, they did not. the sources said they did but the individual who was sent to tell me to get out of the race said on the record he didn't ask

me to do that. >> larry: have you ever thought of saying, hey, i don't need this. good-bye. >> larry, i think anybody that's in an anxious situation feels that way but there are so many situations that are more challenging than this in my life that i feel that you fight your way through these problems. i think you stand up for what you think is right. i think you do what you're called upon to do. my purpose is to continue to talk about the fiscal condition of my state and my country and hope that more people will hear it so that we leverage ourselves and discipline ourselves so we don't go further into this recession than we're already in. >> larry: no plans to resign? >> larry, when you hear i've resigned it means you've been invited to my funeral. >> larry: are you definitely running for re-election? >> i'm announcing on february 20th. >> larry: that are you running? >> that i'm running for re-election. >> larry: you're positive nothing of this is going to come forward and prove true?

because all your friends pray that none of this is true. >> asked and answered. >> larry: we'll be back with our remaining moments with governor -- sound like "law and order." we'll be back with governor david paterson right after this. ( sneeze ) transform drinks you want, into cold medicine you need.

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>> larry: perception is reality, governor. if perception is reality do you think you're hurting your party? >> no. not at all. because reality is real. none of this we've talked about is real. by the way, larry, i'd like to say i'm very happy president clinton is recovering. i hope he comes on your show tomorrow to dispel the latest rumor denying i had anything to do with his heart condition. >> larry: cute. cute, david. eliot spitzer was forced to resign. what is with this office and sex allegations? is this part of the new york governor -- never heard about mario. >> i think this is a carryover from that situation. i think that's actually victimized me. what we're trying to do is to make sure that the state is solvent which is a lot more

important than these ridiculous -- >> larry: how is all of this, though, frankly, impacting ability to govern? got to impact it in some way. >> it certainly has been a distraction in terms of the media, as i try to get my message across, but for me you have to learn to tune these things out particularly when they're not true and not give it any more time or energy than it actually deserves. that's the whole notion. that's the reason i'm being atta attacked, to try to distract me and try to get me not to run for office. well, i'm running for office and i hope that all those who are making up rumors will probably make some more up. >> larry: you agree that "the new york times" is up of the most distinguished journalistic publications in the world? >> from the time i was a child i thought that they were really the paragon of ethics and journalistic virtue.

>> larry: i've never heard anyone say "the new york times" is out to get someone. so -- and this story, they say, is based on nothing they've said because they haven't printed it yet. they're still working on it. they called you today about questions. >> they asked me questions about the story. i'm not accusing "the new york times" of being out to get me. i feel "the new york times" owed me for common decency or perhaps professional journalistic ethics that they would clear the air so i wouldn't be subjected to these rumors i've had to deny and not one of them has a source. >> larry: are you calling on them to print something to straighten out this matter? >> i hope they'll print this article soon so we can get back to the business of the state, but i don't have any control over that. >> larry: who's writing the article? >> a bureau chief, danny higgen. >> larry: have you asked them when they intend to print? >> yes. >> larry: what did he say? >> they're not sure. >> larry: do you expect it soon? do you have some expectation

from them? >> well, i don't know when the article is going to be printed, but i will really not worry about it. what i'm worried about right now is the fiscal condition of my state and that's my priority as i try to get a budget passed by the deadline. >> larry: thank you, governor. i hope the rumors bill clinton heard about this got so upset he had two stents put in just because he's worried about what they're doing to you. >> that would be my highest honor. >> larry: governor david paterson. i mentioned tomorrow night we're going to follow-up the bill clinton story doing a major program on heart disease which certainly fits the valentine's day weekend. i should add that after my surgery and heart attack 23 years ago i formed the larry king cardiac foundation. so many people help us as we help people who can't afford it to get various heart procedures. cnn, one of our principle supporters, by the way. if you want more information go to lkcf,