fears and work that out through the clothes that he created. >> lee alexander mcqueen, he lived and appears to have die heed on his own terms. randi kaye, cnn, new york. that's it for "360." thanks for watching. we'll be in port-au-prince tomorrow. larry king starts now. >> larry: tonight breaking news, bill clinton hospitalized. the former president stricken with sudden, unexpected chest pains undergoing a heart procedure. i know something about that. secretary of state hillary clinton rushes to his side. we have all the latest. and then a primetime exclusive. embattled new york governor david paterson is here, and he's not holding back defending himself against rumor, innuendo and gossip about alleged sexual

affairs and unproven claims of illegal drug use. he's going to confront it all head on next on "larry king live ." >> larry: good evening. to the latest on the bill clinton health scare. here's the president's doctor right now with details of what happened earlier today. >> this is part of the natural history, just as illnesses have natural history, treatments have natural histories. this particular type of bypass draft 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 graft has gone -- the stents have opened the vessel and the primary driver for his heart surgery was not this blood vessel. the primary driver for his heart

surgery was the main artery in the front of the heart and the bypass of that artery is what conveys the longevity benefit of bypass. that's called a left internal mammary bypass. that bypass looked pristine, and we know that multiple studies that if that bypass is opened that this point after the surgery, it will remain open. >> reporter: what is the prognosis going forward after this? >> his prognosis is excellent. >> reporter: doctor based on the failure rail rait, you weren't overly surprised he was back? >> i think this is like hoigh blood pressure, say. this is a chronic condition. we don't have a cure for this condition. we have excellent treatment that is 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 mammary -- without getting too technical, the grafts are of different kinds. this -- so the graft to the main blood vessel on the front of the heart is what's called a left internal mammary ar tear yo graph is not prone to this type of blockage. >> one at a time, please. >> reporter: he had chest pain for a couple of days? >> i didn't say he chest pains. he had vague chest discomfort when it became repetitive he realized that might be a he problem with his heart. he consulted me and we acted. >> reporter: were there ever

chest pains? >> there's -- i would like to keep using the word discomfort, because that's what he felt and occasionally often heart symptoms are not pains. they can be pressures and con strikzs. in his case he felt sort of a pressure or con strikz. >> reporter: when can he resume -- >> he is back on his feet. >> reporter: when can he resume normal activities in his skenl um. >> i told him he could be back in the office on monday, back in the office on monday. [ inaudible question ] >> i won't call it the wake-up call. the wake-up call happened in 2004. he has toed the line in terms of both diet and exercise. he's followed an excellent program. this particular complication is not hardening of the arteries. this sort of graft failure is --

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. [ inaudible question ] the procedure took on the order of an hour. and he was able to get up about two hours afterwards. >> thank you, guys. thank you. >> okay. let's go back. >> 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 just saw his cardiologist, dr. alan schwartz, shoeb 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. wayne

iceman, chairman of the department of cardiovascular university at the wild cornell medical center. that's a sister to this hospital, right? >> the w.o.w. cornell is new york presbyterian is the hospital. there's the uptown campus at columbia and the downtown kampls. >> president clinton was at the uptown. >> you could have done his surgery, right? >> no, probably not. >> they calmed you but you didn't come? >> there's a lot of misconception there. i think the cardiologist -- that was on a holiday weekend. the cardiologist was calling a lot of people to see who was in town, and i was out of town. aye said this before. i wanted to know who it was, and they said we can't tell you. so i am thinking it's part of a gangster or a type of lawyer that i don't like, and i said, well i don't want to do him. i'm not coming in. that's what happened. >> larry: what occurred with bill clinton today is fairly normal in postoperative 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 few weeks. and then there's another period of time that it will close off, and that might be four or five years. but i think alan schwartz explained this. that's usually people who don't take care of themselves. >> larry: he took care of himself. >> he took care of himself, so i'm not sure why it closed off. the important thing is they got the circulation open, and that's the blood supply. so a stent would be the thing to do, especially. >> we'll explain many a little while what a stent does and i'll tell you something about myself in a little while. let's check in with james carville the former clinton adviser in new orleans. have you spoken to the president, james? >> i he haven't spoken to him today. i spoke to him on sunday before the football game. that's the last time i checked in with him, he was getting ready to watch the super bowl.

very, very heartened by the news that i first got the phone call that he was at the hospital obviously was pretty upset about it. as the day goes on, i was he very, very reassured by what the doctor said. he seemed like a he very competent guy, and i feel much better now than i did four or five hours ago. i tell you that. >> 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. 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. everybody has been very clear that this has nothing to do with the artery closure he had. no. he'll be back in the office on monday, and he'll be going full

speed ahead. i he mean, president clinton, like i said earlier today, doesn't have an accelerator, he has a switch. it's on or off, and it's generally on about 21 hours a day. i bet you he won't listen to dr. schwartz and be back working the phones hard on sunday if i i know him very well. >> larry: you do not think this will slow him down? >> no, don't. i mean, larry, all of us get older and slow down somewhat, but i think he has any intention of just slowing down, and i don't think it will at all. like i say, i was very, very hardened by what dr. schwartz said, and he seemed like a man that knew what he was talking about. this is somebody who has a lot of emotions through the course of the day. it seems dpood now. >> larry: thanks, james. he'll be back with us maybe tomorrow night because we planned to be on tape tomorrow night. we're doing another special show tomorrow night dealing with bill

clinton and the furthering of heart disease, the number one killer in america in both men and women. i know a thing or two about stents and when we come back, i'll let you in on my own health news. don't go away. how can you get back pain relief that lasts up to 16 hours? with thermacare® heat wraps. that's 8 hours while you wear it, plus an additional 8 hours of relief after you take it off! when i put it on the heat really releases all the muscles and the tension that i have in my lower back. it has to get into the muscles, can't just be on the surface because my pain's not on the surface. [ spokesperson ] thermacare® delivers heat that penetrates deep, warming the muscle right where it hurts -- to relax, soothe, and unlock tight muscles... for lasting pain relief. because it's deep penetrating when you finally take it off that relief lasts a long time. by the heat going in deep it almost pulls the pain out with it. [ spokesperson ] thermacare® works differently. while some other pain relief

patches and creams may feel warm, they're really not. it takes away the pain, it relaxes the muscles. you've got to try it, because once you try it you'll be hooked. so if you've got pain, go to trythermacare.com for a $3 off coupon, and start using thermacare® today. and get up to 16 hours of pain relief... with thermacare®.

in view of the events today and after discussing it with everyone at cnn, i had heart surgery or had a heart attack 23

years ago this month, and five months later had quintuple bypass surgery. five weeks ago i had the same procedure at cedars-sinai hospital in los angeles that bill clinton had today at columbia presbyterian. i felt strange feelings in my shoulder. went into the hospital and they checked me overnight and scheduled for this four, five he days later. they'll go in and have the doctor explain ha they did. i did it on a monday morning, was out on tuesday and back here at "larry king live" on tuesday night. >> your doctor called me on that and sent me the films. the angiograms i could see.

the graft was still open 23 years later, but it narrowed down a little bit in the front part of it. that's plaque, right. >> that's probably what it is. anyway, they were able to slide a stent or a couple little stents in there and open it up. so that vein graft is still open, but it's got the stent in that there. >> larry: does the balloon go in? >> the balloon goes in. >> larry: what does the stent do? >> when the angioplasty first started the blood opened it up and 40% would come back. then they started to put stents in and stayed open longer but 35% of those would come back. they started to put the medicated stents in, and it looks like that's relatively new. they will stay up there. it holds it up. it's like a japanese finger trap. you turn your hand this way, and it opens up. >> larry: the president, what artery did he have? >> from talking -- from listening to dr. schwartz, i don't know. it sounds like the vein graft to

the right coronary artery had closed off. left-hand side th >> larry: that wasn't me? sdwl sdwl >> no, it wasn't. his vessel they opened it up with the stent. you might ask why didn't you do that the first time, and some cardiologists would say if i'd done that he wouldn't have had the surgery. the big reason 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 the other vessel, the right internal mammary busineypassed three ves on the left side. like dr. schwartz said, that's your life insurance. if that stays open, you'll be okay. >> larry: actually, this extends life? >> yes, it does. i have people that have walter

di dickinson in kamz. hez mammary has been open for 30-something years. he skis at high level sks does everything. >> larry: the only thing different was i have no discomfort. i feel fine. >> you ought to, because the other grafts are open. they're profuse and your heart is getting plenty of blood supply. >> larry: a person watching, a graft is what? >> a graft is like putting a side road around the long island expressway. you know, if it is stopping up, the traffic is there, you go around that exit. >> larry: once you click on it is the graft? >> you hook it up. it's like somebody said, it's a plumbing job. all we are is glorified plumbers. >> you hook the graft in and hope it stays open? >> it will stay open. now, 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. it won't stay open. >> so 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. 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 dplad to hear her father is 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 he recovery. next, more on president clinton and in a little while the governor of new york. back in 60 seconds. with fresh salads and biscuits... your choice of entrées...

and an appetizer or a dessert to share. ends soon...at red lobster. ( sneeze ) transform drinks you want, into cold medicine you need. introducing fast crystal packs. a new way from alka-seltzer plus to... get cold and flu relief in a taste-free, fizz-free powder. alka-seltzer plus.

joining us now on the panel a former clinton adviser in washington. dr. sanjay gupta, cnn's chief medical correspondent is in port-au-prince, haiti. david gergen former adviser to president clinton is on boston and terry mcauliffe is on the phone. before we talk to the panel, 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 think that there's virtually - this blockage is substantial. i've been very lucky and 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

have done. you pointed out you had it, david letterman has had it, a whole slew of friends have had it. without exception the people i know have good years afterwards. i have to be really careful. i booked it and have to take it off. >> larry: have you heard from him or those close to him? >> he spoke to president obama around 6:00. he called former president clinton, and president bush has called. he's receiving calls from well wishers, and he's awake and alert and in good spirits. i bet he's watching this larry. he feels a kinship with you because of what you've been through before it. the book you wrote, "you're having a heart attack, mr mr. king." the attention you've brought to

this. the attention you have brought to this and maybe president clinton can do that as well. this is a wonderful way to remind people to keep a close watch on that ticker and to do the things do you and president clinton does. he has the right diet and 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. >> he sent my he a cartoon of a cardiologist visiting the pa patient, and the patient has a tie stuck in the chest. the cardiologist is apologizing, and bill clinton said thank god this didn't happen to either of us. dr. gupta, from what you heard hearing from the doctor and the others, this is a classic case of a thing well-done? >> yeah. first of all, larry, i'm glad you're doing well. you didn't share that with me, but i'm glad to hear that the procedure that you had a few weeks ago, you're feeling well. that's good news. this does happen, and as

dr. izen and dr. schwartz pointed out, this has more to do with a natural history of his heart disease. he had this bypass operation six years ago. i know a lot of people have had bipast operations and done well for 20, 30 years. sometimes you do get blockages that occur in those bypass grafts. they decided to leave the bypass graft alone and open up the artery blocked in the first place. that's what they did today. it sounds like it it went very well for them. >> larry: do you think he might slow down? >> thank goodness he's doing as well as he is. larry, i think he might, and he's been living a relentless full life, a full embrace of life, but he's a survivor, too. when he had this first operation, i'm among those who wrur wonder if it was as successful as it first seemed, when he had his first operation it changed his life. he went on a diet and exercised

regularly, and i think if the doctor is telling him 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 that -- look at -- i think his self-discipline is more than people understand. to change the subject a little bit, but look at when hilly clinton came in as secretary of state. everybody said he'll be a loose cannon and saying things. he has been -- has played this perfectly since she became secretary of state. he's been extremely he supportive. >> larry: let me get a break and come back and get terry mcauliffe's thoughts. governor paterson of new york is coming shortly. don't go away. i'm robert shapiro.

over a million people have discovered how easy it is to use legalzoom for important legal documents. so start your business, protect your family, launch your dreams. at legalzoom.com we put the law on your side. speaking of, what's on friday's menu? friday is fish day. well, maybe it should be tuna helper day. mmmm... fish delish, yes? i'll take it. sold! tuna helper. one tasty meal.

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: i asked president clinton about his health 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 is he doing? >> i called up there and talked to the folks in the recovery room. he's in great spirits, and he'll probably be in tonight for observation, larry. he'll be out tomorrow morning and be rearing to go. the great story is he's been so passionate about helping folks in haiti. they were wheeling him into the operating room literally as they

went through the double doors and he was still on a conference call on haiti. doug said, mr. president, i'm taking that phone away from you. right up to the time he went into the surgery, he was dealing with haiti. he'll take a day or two off. if anybody thinks this will change his lifestyle, you don't know bill clinton. he gets out of bed every day to figure out how to help people. he's in great spirits and he will be back to his old self in a couple days and just like before he went in? >> larry: we'll try and contact him tomorrow and try to get him to be here tomorrow night. we'll devote the whole show to the heart tomorrow night. what's his prognosis, would you say? short term and long term? >> i think his prognosis is great, especially the fact that those other vessels, those other grafts are open, that's your million dollar life insurance. if those will stay open, in fact, internal mammary to the left interior will keep you

alive he forever. >> larry: some other quick things for the panel. what part in this does stress play? >> i don't know it plays a big part in this particular situation. obviously, stress is associated with lots of different diseases, but i think it's pretty clear. maybe this was related to his trip he took to haiti and was this too stressful to him? this was sort of a natural progression of something that happened back in his operation in 2004. that was sort of the wake-up call for him, as dr. schwartz pointed out. now in 2010 six years later, he had dprad wall closing off of one of his bypass grafts. i don't think stress played a big role. >> larry: do you expect him to bounce right back? >> absolutely. i saw dr. schwartz say he was allowed to go back into the office by monday, and i guess i'd say to him try to stop him. he's so passionate about his work, larry. the work he does with childhood

and obesity and the work in africa with hiv aids with million hes alive because of his work and now haiti where he has a 35-year commitment. if folks want to go to clintonfoundation.org and help people in haiti. they don't have the health care president clinton has, and i know, i know he would want folks to do that. he'll be fine and say a prayer and send another dollar or two to people in haiti. >> his popularity remains quite high, doesn't it? >> it certainly does, larry, because people have seen he has a passion for life but as paul said a passion for helping others. i think americans understand now that bill clinton has a big, big heart. just not a very strong heart. >> larry: terry, i know you'll see him tomorrow. you let us know tomorrow night too, won't you? >> you bet. he'll be rearing to go. you know that, larry. >> larry: you're saying this may

have been a good thing, right? >> let me comment on one thing 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 7,000 shows since yours? letterman has done it. you want to be busy. if you take somebody who is the type "a" personality and stop them, then they have problems. >> larry: we can't stop. >> that's right. >> larry: thanks, wayne and panel. lots more on heart disease on this valentine's weekend with the concentration on the former president. new york governor david paterson goes on the defensive facing rumors, gossip and innuendo. he takes it on head on, next. mind if i take a shortcut ? yep, sure. 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.

>> larry: welcome back. david paterson has been dogged for weeks now by rumors of womanizing and illegal drug use. he says the charges are unfounded and vows he will not be driven from office. he plans to run for another four-year term in november. he joins us with things like "the new york post," i did not have sex with that woman, news day, only voters can oust me. what's going on, governor? >> you're right. for the last two weeks i've been depicted in some very unflattering ways. the predicate he of all of this a "new york times" profile piece. >> larry: not yet printed. >> not yet printed, but was described by other aspects of

the media sourcing the times. now, the information that was justifying this predicted outcome manifested itself in sele shus and outrageous charges only uninformed sources could produce. >> for the record a spokesperson for the times diane mcnulty told us this. we didn't start the rumors about the governor and 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 he 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. they sat down with me for an hour and a half to talk about the profile piece, they did not

ask me questions about any of this. >> there's other analyzers of the media to come to the conclusion. i'm not a journalist but an laektsed official. the human deseent see if not journalistic ethics would compel an organization when they see a person slandered for over two weeks now, i'm waiting he for three weeks for this article to come out to clear the air and say the charges that are being made are not the perimeter of our investigation. >> larry: you say "the new york times" would print something tomorrow? >> i wish they would so i'm out of my misery. these charges have been unsubstantiated, and they're speculations. larry, it's like a -- >> larry: let's get rid of them yet. chance to set the record straight one by one. >> i don't want to do that. i'll tell you why. i've denied these charges in

several media outlets, and every time i address the charges i give them momentum. there was no source and there's no one that said any of this. >> larry: "the new york post" said that about ten weeks ago a state trooper caught you snuggling with a woman in a closet with the governor's mansion. the trooper saw the governor and woman inside, two of them snuggling together and embracing. nothing more than that, snuggling and had thirty clothes on. is that a false story? >> ints only a false story, but there is no closet as they described in the executive mansion and no troopers in the executive mansion. they do not patrol or check inside the mansion at any time. i thought about who might be after me. for me to speculate about it would be as wrong as the spegs lagss made about me. i can't prove it. i don't know who it is. maybe those in the media might

check their sources more or investigate why the sources are saying what they're saying. until that time i'm not going to commit the same act that injured me. >> larry: do you think it's a plot, conspiracy again you? a group, a person? what? what do you think? what goes through your mind? we won't name name, but is somebody after you? >> clearly somebody is. three different media outlets were contacted in the first quarter of the super bowl and called brus the first quarter could end to confirm that the governor is resigning over a scandal. there was no such conversation about resigning, because none of this is true. it's a flat-out lie. what i would say is what this has happened in the last two weeks, it's distracted us from one of the most difficult deficits we've in in our time. our sources are depleted, our

revenues are depleted. we've cut $33 billion in the two years booivi've been governor. 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 paterson is here the rest of the way. we'll have a clinton update next. don't go away. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] the cadillac cts sport sedan. one of car & driver's 10 best for the third year in a row. ♪

and now, cadillac announces the new luxury collection lease.

>> 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 go public

with that? >> i went public with it. since i became governor overnight, the state was already 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 sources could produce. >> larry: let's deal with a serious allegation you might put away or discuss, 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 thought 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. don't go away. fact: for over 25 years... in test after test, advil has been shown to be safe and effective when taken as directed.

get the facts... go to advil.com is deep down uncomfortable. [ female announcer ] new neutrogena moisture wrap body lotion wraps and seals hydration deep inside, improving skin's condition 2x more than eucerin original. heal on a deeper level. [ female announcer ] new moisture wrap body lotion. 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. [ male announcer ] welcome to the now network, population 49 million.

right now 1.2 million people are on sprint mobile broadband. 31 are streaming a sales conference from the road. 154 are tracking shipments on a train. 33 are iming on a ferry. and 1300 are secretly checking email on vacation. that's happening now. america's most dependable 3g network. bringing you the first and only wireless 4g network. right now get a free 3g/4g device for your laptop. sprint. the now network. deaf, hard-of-hearing and people with speech disabilitie.

so, at national, i go right past the counter... and you get to choose any car in the aisle. choose any car? you cannot be serious! okay. seriously, you choose. go national. go like a pro. >> 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 sourced. 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. that's what we're doing in this budget process. >> 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 say the white house urged you to drop out of the race in favor of cuomo. did that happen? >> 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.

>> 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 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 one 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. >> thaul