FOR THE RECORD

Anyone who believed that being forced to resign from office in disgrace as the result of his dalliances with hookers might have, um, chastened Eliot Spitzer had that notion scotched last week.

Copies of transcripts of two interviews of Mr. Spitzer by State Inspector General Joseph Fisch last October were released as a follow-up to the IG's blistering report charging that the state Commission on Public Integrity was compromised by leaks during its probe of the conduct of Spitzer aides in the Troopergate scandal.

During an initial interview last September, the conversation between Mr. Spitzer and Mr. Fisch was cordial, but during the follow-up sitdown the former Governor bristled when Mr. Fisch asked why he wanted to do it in his father's real-estate office, saying that photographers had been following him and his family and he wished to avoid their scrutiny.

Mr. Spitzer then expressed anger at Governor Paterson's staff having released what he described as personal e-mail messages that included communications with members of his family in response to reporters' Freedom of Information Law requests, saying that he believed this might represent an ethics violation.

At one point he grew testy, stating, "My time is precious, judge [Mr. Fisch is a former state Appellate Division Justice]. What is your question?" Moments later, he amplified, saying, "I would like to see your questions so that my time is not taken up unduly."

Perhaps the most ironic remark from the former Governor was his denunciation of the amount of time spent investigating the effort by his aides to embarrass then-Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno by disclosing records of his use of state aircraft for business that was more political than governmental.

The probes spawned by what became known as Troopergate— State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo found that aides to Mr. Spitzer misused the State Police to help make their case with the media—showed, the former Governor said, the "inability of people in Albany to focus on what matters."

This came, of course, from a man whose top aides created the whole mess with a mentality that is normally associated with college pranksters. Then again, if Mr. Spitzer had a shred of self-awareness or perspective, he might still be Governor.

The apparent decision by Transport Workers Union Local 100 Acting President Curtis Tate not to participate in any debates prior to next week's union election adds some irony to comments made by his prime backer 30 months ago.

Back then, Roger Toussaint was running for his third term and took part in a debate at the Cornell School for Labor Studies in which he was the prime target of the three other candidates who took part. Mr. Toussaint more than held his own during the exchanges, and afterward he was among the candidates who questioned the absence of the man regarded as his leading challenger, Barry Roberts.

The consensus was that Mr. Roberts was concerned that he would not acquit himself well in the debate. Mr. Toussaint's explanation as to why was, "Barry has never been his own man, can't speak for himself."

The decision by Mr. Tate, who is hardly the known quantity that Mr. Toussaint was three years ago, to opt out of debating this time around (challenger John Samuelsen called reporters at this newspaper as well as the Times and Daily News asking whether they would help facilitate a debate by acting as questioners) casts a whole new light on Mr. Toussaint's remarks about Mr. Roberts back then.

That irony is compounded because Mr. Roberts, having since made his peace with the incumbent, is now Local 100's administrative vice president and is running on Mr. Tate's slate.

Larry Morgan, executive director of the Professional Staff Congress's welfare fund, will be honored by the Council of Municipal Retiree Organizations of New York City at its annual luncheon June 23 at John Jay College.

"Larry Morgan has been a lifetime advocate for working people's health, education and welfare," explained COMRO President John Hyland.

Mr. Morgan has served as director of health planning for District Council 37, as the fund administrator for United Auto Workers District 35, and executive director of the SEIU Local 1199 Home Care Industries Fund, among other posts.

Those seeking further information about the luncheon, for which tickets are $35 apiece, should contact Jacob Judd at jjudd18@optonline.net.