Former New York Gov. Spitzer ’81 rejected by Harvard Club

The club rejected Spitzer, who graduated from Harvard Law School in 1984, because it did not want to associate with his scandalous past, a person familiar with the decision told the Times. In 2008, Spitzer resigned his governorship after news broke that he patronized an expensive prostitution service.

Lisa Linden, Spitzer’s spokeswoman, said in a statement Tuesday night that the club’s decision was “disappointing.”

“Last year, Harvard asked Eliot to speak on ethics at the school. He supports the institution financially. It would seem that whoever made this decision at the club is not on the same page as the university itself,” Linden said in the statement. The club, which is independent of the university, has more than 11,000 members.

When contacted by The Daily Princetonian, club president Nicole Parent declined to comment on the specifics of the case.

“The proceedings of the admissions committee are confidential as per the bylaws of the club,” she said in an e-mail.

Spitzer’s membership at the nearby Princeton Club of New York, one block south of the Harvard Club on West 43rd Street, has lapsed, according to the Times. The membership office of the Princeton Club could not be reached for comment late Wednesday afternoon.

Harvard graduates are generally eligible for membership at the Harvard Club. Two members of the club told the Times that rejections are extremely rare, but that any two members of a roughly 15-person admissions committee can block the acceptance of an applicant.

The Princeton Club accepts applications from students and alumni of Princeton, Columbia, New York University and other selected affiliate schools. Both the Harvard and Princeton clubs offer members a variety of services, including access to dining rooms, guest rooms, lounges and fitness centers.

During his time at Princeton, Spitzer served as USG chairman and was a member of Cloister Inn. He received his bachelor’s degree from the Wilson School and authored a thesis titled “Revolutions in Post-Stalin Eastern Europe: A Study of Soviet Reactions.” He currently co-hosts a primetime talk show on CNN with conservative columnist Kathleen Parker. The show, “Parker Spitzer,” premiered earlier this month to mixed reviews.