Spitzer was a powerful politician in New York politics who had risen as the Attorney General and eventual Governor of New York in 2006. Two years later, it was revealed that Spitzer had been deeply involved with a high-end prostitution ring. It threatened to end his political career.

Duh.

Spitzer tried to get ahead of the scandal, ordering a press conference to respond. Rather than an open and honest approach, Spitzer vaguely referred to this as a "personal matter," and ended the press conference without taking questions. He'd later be called upon to resign, and during his resignation speech there were certainly flashes of the Checkers Speech pathos. Spitzer slowly tried to get back into the political game, but with less success than Nixon had.