Still, some critics of the agency say that the past governors are rewriting history.

Ross, the immediate past governor of Texas, had been a well-respected Confederate soldier and enjoyed a good reputation among state residents.

The attorney general's office has been in turmoil in recent years, and past governors and their chief legal officers have occasionally had rocky relationships.

Among these were the immediate past governor, Henry Wise, who settled his family here before he served in the military.

Not to mention half the legislature, and past governors, going back to territorial days.

Brady's campaign website states that his administration would be a "clean break" from the ethics scandals of past governors.

Other speakers blamed the state's fiscal problems on mismanagement by past governors, which is partly true.

Members of Congress and past and present governors were also present.

But a sort of historical shorthand has developed around the past governors of New York.

Handley also repudiated past governors who had taken federal grant money for selling out control of the state to the federal government.