James McGreevey

Jim McGreevey – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Discover the life, ups and downs, and enduring voice of Jim McGreevey (born 1957), former Governor of New Jersey, who became the first openly gay U.S. governor. Learn about his political career, advocacy, personal journey, and memorable quotations.

Introduction

James Edward “Jim” McGreevey (born August 6, 1957) is an American politician, author, and public servant best known for his term as the 52nd Governor of New Jersey (2002–2004), his dramatic resignation and coming out, and his later work in criminal justice reform, prisoner reentry, and faith-based service.

McGreevey’s story features ambition, crisis, transformation, and redemption. He remains a figure whose life raises questions about identity, public service, personal truth, and second chances. In this article, we explore his early life, political ascent, downfall and post-politics work, personality, famous quotes, and the lessons his journey offers.

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Family

• McGreevey was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on August 6, 1957.

• His parents were Veronica, a nurse, and Jack McGreevey, a Marine drill instructor who served in both World War II and the Korean War.

• The family was Irish Catholic, and he was raised in nearby Carteret, New Jersey.

Education

• He attended St. Joseph Elementary School and St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, New Jersey.

• For college, McGreevey first spent semesters at The Catholic University of America, before transferring to Columbia University, from which he graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor’s degree.

• He earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Georgetown University Law Center in 1981.

• Next, he obtained a master’s degree in education (M.Ed.) from Harvard University in 1982.

• Later, he also pursued theological training: he attended the General Theological Seminary in New York City toward a Master of Divinity (M.Div.), though his bid for ordination was reportedly declined.

His broad academic background—law, education, theology—would shape the multiple phases of his public life.

Political Career and Achievements

Early Political Offices

• McGreevey began his political career in the New Jersey General Assembly, serving from 1990 to 1992, representing the 19th district.

• In 1992, he was elected Mayor of Woodbridge Township, a position he held through 2002.

• Simultaneously, from 1994 to 1998, he served in the New Jersey Senate, while still serving as mayor.

These posts built his local and regional reputation and connections, and provided experience in governance, constituency-building, and legislative work.

Governorship (2002–2004)

• McGreevey was elected Governor of New Jersey in 2001, defeating his Republican opponent by a wide margin.

• When he took office in January 2002, he inherited a large state budget deficit (circa $5 billion). He pushed through fiscal reforms, raised the tax on cigarettes, and introduced higher income taxes on wealthier residents.

• Among his legislative and policy priorities:

  • Reforming auto insurance in the state.

  • Restructuring the state motor vehicle bureaucracy (creating the Motor Vehicle Commission).

  • Enacting the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act to preserve important New Jersey watershed land.

  • Advocating and signing earlier versions of domestic partnership / civil union laws for same-sex couples in New Jersey.

  • Pushing for stem-cell research in the state, making New Jersey one of the more progressive states for biomedical research at that time.

However, McGreevey’s administration was also marred by ethical controversies: key staff and officials resigned over conflicts of interest, and his hiring of an Israeli national (Golan Cipel) to a high-level security position, despite questions about his qualifications, drew scrutiny.

Resignation and Public Confession

• On August 12, 2004, McGreevey held a press conference in which he publicly acknowledged that he had engaged in an extramarital affair with a man, stating:

  “At a point in every person’s life, one has to look deeply into the mirror of one’s soul … my truth is that I am a gay American.”

• He announced his intention to resign effective November 15, 2004, citing that his secret made his governorship vulnerable.

• With that, he became the first openly gay governor of a U.S. state (in the sense of coming out while in office).

• The resignation was widely covered. The Star-Ledger even won a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the scandal and its fallout.

Post-Governorship and Later Work

• After leaving office, McGreevey wrote a memoir titled The Confession (2006), in which he described his internal conflicts, dual life, and path toward public truth.

• He turned toward religious, criminal justice, and reentry work: volunteering in prison ministry, working with formerly incarcerated persons, and engaging in faith-based service.

• McGreevey also taught ethics, law, and leadership at universities (e.g. as resident executive in ethics at Kean University).

• He served as executive director of Jersey City’s Employment & Training Program (JCETP) beginning in 2013, focusing on opportunities, training, and support for reentering citizens.

• Additionally, he has worked with nonprofits like New Jersey Reentry Corporation (NJRC) focusing on reentry for former inmates.

• In the 2020s, McGreevey has made moves back into active civic life: he is a declared candidate in the 2025 Jersey City mayoral election.

His post-political life has emphasized restoration, second chances, and applying his experiences toward social change rather than political power.

Historical Milestones & Context

• McGreevey’s governorship occurred in the early 2000s, a time of national debate over gay rights, stem-cell research, and the role of ethics in politics.

• His public coming-out was a watershed moment: few high-level American politicians had done so before while in office; his confession ignited discussion about identity, hypocrisy, and redemption.

• The scandal and resignation underscored the tensions many public figures face between private life and public expectations.

• His return to public service via social justice and reentry programs reflects a broader shifting narrative: from political downfall to socially engaged redemption.

• McGreevey’s life intersects with issues of LGBT representation in politics, criminal justice reform, the role of faith in public life, and the possibility of reinvention.

Legacy and Influence

• McGreevey is remembered as a politician who transformed from a conventional public figure to one whose personal narrative became part of a public mission.

• His resignation and coming-out are frequently cited in discussions of the challenges LGBT individuals face in politics.

• His reentry and prison ministry work have had real impact in New Jersey’s criminal justice and rehabilitation systems.

• The documentary Fall to Grace (2013) chronicles his story, exploring themes of identity, failure, redemption, and service. (Produced by Alexandra Pelosi)

• In local New Jersey public life, his ongoing activism helps shape conversations about second chances, civic dignity, and the possibility of political comeback under different terms.

Personality, Beliefs & Character

• McGreevey’s path shows intellectual curiosity (law, theology, education) and moral introspection.

• He displays vulnerability: in The Confession and in public statements, he openly wrestled with shame, identity, and renewal.

• He has expressed humility and gratitude around brokenness and reformation. (See quotes below.)

• McGreevey’s faith has been central: after his political crisis, he sought a deeper religious life, though his path toward ordination was blocked.

• He also shows resilience: rather than retreat entirely, he reoriented his life around service, education, and social change.

Famous Quotes of Jim McGreevey

Here are several well-known quotations attributed to Jim McGreevey, reflecting his views on identity, politics, integrity, and faith:

• “My truth is that I am a gay American.”

• “I engaged in an adult consensual affair with another man.”

• “I am resigning because my secret leaves the governor’s office vulnerable.”

• “We are losing sight of civility in government and politics. Debate and dialogue is taking a back seat to the politics of destruction and anger and control. Dogma has replaced thoughtful discussion between people of differing views.”

• “I try to be grateful for the abundance of the blessings that I have, for the journey that I’m on and to relish each day as a gift.”

• “At a point in every person’s life, one has to look deeply into the mirror of one’s soul and decide one’s unique truth … not as we may want to see it or hope to see it, but as it is.”

• “Civil union is less than marriage. Marriage is a sacred and valued institution and ought to be afforded equal protection.”

• “No relief was forthcoming from my then-Catholic faith, which said the practice of homosexuality was a ‘mortal sin’ subject to damnation.”

These quotes chart the arc of his public confession, his view of personal struggle, and his reflections on politics and faith.

Lessons from Jim McGreevey’s Life

From McGreevey’s journey, several lessons emerge—some cautionary, some hopeful:

1. Authenticity matters—but can come late. McGreevey’s long concealment of identity took a heavy toll. His public truth reveals the cost of inauthenticity.

2. Power and secrecy are fragile companions. Holding private secrets, especially in public life, can destabilize even high office.

3. Failure can be a pivot point. His political downfall was dramatic, but it opened space for new kinds of service, reflection, and activism.

4. Redemption is not guaranteed—but effort matters. McGreevey’s post-politics work shows that assuming moral responsibility and redirecting one's energy can help rebuild purpose.

5. Faith and meaning are deeply personal. His attempt to move toward spiritual vocation suggests that political life does not exhaust the human need for meaning.

6. Public life leaves little margin for error—but people remember the comeback stories. McGreevey’s reinvention reminds us that narrative arcs can shift if one is willing to step forward differently.

Conclusion

Jim McGreevey’s life is not a simple political biography. It is a human story of ambition, crisis, confession, and a search for renewed purpose. His tenure as governor was marked by both achievement and controversy, but his later dedication to social justice, prisoner reentry, and spiritual exploration gives his story continuing resonance.