Tap a phrase to see the source.  Senator John Ensign of Nevada, 2011 Senate farewell speech following sex scandal I rise today to deliver a very difficult speech. Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina, 2009 Apology for extramarital affair I'll lay it out. It's going to hurt. And we'll let the chips fall where they may. David H. Petraeus, former C.I.A. director , 2013 Speech following resignation over affair I join you keenly aware that I am regarded in a different light now than I was a year ago. Rep. Randy Cunningham of Calif., 2005 Addressing allegations over real estate deal In recent weeks, serious questions have been raised about my conduct in office. ... I welcome any and all appropriate investigations. Senator Richard M. Nixon of California, 1952 So-called Checkers speech addressing political expense fund I want the American people to know all the facts, and I am not afraid of having independent people go in and check the facts, and that is exactly what they did.  Gov. James E. McGreevey of New Jersey , 2004 Announcing resignation over gay affair 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 in the world, not as we may want to see it or hope to see it, but as it is. Former Representative Anthony D. Weiner of New York, 2013 Admitting to more explicit texting during campaign for New York City mayor While some of the things that have been posted today are true and some are not, there is no question that what I did was wrong. ... This behavior that I did was problematic, to say the least, destructive, to say the most. Former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, 2008 Admitting extramarital affair In the course of several campaigns, I started to believe that I was special and became increasingly egocentric and narcissistic. Senator Ensign, 2011 Senate farewell speech following sex scandal I was blind to how arrogant and self-centered I had become. I did not recognize that I thought mostly of myself. Arnold Schwarzenegger, candidate for governor of California , 2003 Addressing sexual misconduct accusations And so what I want to say to you is that, yes, I have behaved badly sometimes.  Senator Larry E. Craig of Idaho, 2007 Expressing regret over guilty plea in airport-restroom sex sting As an elected official, I fully realize that my life is open for public criticism and scrutiny, and I take full responsibility for the mistake in judgment I made in attempting to handle this matter myself. Gov. Eliot Spitzer of New York , 2008 Addressing prostitution scandal I apologize first, and most importantly, to my family. I apologize to the public, whom I promised better. President Bill Clinton, 1998 Apologizing for affair with Monica S. Lewinsky It is important to me that everybody who has been hurt know that the sorrow I feel is genuine.  Senator David Vitter of Louisiana, 2007 Apologizing for connection to the so-called D.C. Madam Now, having said all of this, I'm not going to answer endless questions about it all over again and again and again and again. That might sell newspapers, but it wouldn't serve my family or my constituents well at all.  Senator Nixon, 1952 So-called Checkers speech addressing political expense fund Let me say this: I don't believe that I ought to quit, because I am not a quitter. Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick of Detroit, 2008 Speech following resignation over felony convictions Our challenge now is to put the anguish and the turmoil of recent months behind us. Mr. Schwarzenegger , 2003 Addressing sexual misconduct accusations Now, let's go from the dirty politics back to the future of California.  Bernard B. Kerik, former New York police commissioner , 2010 Remarks before sentencing for tax fraud and other felonies Believe me when I say I have learned from this and I have become and will continue to become a better person.
See the ultimate political apology, culled from notable speeches and statements made in the aftermath of wrongdoing or other officeholder embarrassments.