As they began leaving, Giuliani — who a day before had been hailed as “America’s mayor” by Oprah Winfrey during a Yankee Stadium prayer service — asked Pataki for a “private meeting” and they walked into a small room to talk.

Following an exchange of the “usual formalities,” Giuliani “dropped a bomb,” Pataki writes.

“Governor, you have extraordinary powers to extend my term in office,” Giuliani said.

Pataki’s “heart sank,” he writes, noting that he initially backed the idea of repealing term limits so Giuliani, a fellow Republican, could seek a third term, but quickly realized it was a “bad idea both as a matter of principle and politically.”