Petraeus to speak at USC event, expected to apologize for affair

Former CIA Director David Patraeus will speak Tuesday night at USC’s annual dinner for veterans and ROTC students, his first public speech since resigning as head of the intelligence agency because of an extramarital affair.

According to an advance copy of the speech obtained by the New York Times, Petraeus will apologize for the actions that led to his downfall.

“Needless to say, I join you keenly aware that I am regarded in a different light now than I was a year ago,” Petraeus will say, according to the Times.

“I am also keenly aware that the reason for my recent journey was my own doing,” the advance text says. “So please allow me to begin my remarks this evening by reiterating how deeply I regret — and apologize for — the circumstances that led me to resign from the CIA and caused such pain for my family, friends and supporters.”

Petraeus, 60, a retired four-star Army general, led U.S. forces in the Iraq war and is credited with turning around the war. He served as CIA director for just over a year, resigning in November after admitting to an affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell.

Before giving the keynote speech at the dinner, Petraeus will visit the USC Price School of Public Policy, which hosts the ROTC program. He will also visit the USC School of Social Work, where addressing the needs of returning veterans is part of the curriculum.

[For the record, March 26, 2013, 11:46 a.m.: A previous version of this post stated incorrectly that Petraeus is credited with turning around the war in Aghanistan. He is credited with turning around the war in Iraq.]

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Twitter: @cindychangLA

cindy.chang@latimes.com