ALBANY - The 100th anniversary of former Gov. Nelson Rockefeller's birth was marked Tuesday with an exhibit opening at the futuristic state office complex he masterminded and remembrances from aides about how he remade New York.

The “Rockefeller at 100” exhibit at the New York State Museum features ephemera from the Republican's tenure as governor from 1959 to 1973 along with an Andy Warhol portrait of Rockefeller and other paintings acquired by the modern art maven. The event was held at a glassed-in museum terrace overlooking the sprawling granite Empire State Plaza, which Rockefeller had constructed in place of a modest Albany neighborhood.

White-haired aides recalled an exuberant man who greeted constituents with a hearty “Hiya Fella” and was always thinking about art, architecture and government. He wanted the best in everything, including expert advice. When told what Catholic philosopher St. Thomas Aquinas once said about abortion, Rockefeller responded “Good! Bring him in!”

“He didn't spend a lot of time meditating over things,” said state Office of General Services Commissioner John Egan, who was tapped by Rockefeller to help start the agency.

Rockefeller, grandson of oil baron John D. Rockefeller, was famous before he was elected governor in 1958. A Life magazine from 1942 included in the museum display shows the smiling young scion on its cover. A wall full of buttons and bumper stickers chronicles a long political career that included four successful runs for governor and unrealized presidential aspirations.

Joseph Persico, a Rockefeller speechwriter who is now a successful author, said his old boss was responsible for turning “a little string of teachers' colleges” into the giant state university system and cleaning New York's waters. Without Rockefeller, Persico said, there would be “a huge hole in the history of New York.”

Rockefeller resigned midterm in 1973 and died four years later. His last public service job was as vice president under President Ford. By all accounts, being a No. 2 was a bad fit for Rockefeller. While he was able to redesign the vice presidential seal, he was frustrated by his lack of influence. Asked once what he did as vice president, Rockefeller responded: “I go to funerals. I go to earthquakes.”

The exhibit runs through Oct. 12.