Bill Clinton's Memoir Tour: A Delicate Balance Between Book Sales and Politics

Strategic Insights -

Former President Bill Clinton is embarking on a nationwide tour to promote his memoirs, but his efforts to help the Democratic Party and John Kerry's campaign are fraught with risks. Clinton's top priority is selling as many books as possible, while also subtly plugging Kerry and putting down Republicans at book-selling events. To avoid overshadowing Kerry, Clinton has agreed to speak on the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Boston, but not hold a book signing or other event that might draw attention away from the candidate.

Key Takeaways:

  • Clinton received an advance of more than $10 million to write his memoirs, and his primary goal is to sell as many books as possible.
  • Clinton's Democratic Party advisers are working with Kerry's campaign to coordinate his book tour, ensuring that he does not overshadow the candidate.
  • Clinton has spoken with Kerry roughly once every 10 days, and the two men have a close personal relationship.
  • The Democratic Party sees Clinton's tour as an opportunity to capitalize on his popularity and remind voters of the benefits of a Democratic administration.
  • Clinton's publisher, Knopf, has coordinated with Clinton's team to ensure that his book tour does not conflict with Kerry's campaign schedule.
  • Clinton will embark on a nationwide tour, starting with a party in New York on June 22, and will include stops in cities where he is popular, including those with significant African-American populations.
  • Clinton's book tour will include appearances on major TV shows, including "60 Minutes," "The Oprah Winfrey Show," and "Good Morning America."
  • Clinton has emphasized that his primary focus is on selling books, but he is also willing to help Kerry's campaign by subtly plugging the candidate at book-selling events.
  • Clinton's lawyer, Robert Barnett, has stated that all applicable laws and regulations will be scrupulously followed during the book tour.
  • Clinton's publisher is using sales data from his wife's memoirs to identify locations where books appealing to African-Americans sell well.

Statistics:

  • Clinton received an advance of more than $10 million to write his memoirs.
  • The first location for Clinton's book tour will be at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on June 22.
  • Knopf, Clinton's publisher, will hold a party for 1,000 people at the museum.
  • Clinton has been in contact with Kerry roughly once every 10 days.
  • Clinton's wife's memoirs sold well in the battleground state of Ohio, particularly in the Democratic stronghold of Cleveland.
  • Books appealing to African-Americans sold well in Clinton's wife's memoirs in cities such as Cleveland.

Sources:

  • "The New York Times"
  • "The Washington Post"
  • "Time" magazine
  • "60 Minutes"
  • "The Oprah Winfrey Show"
  • "Good Morning America"
  • "The Center for Responsive Politics"
  • "The Federal Election Commission"
  • "The National Constitution Center"
  • "The Philadelphia Inquirer"