Posted on 11/14/2004 10:13:18 AM PST by OESY
The buzz in the publishing world this week has been about the auction, currently underway, for the memoirs of former CIA director George Tenet. The bidding — which should end early next week — could bring in as much as $5 million for the Bush administration defector. Whatever publisher wins, there's at least one person who can't lose — Robert Barnett, the D.C.-based attorney who represents Tenet.
A senior partner of the D.C. firm Williams & Connelly, Barnett — who insists that journalists call him an attorney, not an agent — has become the go-to-guy if you think you've got a political best-seller.
As an attorney, Barnett negotiates contracts for many of his firm's high-profile clients after they leave government positions and head into the private sector.
In 1984, he tried his hand — successfully — at a different contract: brokering a book deal for Geraldine Ferraro. What followed was the kind of synergy most corporations only dream of.
Negotiating book deals became a natural extension of his firm's business. David Kendall, Barnett's partner, was one of Bill Clinton's lawyers during the impeachment proceedings. Later, Barnett negotiated Clinton's book deal.
Today, Barnett's active author-client list numbers around 250, and while he maintains that he spends no more than 15 percent of his time on the literary side of his business, his large client base helps his publishing work.
The fact, for example, that his roster includes many, many journalists for whom he negotiates contracts — among them Christiane Amanpour and Sam Donaldson — can't hurt when it comes to creating buzz for his books.
Recent Barnett-brokered book deals include Bob Woodward's "Plan of Attack," Tim Russert's "Big Russ and Me," Madeleine Albright's "Madam Secretary" and Queen Noor's "Leap of Faith."...
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Bush should have fired Tenet four years ago, and saved himself a lot of grief.
He should replace Sessions at the FBI as well. He has done nothing to fix that mess.
Recent Barnett-brokered book deals include Bob Woodward's "Plan of Attack," Tim Russert's "Big Russ and Me," Madeleine Albright's "Madam Secretary" and Queen Noor's "Leap of Faith."...
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