Gingrich Working On A New Book

Speaker hopes it will help him pay off ethics penalty

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Nov. 19) -- House Speaker Newt Gingrich is at work on a new book that he hopes will earn enough to help him pay off his $300,000 ethics penalty.

During Congress' recess, Gingrich has set aside two days a week for writing on the project, whose working title is "Lessons Learned the Hard Way." Gingrich spokeswoman Christina Martin said the speaker hopes to finish before Congress returns to work in January.

Steven Sorentino, a spokesman for HarperCollins, which plans to publish the book next April, said it will outline "the principles that have governed his life, both personal and political, and the lessons he has learned along the way." Gingrich's previous book for HarperCollins, "To Renew America," earned him a reported $185,109 in royalties in 1996.

The new book's anticipated royalties are part of the arrangement that House leaders crafted in January, after Gingrich was assessed a $300,000 penalty for violating House rules. Gingrich was cited for not seeking proper legal advice in connection with his use of tax-exempt projects, and for furnishing inaccurate information to the ethics panel that looked into his conduct.

Gingrich made his first $50,000 payment in May, at which time he also disclosed he plans to borrow no more than $150,000 from former Republican Sen. Bob Dole to pay off the penalty. Originally, Gingrich had planned to borrow the entire $300,000 from Dole, an arrangement that House Democrats criticized as a sweetheart deal.

Gingrich has promised to make two additional payments of $50,000 -- on June 1, 1998, and Nov. 30, 1998 -- and to pay the $150,000 balance by Jan. 2, 1999. If he has to borrow money from Dole, the royalties from his new book would serve as collateral.

Originally, HarperCollins offered Gingrich a $4.5 million advance for the two books, but that drew intense criticism and Gingrich agreed to accept royalties on sales instead.

Gingrich staffer Allan Lipsett said the new book has been delayed because of Gingrich's other responsibilities. "He's squeezing it [the writing] in between political travel and town hall meetings," Lipsett told The Associated Press. "The schedule has been pushed back a lot. He has a lot to work with, far more ideas than there is time available."

In Other News:

Wednesday Nov. 19, 1997

• Starr Investigates Clinton's Lawyers For Obstruction
• White House: No Diplomatic Solution In Sight On Iraq
• Arkansas Embroiled In Investigations
• Gingrich Working On A New Book

E-Mail From Washington:
• White House Says U.S. Wants To Solve Iraq Situation Peacefully
• Albright Flies To Geneva For Iraq Meeting