Cheney's friends say he doesn't NEED the $2 million-plus. He just wants to "debunk his many critics" [View All]

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Cheney Seeks Book Deal on Bush Years and More



Former Vice President Dick Cheney discussed national security Thursday at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington. Friends say he is eager to give a full accounting of his life in politics.

A person familiar with discussions Mr. Cheney has had with publishers said he was seeking more than $2 million for his advance. That sum may prove hard to get in this economic climate, especially given his generally low approval ratings, which publishers view as a potential — but not certain — harbinger for sales.

While Mr. Bush got an advance estimated to be well into the millions for a look into 12 of his most important decisions, his payout is not believed to be as large as that of former President Bill Clinton for his memoirs, which drew a $15 million advance.

Mr. Rumsfeld was not paid an advance by his publisher, Sentinel, of Penguin Group USA, and has committed to donating his share of any proceeds to his nonprofit foundation. (Mr. Bush, Mr. Clinton, Mr. Cheney, Mr. Rumsfeld, and Mr. Obama, for that matter, were represented in their contract talks by the Washington lawyer Robert B. Barnett.)

Mr. Cheney’s friends say he does not need the money and has made clear in his talks that he is eager to give a full accounting of his life in politics that will debunk his many critics.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/23/us/politics/23cheney.html?ref=us