Clinton Cashes In
Former President Clinton traveled the globe last year, his first out of office, picking up $9.2 million in speaking fees, while his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, a New York Democrat, got a $2.85 million advance for her memoirs, according to a financial disclosure report released on Friday.
The former first couple also paid more than $1.3 million in legal fees for themselves and former staff, much of it stemming from old White House investigations, according to the disclosure report.
It showed the Clintons still owe at least $1.75 million in legal fees, and have a blind trust worth between $1 million and $5 million.
The report was filed by Sen. Clinton. All members of Congress must make such reports public each year.
Hillary Clinton's advance was from an $8 million book deal with Simon & Schuster. Her memoirs are due out next year.
Like many former presidents, Bill Clinton cashed in with speaking fees. According to the report, he gave an average of one speech a week for between $28,100 to $350,000.
Among his worldwide stops were: Canada, Hong Kong, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Poland, Spain, Ireland, England, France, Brazil, Japan, Australia, Italy, Scotland and a number of U.S. cities, from New York to Los Angeles.
He gave speeches to investment banks, Jewish and Israeli groups, public relations companies, advertising agencies and other organizations, according to a New York Times account of the report.
The Times says his highest fee was $450,000 for a three-day engagement in Tokyo sponsored by the Miki Corporation, a food and cosmetics importer and wholesaler.
Other presidents have taken a similar course after leaving office, the Times says.
In 1998, Global Crossing, a telecommunications company that has since gone bankrupt, paid former President George Bush with company stock that grew to be worth $14 million in lieu of an $80,000 fee for a speech. Mr. Bush has also earned large fees for many other speeches, earning millions of dollars.
In October 1989, former President Ronald Reagan received a $2 million honorarium for a nine-day trip and speeches in Tokyo.
But Mrs. Clinton's filing, which includes required financial information about her family income, is the first time a former president has specifically enumerated his speaking fees, the Times reports.