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CNN Live At Daybreak
Hillary's History
Aired June 09, 2003 - 06:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: As we just told you, the former first lady and current U.S. senator from New York will be signing copies of "Living History" at a New York bookstore this morning, and that's where we find CNN's Sean Callebs.
Good morning -- Sean.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: No line, huh?
CALLEBS: Well, it's a little misleading, because instead of getting in front of the bookstore here in the heart of Manhatten on Fifth Avenue, customers are being asked to go down a side street, kind of tucked away almost in an alley, but there are only about eight or nine people out there at this hour. But without question, love her or hate her, former first lady and current senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is again grabbing the spotlight and the headlines. And in about four- and-a-half hours, she is scheduled to be at this bookstore to hand out autographed copies of her new book.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There are those who see Senator Clinton as a trailblazer and those who would simply like to see her vanish from public eye. Without question, Hillary Clinton again has the public's attention with the launch of her 576- page book "Living History."
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: I am a private person and it was difficult to write the book, but I wanted to give a complete accounting of my eight years in the White House with my husband.
CALLEBS: Clinton maintains the book is not being used to launch her own presidential campaign in 2008 after having already ruled out a run at the White House in 2004.
In the book, the former first lady chronicles her heartbreak and her fury after learning Bill Clinton had lied to her and everyone else about his affair with intern Monica Lewinsky. The senator says she wondered if her marriage would survive or even if she wanted it to continue. Still, Hillary Clinton insists that is just a snapshot of a life story.
CLINTON: I want everyone to read the whole book. It is an effort that I undertook. I worked very hard on it to talk about my growing up, my values, my beliefs. CALLEBS: The first run of "Living History" received more than a million printings with literary agents saying its continued popularity could hinge on just how candid the public believes the author has been.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
And of course some say the senator has a compelling story that needs to be told, but others believe she crafted this book to help erase her debt and bolster her bank account. The publisher is paying Clinton $8 million.
COSTELLO: Wow!
CALLEBS: Live in New York, Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: Eight million bucks, and you have to believe they're going keeping -- they're going to be keeping a close eye on how well this book sells and that might give her an idea on whether she should run for president, right?
CALLEBS: I think that some people are kind of using this to some kind of litmus test to see just how popular she is. But most polls that are out, and there are a lot in conjunction with this book, show that about a third of the country has questions about her, a third of the country supports her and a third are simply skeptical or not that interested.
COSTELLO: All right, Sean Callebs, live from New York this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired June 9, 2003 - 06:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: As we just told you, the former first lady and current U.S. senator from New York will be signing copies of "Living History" at a New York bookstore this morning, and that's where we find CNN's Sean Callebs.
Good morning -- Sean.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: No line, huh?
CALLEBS: Well, it's a little misleading, because instead of getting in front of the bookstore here in the heart of Manhatten on Fifth Avenue, customers are being asked to go down a side street, kind of tucked away almost in an alley, but there are only about eight or nine people out there at this hour. But without question, love her or hate her, former first lady and current senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is again grabbing the spotlight and the headlines. And in about four- and-a-half hours, she is scheduled to be at this bookstore to hand out autographed copies of her new book.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There are those who see Senator Clinton as a trailblazer and those who would simply like to see her vanish from public eye. Without question, Hillary Clinton again has the public's attention with the launch of her 576- page book "Living History."
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: I am a private person and it was difficult to write the book, but I wanted to give a complete accounting of my eight years in the White House with my husband.
CALLEBS: Clinton maintains the book is not being used to launch her own presidential campaign in 2008 after having already ruled out a run at the White House in 2004.
In the book, the former first lady chronicles her heartbreak and her fury after learning Bill Clinton had lied to her and everyone else about his affair with intern Monica Lewinsky. The senator says she wondered if her marriage would survive or even if she wanted it to continue. Still, Hillary Clinton insists that is just a snapshot of a life story.
CLINTON: I want everyone to read the whole book. It is an effort that I undertook. I worked very hard on it to talk about my growing up, my values, my beliefs. CALLEBS: The first run of "Living History" received more than a million printings with literary agents saying its continued popularity could hinge on just how candid the public believes the author has been.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
And of course some say the senator has a compelling story that needs to be told, but others believe she crafted this book to help erase her debt and bolster her bank account. The publisher is paying Clinton $8 million.
COSTELLO: Wow!
CALLEBS: Live in New York, Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: Eight million bucks, and you have to believe they're going keeping -- they're going to be keeping a close eye on how well this book sells and that might give her an idea on whether she should run for president, right?
CALLEBS: I think that some people are kind of using this to some kind of litmus test to see just how popular she is. But most polls that are out, and there are a lot in conjunction with this book, show that about a third of the country has questions about her, a third of the country supports her and a third are simply skeptical or not that interested.
COSTELLO: All right, Sean Callebs, live from New York this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
