Politicians' books

[lpetrich]

Politicians often write memoirs and other such books, and some of them are very valuable, if only to show us what they think and how they think. But some of them are another story.

The GOP book-buying machine boosts Republicans on the bestseller list - The Washington Post

Rep. Dan Crenshaw’s memoir and social critique, “Fortitude: American Resilience in the Era of Outrage,” soared to the top of the bestseller lists when it was published last year. The book helped raise the former Navy SEAL’s profile and burnished his credentials as a rising star among freshman congressmen.

As it happens, Crenshaw and his publisher, Hachette Book Group, got a little help from the Texas Republican’s friends.

The National Republican Congressional Committee, which works to elect GOP candidates to Congress, spent nearly $400,000 on bulk purchases of the book. The organization acquired 25,500 copies through two online booksellers, enough to fuel “Fortitude’s” ascent up the bestseller lists. The NRCC said it gave away copies as incentives to donors, raising $1.5 million in the process.

What's so special about that book that it is worth such sales?

It's not just him.

A government watchdog organization, the Campaign Legal Center, filed complaints last week with the Federal Election Commission and the Senate Ethics Committee about the manner in which Cruz’s campaign aides went about bulk buying and promoting the senator's latest volume, “One Vote Away: How a Single Supreme Court Vote Can Change History,” published last fall.

But why this mysterious literary output?

And that can be a significant source of income for lawmakers. Brett Kappel, an attorney who specializes in federal election regulations, said members of Congress are forbidden from earning more than $29,595 in income beyond their federal salaries in 2021. But book advances and royalties are specifically exempted from these limits.

“You can see why writing books is one of the favorite ways for members to earn outside income,” Kappel said.

In addition to Crenshaw’s book, Republican organizations have made large bulk purchases of books by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Donald Trump Jr.

...
This appears to be a largely Republican phenomenon. While at least seven Democratic senators published books during the past election cycle, neither the Democratic National Committee nor the party’s two congressional arms reported buying any of them in bulk quantities.

 

[lpetrich]

A Trump Political Committee Bought $158,000 Worth Of Books Shortly After Jared Kushner Published His Best-Selling Memoir

“Breaking History: A White House Memoir” hit shelves on Aug. 23. Two weeks later, the Save America Joint Fundraising Committee, which raises money for two Trump PACs, paid retailer Books-A-Million $131,000 for “collateral:books,” according to a campaign filing made Saturday with the Federal Election Commission.

On Sept. 22, Save America purchased another $27,000 worth of books.

Spokespeople for Save America did not immediately respond to questions about whether the book purchases covered Kushner’s memoir. But it seems likely that they did. Save America Joint Fundraising Committee is currently offering signed copies of Kusher’s book in exchange for donations of $75 or more.

1. Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - Sept. 11, 2022 - #1
2. Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - Sept. 18, 2022 - #2
3. Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - Sept. 25, 2022 - #2
4. Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - Oct. 2, 2022 - #10
5. Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - Oct. 9, 2022 - #10
6. Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - Oct. 16, 2022 - gone

But with a dagger symbol, something that the NYT uses to signify some of the book's sales coming from bulk purchases.

Bulk purchases from "Save America".

Bulk purchases that make that book seem like a great book.

 

[lpetrich]

Senators Use Campaign-Donor Money To Buy Their Own Books - Aug 13, 2021, 09:19pm EDT

At least six senators who disclosed receiving income from books in 2020—Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)—apparently used money from campaign donors to buy their own books.

...
Even when author royalties go to charity, publishers still make money. That could theoretically prompt certain firms to dole out bigger advances to politicians, knowing they can lock in bulk buys from political committees.

Politician - 2020 earnings - book

• Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) - $382,500 - (Memoir) Every Day Is A Gift
• Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) - $278,210 - (Memoir) Persist, (other books)
• Tom Cotton (R-AR) - $202,500 - (Memoir) Sacred Duty: A Soldier’s Tour of Arlington National Cemetery
• Joni Ernst (R-IA) - $108,750 - (Memoir) Daughter of the Heartland: My Ode to the Country That Raised Me
• Tim Scott (R-SC) - $85,000 - Opportunity Knocks: How Hard Work, Community, and Business Can Improve Lives and End Poverty

"Sacred Duty: A Soldier’s Tour of Arlington National Cemetery" - it's about TC's service as a member of an Army unit that does military funerals at that cemetery.