In World Where Talk Doesn't Come Cheap, Fmr. Officials Finding Lucrative

In World Where Talk Doesn't Come Cheap, Former Officials Are Finding Lucrative Careers


WASHINGTON, March 9 — It's hard to find a bigger fan of the former Bush adviser Karen P. Hughes than the California Grocers Association. In promotional literature for Ms. Hughes's hot new career on the lecture circuit, the association's director gushes that "your insights and observations about the president, world events, politics and leadership will remain with us for years to come."

Truckers like her, too. The American Trucking Associations describe her as "most gracious" in sharing her "expertise in communication and leadership," while the Texas Bankers Association said, "The bankers were wowed by your speech."

Ms. Hughes is not alone on the high-profile lecture circuit. With the campaign season heating up, former Bush officials, in particular, are in high demand, largely for their fresh insights into the inner workings of the White House. They are the latest to join a long line of former presidents, cabinet members, administration officials and war heroes on the lecture circuit, with many pulling in $40,000 to $50,000 a speech.

Besides Ms. Hughes, the new crop on the circuit include Ari Fleischer, the former White House press secretary; Gen. Tommy R. Franks, who led American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq; Christie Whitman, who resigned last May as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; and Victoria Clarke, the former Pentagon spokeswoman.

Ms. Clarke generally makes $20,000 a speech, while Ms. Hughes's fee is $50,000, a person familiar with the contracts said. In just three weeks in January, the person said, Ms. Hughes gave seven speeches, four in a single week.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/10/politics/10SPEE.html?ei=5062&en=02bb65d50a91b326&ex=1079499600&partner=GOOGLE&pagewanted=print&position=

that ANYONE deserves to make $200k / week for being an emtpy-headed autmaton, but hey, this is the 21st century...

Well, at least there's about six jobs out of the 2 million lost. Tax cuts are working!