Author! Author ! . . . <i> Author?</i> : Move over, Norman Mailer and Tom Clancy--here comes Newt Gingrich

Why does a man as smart as Newt Gingrich see nothing problematic in his $4-million book deal? Doesn’t the House Speaker-to-be see the hypocrisy, questions of conflict of interest and damage to his credibility resulting from his cashing in on his powerful new position?

Apparently, no. Gingrich, the self-proclaimed citizen-legislator, maintains his contract is a “normal book deal” that was an “arm’s length transaction.” Never mind that his publisher, HarperCollins, is controlled by Rupert Murdoch, the Australian native whose ownership of the Fox television network is being investigated by federal regulators. Would Gingrich have been offered such a handsome fee if he were not soon to become Speaker of the House?

Traditionally it has been acceptable for senators and representatives to earn income from books. But there have been controversies, and Gingrich is quite familiar with this fact. In 1989, Gingrich, then assistant minority leader, accused House Speaker Jim Wright of violating conflict-of-interest rules in accepting 55% royalties on a privately published book sold to special interest groups. That same year, Gingrich admitted having his own unusual arrangement for a book, “Window of Opportunity,” that he co-authored with two others. Besides enjoying the standard 10% hardcover royalty, the authors set up a limited partnership that raised $105,000 from Republican supporters to market the book. The authors were to share any profit, but sales turned out to be modest.

Gingrich says that before he signs the deal he will submit his book contract to the House Ethics Committee. Rather than receive all of the reported $4 million upfront, Gingrich might entertain this idea: He should take a relatively small advance instead and collect royalties as books are sold. Vice President Al Gore, for example, was guaranteed $100,000 for “Earth in the Balance,” which he wrote while he was in the Senate, but he earned $700,000 in royalties when his book sold very well.

Gingrich has admitted in the past that his personal behavior often does not jibe with his politics. This is a case in point.