http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/...ws/132879.html

Clinton cookbook now available everywhere
Sunday, Feb 29, 2004

By Wesley Brown
Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK - The highly sought after cookbook of former President Bill Clinton's favorite recipes is now available at bookstores across the nation and other popular online shopping venues.

After the cookbook was released in August, Clinton Foundation President Skip Rutherford said advance orders had already been received from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

However, fans of the former president could get the cookbook for $35 only by mail order or by buying it online through the foundation's Web site.

Now, thanks to a distribution agreement with Sedgewood Press, Clinton lovers can get "The Clinton Presidential Center Cookbook: A Collection of Recipes for Family and Friends" at virtually anyplace books are sold. The suggested retail price of the book, which has a newly designed cover, is $24.95.

Shannon Butler, associate director of the Clinton Foundation and co-editor of the cookbook with Nealon DeVore, said proceeds from the sale of the cookbook will benefit the foundation.

"We have taken it and given it a fresh new cover and now it is available in all major bookstores," said Susan Graziano, vice president of New York-based Dan Klores Communications, which is handling the publicity for the cookbook.

Jeff Myers, executive director of marketing for Meredith Books, the parent company of Sedgewood, said "the initial response to the book ... was so positive it led to our decision to make it readily available."

"The recipes are truly special for everyone to enjoy regardless of political affiliations," said Myers, whose company has retained the rights for the book.

Graziano said the cookbook, which contains 250 recipes from celebrities including Muhammad Ali, Bono, Christie Brinkley, Chevy Chase, Whoopi Goldberg, Don Henley, Quincy Jones, Bruce Lee, Sophia Loren, Mary Steenburgen, Barbra Streisand and Elizabeth Taylor, is now available at all major book retailers.

Those locations are selling the cookbook well below the suggested retail price. However, the bargain is even better for online shoppers.

For example, the book is now selling for $15.72 at walmart.com, the online shopping Web site for Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Amazon.com is offering the cookbook - which includes recipes ranging from Elvis Presley's Memphis restaurant's ingredients for a grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich to the president's own secret formula for chicken enchiladas - at $17.47.

The online Web sites of Barnes & Nobles and Borders are also selling the popular food book for less than $20.00.

Besides the recipes from ardent Clinton supporters, the 264-page recipe catalog also has more than 25 photographs depicting the Clinton presidency and an in-depth interview with the former president about how music has played a key role in his life.

The foundation also is using other unique fund-raising efforts to raise the $165 million needed to build the presidential library, including a "friends of the Clinton Library" memberships and Clinton limited-edition commemorative ornaments.

Graziano could not provide any information concerning the sales volume of the presidential cookbook.