The Clinton Campaign '04: Uptown/Downtown
by Calvin Reid and Karen Holt, PW Daily for Booksellers -- Publishers Weekly, 6/24/2004
After a four-hour sign-a-thon in midtown Manhattan yesterday afternoon, Clinton headed uptown to Harlem for an event at the Hue-Man Bookstore. Long before he arrived, a crowd gathered along Frederick Douglass Boulevard to glimpse the author of what will likely be the hottest "black" book in America. Reporters, TV crews and all manner of media folks were penned behind metal barricades on both sides of the entrance to the store, and owner Clara Villarosa sporadically popped outside to do interviews and survey the scene.
Villarosa told PW that her store's 2,000 copies of My Life had been long sold-out. "And there probably won't be anymore until after all this is over," she said, referring to the hoopla that surrounded her. A woman with a child in tow then stepped up to Villarosa and identified herself as the bookseller's long-ago hairdresser--it took a moment for Villarosa to remember her--and asked if she get a book and meet Clinton. After a firm "no," Villarosa turned to a PW editor and shrugged. "Everybody wants to get in." With that, a couple of PW editors slipped inside the store with Villarosa (security stopped the apparently shifty-looking PW executive editor John Mutter, but Villarosa rescued him) and surveyed the 4,000-sq.-ft. store (with café), now carefully rearranged to accommodate the long line of people waiting outside.
Security personnel were scurrying around; one female security officer scolded store personnel for letting a few gawkers into the store. Hue-Man's co-owner, Rita Ewing, former wife of retired New York Knicks star Patrick Ewing said the media response to the Clinton visit had been overwhelming. "Talk about national recognition," she said. "This has really raised the profile of the store. People are calling from all around the country; all around the world. We were even on Swiss TV."
Out in front of the store the crowd was growing giddy. A few folks already had copies of the book and were happy to wave them at the TV cameras. The ubiquitous street book vendors of 125th street apparently had no problem getting copies of the book. A group of people penned behind a barricade near the bookstore entrance waved the book, while others yelled out for "our president" and screamed that they were there to "see the last elected president. "
The former president arrived at about 6:45 p.m. Several black SUVs swooped down on the store and there he was on Frederick Douglass Boulevard, looking fit in a dark blue suit and surrounded by several very grim Secret Service guys. Clinton acknowledged the cheers from the crowd and moved to the media pens, taking his own sweet time, talking directly to one reporter or another and giving everyone time for pictures. The president's former constituents were in a frenzy. Several women climbed in the window of a nearby shop, waving and pressing faces and bodies up against the glass front to get a better view; while on the street, there were frantic calls to the president to look in one direction or another. One woman yelled, "Now I know why Hillary didn't leave you!"
After an afternoon and evening of adulation yesterday, Clinton was back for more today.
This time it was downtown Manhattan's chance to fete him, as the former president worked his charm on customers at Borders' Wall Street superstore. As at the Barnes & Noble event, the line began forming the day before and stretched for blocks. But unlike yesterday, when fans huddled under umbrellas, today people waiting in line basked under a blue sky. Many sat in beach chairs, killing time playing card games or trying to win a $10 gift certificate in the Clinton trivia contest Borders staff conducted outside the store.
Clinton arrived, half an hour late at 1 p.m., to the cheers of the huge lunchtime crowd that had gathered outside. Sitting down to begin another round of signings, he joked about how he was holding up. "My hand's alright, my shoulder's a little out of joint." A reporter remarked on his previous day's appearance on the Oprahand asked what were the chances he would host his own talk show.
"Quite small," Clinton replied. "I want to go back to my foundation work when this is all done. "
But "this" was just beginning. To the sounds of Elvis singing in the background, Clinton once again picked up his pen. First in line for a signature was Greg Packer, a maintenance worker from Huntington, N.Y., who has become famous in New York for being at the head of any pack gathered to meet a celebrity. Packer was also first in line for Clinton's B&N signing the day before--and at a Hillary Clinton book signing last year.
Next up was an older woman with a cane, who asked if she could get a hug. "You sure can," Clinton said, stepping out from behind the desk to give her a big embrace. Following her came a younger woman who appeared to be hoping for the same treatment. She was briskly sent on her way, with only a signature to show for her effort.
