Thursday, August 05, 2004
Newsday.com - Long Island NewsBill's coming to call
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Poster advertising President Clinton's appearance (Newsday Photo/Karen Wiles Stabile)
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BY AMAYA LARRAÑETA
STAFF WRITER
August 6, 2004
Teresa Greco clutched a plastic bag to her chest Wednesday containing two copies of Bill Clinton's new book as if it were a treasure. Greco was among the last to get one of the copies the author will sign Saturday at the Book Revue in Huntington.
Greco, 28, who camped out Tuesday night with several dozen other people to get a copy, said she did it because "Clinton was the first president" she voted for.
The visit of the 42nd president has town residents euphoric and the bookstore employees stressed.
"I must have received over 10,000 calls asking for information," said Richard Klein, co-owner of the Book Revue.
The store got three shipments in the last week, and long lines formed each time.
Under a strict schedule, Clinton has agreed to sign only 1,000 books. However, the way the store decided who would get them upset some customers.
Book Revue promoted Clinton's signing event in a big store poster and on its Web site, saying there would be only one book sold per customer. However, customers were allowed to buy as many as three books.
Martha Siegel, 51, a Huntington resident, waited three hours but reached the store's counter Wednesday after the guaranteed-autograph copies were sold out. "I am very upset. I thought they were selling one book per person. What they did only benefits scalpers."
The store then decided to sell 200 more books in case the ex-president has extra time. "We are telling every customer that buys one of these 200 books that they are taking a long shot," Klein said. "Their book might not be signed."
Buyers were also informed they could get refunds if Clinton doesn't sign.
As Siegel and other customers pointed out, several scalpers in Huntington near the bookstore were already on Wednesday offering a signature-winning book for $100, nearly three times its actual price of $35, plus tax.
On eBay Thursday, books signed by Clinton were selling for more than $300.
Clinton's memoir was released in June and has already sold 1.6 million books. He will arrive in Huntington surrounded by plenty of security shortly before the 1 p.m. scheduled signing.
Members of the Secret Service paid a visit to the Book Revue earlier this week. "They were interested in learning how we were thinking of setting up the event, the logistics, where the exit and entrances to the bookstore were ... " Klein said.
Besides Clinton's personal security, Suffolk police will also guard the bookstore's entrance.
Sgt. Ken MacArthur, of the Second Precinct, said extra officers will direct the traffic flow and control the crowd.
The owners of the Book Revue expect their biggest crowd ever. The largest so far was the 2,400 people drawn by former President Jimmy Carter six years ago. Clinton's wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), drew several hundred in June 2003 for a book-signing. "For many, many people, it is very exciting to see a president," Klein said. But they do not anticipate any protests.
For security reasons, the store will close its doors even before the signing event starts.
The first 1,000 customers with a stickered book will stand in one queue. A supplementary line will be set up for the extra 200, who will get a different sticker. Teresa Greco will be in the first line and Martha Siegel in the second, both waiting for the moment when Clinton signs their book and possibly shakes their hand.
"It is a historic moment. A president is coming to Huntington," said Siegel, but, she said, she will return the book if it doesn't get signed.
Email this story
Printer friendly format
Photos
Poster advertising President Clinton's appearance (Newsday Photo/Karen Wiles Stabile)
More Coverage
Guidelines to get you through the visit
Aug 6, 2004
Top Stories
Bill's coming to call
Enter a Category
View List
BY AMAYA LARRAÑETA
STAFF WRITER
August 6, 2004
Teresa Greco clutched a plastic bag to her chest Wednesday containing two copies of Bill Clinton's new book as if it were a treasure. Greco was among the last to get one of the copies the author will sign Saturday at the Book Revue in Huntington.
Greco, 28, who camped out Tuesday night with several dozen other people to get a copy, said she did it because "Clinton was the first president" she voted for.
The visit of the 42nd president has town residents euphoric and the bookstore employees stressed.
"I must have received over 10,000 calls asking for information," said Richard Klein, co-owner of the Book Revue.
The store got three shipments in the last week, and long lines formed each time.
Under a strict schedule, Clinton has agreed to sign only 1,000 books. However, the way the store decided who would get them upset some customers.
Book Revue promoted Clinton's signing event in a big store poster and on its Web site, saying there would be only one book sold per customer. However, customers were allowed to buy as many as three books.
Martha Siegel, 51, a Huntington resident, waited three hours but reached the store's counter Wednesday after the guaranteed-autograph copies were sold out. "I am very upset. I thought they were selling one book per person. What they did only benefits scalpers."
The store then decided to sell 200 more books in case the ex-president has extra time. "We are telling every customer that buys one of these 200 books that they are taking a long shot," Klein said. "Their book might not be signed."
Buyers were also informed they could get refunds if Clinton doesn't sign.
As Siegel and other customers pointed out, several scalpers in Huntington near the bookstore were already on Wednesday offering a signature-winning book for $100, nearly three times its actual price of $35, plus tax.
On eBay Thursday, books signed by Clinton were selling for more than $300.
Clinton's memoir was released in June and has already sold 1.6 million books. He will arrive in Huntington surrounded by plenty of security shortly before the 1 p.m. scheduled signing.
Members of the Secret Service paid a visit to the Book Revue earlier this week. "They were interested in learning how we were thinking of setting up the event, the logistics, where the exit and entrances to the bookstore were ... " Klein said.
Besides Clinton's personal security, Suffolk police will also guard the bookstore's entrance.
Sgt. Ken MacArthur, of the Second Precinct, said extra officers will direct the traffic flow and control the crowd.
The owners of the Book Revue expect their biggest crowd ever. The largest so far was the 2,400 people drawn by former President Jimmy Carter six years ago. Clinton's wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), drew several hundred in June 2003 for a book-signing. "For many, many people, it is very exciting to see a president," Klein said. But they do not anticipate any protests.
For security reasons, the store will close its doors even before the signing event starts.
The first 1,000 customers with a stickered book will stand in one queue. A supplementary line will be set up for the extra 200, who will get a different sticker. Teresa Greco will be in the first line and Martha Siegel in the second, both waiting for the moment when Clinton signs their book and possibly shakes their hand.
"It is a historic moment. A president is coming to Huntington," said Siegel, but, she said, she will return the book if it doesn't get signed.
