By The Prowler on 5.15.02 @ 12:04AM
The Clinton Library is finding many promised payments to be overdue -- and 5¢-a-day fines won't make up the shortfall.
Bill Clinton does what he can for Arkansas
tourism. He's appeared in ads for the state tourism board, as well
as for the tourism offices of state capital Little Rock and one of
his many "home towns," Hot Springs. Now, it appears the state and
local tourism industry is doing what it can for its native son.
In national, and even international advertising, the state is
pushing the William Jefferson Clinton Library and museum as a site
for future social, business or political events. The advertising
campaign comes at a time when the library foundation that is
raising money for the presidential facility is facing dwindling
fundraising opportunities.
It's true that Clinton's speaking schedule is chock full with
paying customers overseas (it even has a few in the U.S.), and that
some of those earnings are being poured into foundation coffers.
But because Clinton's library had no endowment or other major
backing when it started, it's had to rely on the kindness and cash
of supporters. That has meant going back to many of Clinton's
longtime campaign donors, corporate backers, and foreign admirers.
(Earlier this year Clinton traveled
to Saudi Arabia to hit up Crown Prince Abdullah for a multi-million
dollar donation.)
Another problem: although many individuals have made pledges to
the library, prying the money out of their wallets has been another
matter altogether. "You look at the ledger and we have all kinds of
money pledged," says an Arkansas source familiar with the library
finances. "But those pledges aren't translating into hard donations
as quickly as we'd like." Some put the financial shortfall at more
than $30-$40 million. It could be greater than that.
Many who pledged to the library before Clinton left office
withdrew or cut their pledges after the pardons scandal of the
administration's final days. Others donors have seen their
financial positions reduced by the stock market dip. Others simply
aren't paying. The slow fundraising process is particularly
embarrassing to Clinton, in part because other presidents had so
little difficulty in getting their libraries up and running. "But
none of them had such grandiose a vision, either," says a
Washington-based Clinton backer. "I've seen Nixon's and Reagan's
and they are wonderful facilities, but Clinton sees himself and the
library on a different level. A higher level, and of course a
higher price."
So could the library, once constructed, soon be hosting weddings
and bar mitzvahs to keep the cash rolling in? "Don't joke about
something like that," says the source. "You never can tell."
Clinton, however, may have one big benefactor waiting in the
wings. Lately, Clinton has been talking about AIDS in Africa as a
major issue for him. Although he may have raised that issue at
times in the past, it never was as central to his future as it
appears now. That's because Clinton is apparently angling to get a
major donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to
underwrite activities by Clinton and the library. "One donation
from them could solve our financial problems," says the Arkansas
source.
Evidently Clinton doesn't think Bill Gates will
hold his Justice Department's anti-Microsoft crusade against
him.
topics:
Bill Clinton, Business, Africa
