Hillary strategist, fundraiser extraordinaire and former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe has written a memoir, and the idea that the man who sat at the right hand of two presidents would produce a tell-all tome caused What a Party! My Life Among Democrats: Presidents, Candidates, Donors, Activists, Alligators & Other Wild Animals to climb to the top of bestseller lists earlier this year. But don't expect gossip about the Clintons or Jimmy Carter; his love and admiration for them remains rock-strong, and the book is more about celebrity-spotting and rising through politics than dishing dirt. He does slag John Kerry for losing the 2004 presidential race, but isn't that a bit like tripping the crippled? Inkwood Books brings McAuliffe to town for a talk and signing event in Tampa. Fri., Feb. 16, 6:30 p.m., Tampa Tribune Auditorium, 200 S. Parker St., Tampa; to reserve a copy of the book for signing, call 813-253-2638 or e-mail inkwoodbks@aol.com.
This article appears in Feb 14-20, 2007.