1. Advertising / public relations writing
Project: Alumni magazine feature
Client: Duquesne University School of Law – Pittsburgh, Pa.
It took Dean Ken Gormley almost 10 years to research and death in 2006. The former Republican president confided to
write his 789-page tome, ―The Death of American Virtue: Gormley that he tried to convince Clinton to admit that he lied
Clinton vs. Starr.‖ under oath in order to reach a censure deal, thereby avoiding a
Senate impeachment trial — a recommendation that Clinton
Based on the reviews, it was time well spent. adamantly rejected.
Gormley‘s book, an exhaustive account of the legal Gormley was able to unearth so much new information by
controversies that marked Bill Clinton‘s presidency, has securing unprecedented access to all the central figures —
been almost universally lauded for its evenhandedness. although Clinton‘s 2004 health problems nearly derailed the
entire project.
Unlike many authors, Gormley didn‘t need to
manufacture drama. After Gormley made several trips to Arkansas and Washington,
D.C., to meet with associates of the former president, Clinton
It was in 1998 when Gormley had just published his
finally agreed to a 45-minute meeting during a visit to
biography of Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox
Pittsburgh for a book signing. By meeting‘s end, Clinton had
— timing that, by sheer coincidence, created great
agreed to speak again with Gormley at a time and place to be
demand for Gormley‘s expertise, given the emerging legal
determined.
standoff between Clinton and Ken Starr.
―My book on Archibald Cox came out just as the whole Not long after, however, Clinton underwent quadruple heart
Monica Lewinsky story was exploding in the media, and bypass surgery. Gormley assumed the gravity of the situation
so I was on television shows all over the country because I would force Clinton to scale back his commitments, jeopardizing
was a ‗special prosecutor expert,‘ of all things,‖ Gormley their plans for a second meeting.
says. ―So the ‗Clinton vs. Starr‘ book just seemed like a
natural transition. This story was more incredible and Just weeks later, though, Gormley received a call. Clinton was in
more unbelievable than any story you could have made Philadelphia and wanted to talk some more.
up. It seemed very natural to move into this project,‖ he
said. ―He was skinny, like a cardboard cutout of himself,‖ Gormley
recalls of his meeting with the frail former president. ―I was
Nevertheless, the sheer scope of the affair did prove extremely grateful he kept his promise.‖
daunting.
Ultimately, Gormley hopes the notoriety surrounding his best-
―It was a massive undertaking,‖ Gormley says. ―This had selling book will benefit Duquesne. ―Clinton vs. Starr‖ has been
so many moving pieces, it was actually very terrifying at reviewed by The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and
first to wade into it.‖ Washington Post, and he‘s discussed the book countless times
on national TV, including appearances on ABC, NBC, Fox News
Gormley affirms that he did, indeed, make a conscious and MSNBC.
decision to author an impartial account of the highly
charged political drama — a decision, it seems, that ―I‘m hoping to harness it as much as possible,‖ he says of the
reflects the lasting influence of an old Constitutional law attention. He recognizes that the publicity — although ―wearying
professor Gormley studied under at Harvard: Archibald at times‖ — presents a rare opportunity ―to enhance the profile
Cox, whom Gormley refers to as ―one of the most of Duquesne Law School.‖
principled people I‘ve ever known.‖
On a more tangible level, the travel and speaking opportunities
―I really did set out to create this completely evenhanded
he‘s been afforded have allowed him to establish relationships
account, and that required being able to get access to both
and network with alumni.
sides. And so I made a conscious decision that if I did not
get cooperation from both sides, then I would not write
―I‘m always on the lookout for speakers‖ to bring to Duquesne,
the book,‖ Gormley says.
he says.
In addition to resurrecting the familiar cast of characters
and well-publicized legal battles that marked the Clinton ―It took nine years to write the book, so I want to make the most
presidency, Gormley‘s book includes several revelations — of it.‖
among them a disclosure from Gerald Ford before his
