Joe Biden’s post-presidency memoir deal is a dud compared to his predecessors. The former president inked a $10 million contract with Hachette Book Group, a figure dwarfed by the blockbuster advances secured by other political heavyweights. It’s a sign, perhaps, that publishers see less star power in Biden’s story.
The Daily Caller reported that Biden’s deal, reported by The Wall Street Journal, focuses on his four years as president. This memoir, his third, follows “Promises to Keep” in 2007 and “Promise Me, Dad” in 2017, which chronicled his son Beau’s battle with brain cancer.
Compare Biden’s $10 million to Barack and Michelle Obama’s jaw-dropping $60 million joint deal with Penguin Random House in 2017.
Even Bill Clinton’s 2004 memoir “My Life” fetched $15 million, worth over $26 million in today’s dollars. Biden’s payout looks like pocket change next to these giants.
Why such a lowball offer for Biden’s memoir? Publishers might be betting his presidency, marked by controversy over his health, won’t sell like Obama’s “A Promised Land,” which moved 890,000 copies in a single day. The market seems to be speaking, and it’s not shouting Biden’s name.
Biden’s health has been a lightning rod for speculation. In May, he disclosed a diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer that spread to his bones. Some whisper this condition may have surfaced during his presidency, though no public confirmation exists.
The House Oversight Committee is digging into claims of Biden’s mental decline. Key aides, like Anthony Bernal, former senior advisor to Jill Biden, have stonewalled, some even pleading the Fifth. It’s a messy backdrop for a memoir meant to polish Biden’s legacy.
Biden’s third memoir will need to navigate a skeptical public. “I’m working like hell with a publisher to write another 500-page book,” he said in July, touting his research efforts. But that hustle might not translate to blockbuster sales in a polarized climate.
Recent exposés have fueled doubts about Biden’s mental sharpness during his term. Many Democrats, once dismissive of these concerns, now admit he should have exited the stage sooner. Their about-face feels convenient, if not outright cynical.
The memoir’s release date remains under wraps, leaving readers guessing. Hachette Book Group, tight-lipped, declined to comment to the Daily Caller News Foundation. That silence speaks volumes about the project’s hype—or lack thereof.
Biden’s final months in office stirred further debate with a flurry of clemencies and pardons. Most, including those for Dr. Anthony Fauci and Gen. Mark Milley, were signed by autopen, a curious choice for such weighty decisions. Only his son Hunter’s preemptive pardon bore Biden’s signature.
The New York Times noted Biden didn’t personally approve each pardon but set the criteria. This hands-off approach raises questions about his engagement in the process. It’s a strange note to end a presidency on, and one his memoir will likely gloss over.
The pardon spree, especially for family, smells of favoritism to critics. Democrats who shielded Biden’s cognitive struggles now shrug off their past denials. It’s a pattern of evasion that undercuts trust in his forthcoming narrative.
Biden’s memoir must compete with the Obamas’ literary juggernaut. Barack’s “A Promised Land” set a high bar, blending charisma with policy wonkery. Biden’s plodding style may struggle to match that flair.
The $10 million advance suggests publishers aren’t banking on a bestseller. Clinton’s and Obama’s deals reflected their draw; Biden’s reflects a market cooling on his legacy. It’s a brutal reality check for a man who spent decades in the spotlight.
Still, Biden’s supporters will likely rally around his book, hoping it reframes his tenure. But with health scandals and pardon controversies swirling, the memoir faces a tough road. The American public, ever skeptical, will decide if it’s worth the read.
