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By Susannah Meadows
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During the presidential campaign, Mary Matalin helped craft Dick Cheney's potent words. Now, her new Simon & Schuster imprint will give voice to the rest of the conservative crowd, starting with the vice president's daughter. Matalin will publish a memoir by Mary Cheney, whose homosexuality became an issue in the election, next year. NEWSWEEK's Susannah Meadows talked to Matalin, the Republican pundit and wife of fiery Democratic strategist James Carville, about her new role as editor. Excerpts:
NEWSWEEK: What else do you hope to publish?
Mary Matalin: My particular interest is in foreign policy and national security, stories like Mary's, other books from the campaign. It will be a place for contemporary conservatism. We're on a conservative continuum. Liberalism is dead. They can be in denial. That is not where it's going. And I'd like to know where it's going.
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Is the idea [of the new imprint] to be in place for the next few years when members of the Bush administration will probably start leaving to write books?
I do have a sort of "If you build it they will come mentality." And these guys are all my friends. I'm a natural comfort zone. My other life is still as an extended family member.
As a longtime advisor to Dick Cheney, you must have been instrumental in signing Mary Cheney.
[Simon and Schuster] did compete for Mary, but I stayed out of that. If they want to come, they'll come. I'm not going to go in there and hustle. I bring a Rolodex. But I loathe imposing on my friends. I'm just as interested in formative ideas of the Reagan administration as well as new ideas.
Whose idea was the imprint?
They came to me. All through the years, [David Rosenthal, publisher of Simon & Schuster's adult trade division] would send me books. I love books. Even though he's a crazy lefty nut, we're good friends. They had a need for conservative books. I had a love for books. And I want to be here for my kids for this age.
What are your dream "gets"?
I really did want Mary's book. We've been friends for a long time. I want to work with my friends. I'm at an age where I don't need a career. I told her in the campaign that she needed to write a book. She was writing a novel. I said, "Screw this, you've got to do a real book." Now we're back to talking every day. On Monday Mary's coming over. We're going to sit on the floor, drink wine and order Chinese food.
Will she write about coming out to her parents?
That's not what she's about. She's very much like her father. Not a touchy feely type. She's got other stories. She was sitting at the table for the last two campaigns. Every time we punched [Democratic candidate John] Kerry, it came out of the mouth of Dick Cheney. She made it happen. We'll have a lot to say about the media. A modern day "Boys on the Bus." Or women on the plane.
I think it would be interesting to read about what it's like for her to be gay in a conservative family.
I agree with that. [But] she won't answer the question like that. They're not defined by their conservatism. They're westerners. They're family. She'll hit on it: "Why did Kerry say that and what was I thinking when he did."
Have more prospective authors already come knocking?
A goodly number of best-selling authors.
All conservative?
I promise you no liberals called. Nor did my husband say, "Boy have I got a book for you!"
Would you be against publishing a book critical of the administration, even if it came from someone within, like a Richard Clarke-type of book or the controversial Ron Suskind book largely sourced by [former Treasury Secretary] Paul O'Neill?
No. I'm a conservative first. Paul O'Neill--God love him--he just didn't get it. Some of the stuff in that book did not happen. Suskind knows how to sell books. I think he made stuff up. Richard Clarke [former counterterrorism czar in the Clinton and Bush administrations] used to be a friend of mine. Most of the stuff I was there for. Some of the stuff in that book did not happen.
What about a critical book that doesn't ring false?
If there is some true version from someone that is contrary to the message, that had an alternative view, I would listen to it. I can't imagine what it would be. There's nobody [in the Bush administration] who doesn't want to be there. But in the limited universe that I have, I'm for ideas.
But controversy sells books.
I'm sure David would not like to hear me say this, but I'd rather advance ideas, which are enduring, as opposed to create controversy.
Might it look like you're shilling for the administration?
I don't care if I look like I'm shilling. I'm a proud shiller. If I wanted to make a ton of money I could be an extraordinary shiller. If my tombstone said "Shiller," I could put under that, "Proud." I want the history to be recorded. I'm not looking for contrary books. I cover the shiller niche.
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