Does Giuliani Want to Be the Next Zig Ziglar?

Although he confirmed his intention to run for president on CNN last night, Rudy Giuliani is still reluctant to give up his current job on the lucrative motivational speaking circuit where he yesterday appeared with Zig Ziglar and football coach Marty Schottenheimer.

According to the Washington Post today, Giuliani's campaign has left open the possibility that he will continue to accept fees for speaking engagements booked in the next six months. Get Motivated Seminars has already promoted speaking events for Giuliani in Delaware, Houston and other states where he usually gets paid $100,000 per speech. [Washington Post, 2/15/07]

Questions about his speaking fees come as Rudy Giuliani seems to be avoiding questions about controversial business deals associated with his investment bank, Giuliani Capital Advisors. According to a report in the Chicago Tribune, Giuliani has "collected more than $1 million in consulting fees from firms tied to criminal or regulatory missteps" and he has not disclosed the names of all his clients. [Chicago Tribune, 2/7/07]

"On day one of his campaign, when most candidates lay out their vision for their country, Rudy Giuliani laid out a vision for his bank account," said DNC Communications Director Karen Finney. "If Giuliani is serious about running for president, why is he waiting to forgo his paid speaking engagements? The more Republican primary voters learn about his sketchy business deals, the more they will find that he does not represent their values."

Giuliani Paid to Speak after Filing Statement of Candidacy:

Giuliani Paid To Speak On February 14, 2007. NBCSanDiego.com reported, "Giuliani came to San Diego Wednesday [February 14, 2007] for a motivational seminar. Giuliani, who is an undeclared candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, was scheduled to appear at a "Get Motivated" seminar at the Ipay One Center." The Los Angeles Times reported, "He [Giuliani] has also shared his recollections of the twin towers attacks in paid speeches around the world, and plans do so again today at a private event in San Diego. (A spokeswoman declined to say who would pay him or how much.)"[NBCSanDiego.com, 2/14/07; Los Angeles Times, 2/14/07]

Giuliani Focused on 9/11 At Motivation Seminars And While Stumping For Presidential Bid. "In five days of campaigning in California, Giuliani has made terrorism his paramount focus.for Giuliani, every campaign venue was suitable for invoking memories of the attacks. 'Most of the first hour was just reacting quickly,' he recalled Monday in a speech to Silicon Valley business leaders. 'When you get attacked like that,' he told the farmers at the World Ag Expo on Tuesday, 'there's a period of time when you feel really isolated.' He has also shared his recollections of the twin towers attacks in paid speeches around the world, and plans do so again today at a private event in San Diego. (A spokeswoman declined to say who would pay him or how much.) But now those stories are central to his core campaign theme.)" [Los Angeles Times, 2/14/07]

Giuliani Faced Criticism for Speeches:

Giuliani Donated Only 80% of Speaking Fee From Tsunami Benefit After Much Public Criticism. A significant number of Giuliani's speaking engagements benefit charities, such as the event hosted by the South Carolina Hospital Association in Charleston to raise money for assistance to victims of the December 2004 South Asia tsunami. Giuliani wrote a $20,000 check to the relief effort. Weeks later, it was disclosed that Giuliani had charged $100,000 for his speech, sparking criticism from state Rep. Tracy Edge, a Republican. Edge said, "Here's a guy who gets $100,000 on any given day. I thought, you know, the guy could give up the money for one night." On June 2, 2005, Giuliani sent the hospital association a check for $60,000, according to hospital association spokeswoman Patti Smoake. The disposition of the remaining $20,000 of his fee was unclear. A Giuliani spokeswoman acknowledged that Edge's complaint prompted Giuliani to return the money. "He [Giuliani] was conflicted, there was controversy and he felt that it was the right thing to do," she said. [Chicago Tribune, 2/7/07]

Giuliani Was Paid $200,000 for Charity Event That Netted Only $15,000. Giuliani reportedly received more than $200,000 for a speech, given to benefit an Australian research hospital in 2003. When it was disclosed two years later that the Queen Elizabeth Research hospital netted only $15,000, the revelation sparked widespread criticism in Australia. Months later, after The New York Observer picked up the story, Giuliani arranged to host a dinner in New York that raised $75,000. [Chicago Tribune, 2/7/07]

Giuliani Made Fortune Speaking:

In Last Three Months of 2006, Jet-Set Giuliani Made Fortune Globetrotting. "A close review of the former mayor's private schedule during the last three months of 2006 - as outlined in 140 pages of sensitive campaign files obtained by the Daily News - showed Giuliani touching almost every corner of the Earth, from Europe and Asia to South America and the Middle East. But his foreign globetrotting - through 11 countries on four continents - was virtually all for the same purpose, and it wasn't to bone up on foreign policy. He was to give paid speeches - an average of one a week over three months - to business roundtables, which offer top dollar to hear him opine on 'leadership' and 'crisis management.' Forbes magazine had estimated that Giuliani earned as much as $8 million last year from these speeches, which are thought to garner the former mayor up to $100,000 apiece. And that was on top of his business and consulting work." [Daily News (New York), 1/4/07]

Giuliani Earned $8 Million A Year On Speaking Tour. Forbes estimated that Giuliani earned $8 million in 2006 for paid speeches. In his 2002 divorce filing, Giuliani estimated his annual income from public speaking at $8 million. [Chicago Tribune, 2/7/07; Forbes, 11/13/06; Daily News (New York), 1/4/07]

Giuliani Got 100k and Expenses Per Speech. The Chicago Tribune reported, "He commands $100,000 for a speech, not including expenses, which his star-struck clients are happily willing to pay. Like other high-priced speakers in the private sector, Giuliani routinely travels in style. Besides the Gulfstream, which is a standard perk on the big-time speakers circuit, his contract calls for up to five hotel rooms for his entourage, including his own two-bedroom suite with a preferred balcony view and king-size bed, in the event of an overnight stay.". [Chicago Tribune, 2/7/07; Santa Barbara News-Press, 8/20/03]

Gulfstream Cost $47,000. The private Gulfstream jet that Giuliani requested and received cost Oklahoma State University $47,000 to operate, wiping out the Student Speakers Annual Fund. [Chicago Tribune, 2/7/07]

Giuliani's Travel Costs Prevented Visit. Rudy Giuliani did not go to Christchurch [New Zealand], because the town could not afford to pay for his Gulfstream jet. [Christchurch Press, 7/31/03]

Giuliani Refused To Discuss His Speaking Fees. "Neither Giuliani nor his representative, the Washington Speakers Bureau, would discuss his speaking fees or his schedule." [Chicago Tribune, 2/7/07]