The Independent

Gore scraps British visit after firms spurn wisdom of a nearly-president

By Paul Peachey

3 March 2001

The much-vaunted transatlantic "special relationship" appears to stop short of embracing the inspirational words of failed presidential wannabes.

Having fallen a few dimpled chads short of securing a four-year mandate in the States, Al Gore has discovered that even a day in his company fails to tantalise some of the biggest firms in Britain.

After three days of offering cut-price one-day, all-speaking, all-greeting deals to executives and their clients, his bookers were finally forced to admit defeat and shelve plans for a flying British visit by Mr Gore and his wife, Tipper.

The celebrity booking service claimed that lack of time was the main reason oil, telecommunication and banking companies turned down the opportunity to spend between £50,000 and £75,000 for "a day with Al Gore" at their offices.

Some of the companies, who had up to 13 days to plan for a visit, told a different story. "I can think of better things to do with £50,000," said the Virgin spokesman Will Whitehorn.

The continuing controversy surrounding Bill Clinton's departure from the White House and his pardon for Marc Rich also put off prospective clients. The chief executive of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, was forced to apologise to clients last month after the American investment bank paid Bill Clinton £70,000 to speak at a conference in Florida.

A source at one of the eight companies approached said: "It was on the heels of other people having a fairly controversial reaction and it was pretty short notice. It was the culmination of the two factors."

Mr Gore had a "five-day window" to visit Britain before he made his first speaking engagement outside America since the presidential election, an address in Italy on Wednesday. That will be followed by an engagement in Barcelona the next day. For both, he will command much higher fees than those being asked in Britain.

Bill Clinton, after his controversial early forays on the speaking circuit, has also booked engagements outside America and commands more than £170,000 a speech, according to sources.

David Markson, of the British Speakers Bureau, which tried to organise the booking, said: "He [Al Gore] would have loved to come to London. It was hoped we could secure a publicity coup for one of the corporations."

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001