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Pfeifer and his attorney plan to argue that the city does not need that much acreage. And it doesn't help that Pfeifer is questioning the way Little Rock wooed the president to its side. The North Little Rock property could have been acquired for much less and without hassle from property owners. Pfeifer has taken advertisements out in local newspapers and written op-ed pieces about the issue.

"There is not even any evidence that Clinton was aware that North Little Rock made a firm proposal," says Pfeifer. "It all just needs to be looked at closely."

Late last week, the Little Rock Board of Directors said it was having second thoughts about its initial plan to change the name of the historic street leading to the Clinton shrine from Markham Street to President Clinton Avenue. The city made the decision in the waves of euphoria after Clinton chose the site.

"If someone brought it up and wanted to change [the renaming], I'd take it into consideration," says Vice Mayor B.J. Wyrick. "I was caught up in the moment and voted to change it. There's a lot of sentiment out there against the city and against Clinton and a lot of water under the bridge since 1997."

While controversy brews in Little Rock, Clinton continues to think about an architect and spend evenings with visionaries who will help him create his presidential masterpiece.

Last week, Clinton began informal fund-raising for the library when he attended a dinner at La Grenouille on the East Side of Midtown Manhattan with about 40 business executives. The New York Times was quick to point out the ethical implications of Clinton's movement toward raising money for the library while still in office. But Ronald Reagan started his fund-raising efforts way earlier in his second term.

By law, Clinton cannot solicit contributions as president. He can meet with potential donors and soften them up for dollars in the future. And that's what he's doing.

DreamEorks moguls David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Ronald W. Burkle, the California supermarket magnate, have reportedly pledged generous amounts for the library. Rutherford says he would not be surprised if Spielberg integrated futuristic technology into the library.

Skip Rutherford, president of the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Foundation, said he does not foresee a problem fund-raising for the library, even though Clinton has been tarnished by scandal. "It won't be hard," he said. "The president still has many supporters."
salon.com | July 6, 1999

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