Clinton's Friendly Oracle - Industry Trend or Event - Brief Article

Industry Standard, The, Feb 26, 2001 by Mark Boslet, Aaron Pressman

So much for tying low and planning the library. Private citizen Bill Clinton has hit the lecture circuit even as controversies over pardons, gifts and the search for office space continue to roil political and legal waters.

His main gig this week is in New Orleans at software giant Oracle's trade show. Clinton's talk at a Morgan Stanley conference this month angered its clients and drew an apology from Morgan's chairman, and at least one other company has disinvited him from a speech. But despite a few complaints, Oracle isn't backing away from Clinton's $100,000 appearance, says a spokeswoman. The company's support is no surprise. CEO Larry Ellison was a staunch Clinton backer, and last November he hired former White House press secretary Joe Lockhart, fanning rumors that the ex-prez might join the company's board.

Will Clinton's bad behavior blunt his appeal? A person close to the ex-president says his team still has "more invitations than they know what to do with."