By Al Kamen
The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — Presidencies may come and go. Fund-raising is eternal. So former President Bill Clinton may be a year out of office, but the fund-raising goes on. Now the William J. Clinton Foundation, which is overseeing efforts to put together the former president’s library, is offering "Presidential Pavers" for only $100.
These are 6-inch-by-12-inch granite stones to be set into the ground at the library. "With a contribution of $100," the e-mail to the former Clinton staff says, "your name or that of a loved one will be engraved on this paver and set into an area that will be known as ‘Celebration Circle’ at the Library’s main entrance. There, it will be a permanent testament to your deep commitment to preserve and carry on the president’s legacy."
We know what you’re thinking. Stop it. That’s not going to happen. Foundation president Skip Rutherford said yesterday that while anyone can buy a stone, "we checked, and acceptance of the brick is up to the host group, which is the foundation." So no Monica, Paula, Gennifer or other unsuitable engravings.
For $100 you get two lines on the stone, 15 spaces per line. Most folks appear to be requesting simply their names and hometowns, Rutherford said, noting that the "pavers" idea has been done by many groups.
The stones, only made available in the last few weeks, "have been selling like crazy," he said, with about 3,500 sold so far. "It’s already exceeded what we thought we’d sell. People are buying them for their kids and grandkids and a lot ‘In Memory Of,’ " he said, adding that it shows "there’s still great grass-roots support" for Clinton out there. The relatively low price tag "has given ordinary people a chance" to buy in, Rutherford said. They can even be ordered on the foundation’s Web site.
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