Senator Edward Kennedy, the most prominent surviving member of the Kennedy family, is set to publish his memoirs in a deal reportedly worth eight million dollars.
New York, Nov 28 : Senator Edward Kennedy, the most prominent surviving member of the Kennedy family, is set to publish his memoirs in a deal reportedly worth eight million dollars.
Twelve, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, bought world rights for the autobiography after a six-day auction.
However, the deal would still need to be approved by the Senate ethics committee ahead of its reported release date in 2010.
"I've been fortunate in my life to grow up in an extraordinary family and to have a front row seat at many key events in our nation's history," the New York Post quoted Kennedy, as saying.
"I hope my reflections can contribute to a deeper understanding of many events in the history of this great country and to a more in-depth picture of an American family," he added.
Jonathan Karp, editor in chief of Twelve, said that Kennedy is "walking, talking history and there's no limit to what he can talk about with authority and distinctive personal perspective".
Industry sources say that the agreement was comparable to the 8 million dollars Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton received for "Living History" and the 9 million dollars former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will reportedly get for his planned memoir.
The 75-year-old is expected to write about episodes such as the 1969 Chappaquiddick incident when he drove a car off a bridge, resulting in the death of a staffer, Mary Jo Kopechne, working for his slain brother, senator Robert Kennedy.
He is also expected to cover JFK's administration and assassination as well as his unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination in the 1980 presidential race, which Republican Ronald Reagan went on to win.
However, the political circle is speculating weather Kennedy will give the full and true story behind the notorious 1969 Chappaquiddick scandal.
But Karp dismissed the claims, saying that the senator "assured us he would be candid."
Political pundit Dick Morris, however, cast his doubts over whether Kennedy will come clean on the Chappaquiddick episode.
"I don't think they'll make their money back because he won't level about Chappaquiddick, or William Kennedy Smith. They might as well just title it, 'The Collected Speeches of Ted Kennedy,'" Morris said.
Morris said he was sure Kennedy would employ a ghostwriter, adding, "Boy, I'd hate to be that ghost. Getting Ted Kennedy to open up won't be easy. I bet the publisher bounces it back a couple of times and says, 'This isn't what we paid for.' "
ANI