European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 06, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Former office holders Ere cashing in on the benefits of Fame. Former president Reagan commands $25,000 to 550,000 per speech and ousted House majority whip Tony Coelho above looks to a lucrative future of consulting services. Fat fees for the famous rewards of being out of office by Max Boot Baltimore Suno old politicians Don t die. Thoy Don l Lade away they Hil the rubber Chicken circuit Caes m Point Jim Wright and Tony Coelho just a Lew months ago they were among tha most powerful democrats in the countr. As speaker and mainly whip of the House of representatives but their reigns were Cut Short by ethics scandals Wright was charged with 69 violations of House rules and Coelho was the sublet o press reports about financial dealings. Today both of these politicians who spent virtually their entire adult lives on Capitol Hill Are finding that being out of office has its rewards like Many Public figures Wright and Coelho Are cashing in on their lame some would say their notoriety by writing books and joining corporate boards but their largest source of income appears to be the lecture or rubber Chicken circuit a whirl of universities corporations conventions and Trade associations willing to pay Al Lees to hear speeches by famous people speakers Are in demand it s one of the highest paid professions in the country says Cornell University speech professor Fred Antil. The highest paid lecturers such As Ronald Reagan and g Gordon Liddy. Make $25.000 to $50,000 per speech Reagan spoke this past summer to audiences in London and Paris while Wright and Coelho Are not in that league. Choir speech making remains highly remunerative and they Don t have to worry about congressional limits on outside income. Wright charges $10,000 per appearance and says he has eight speeches lined up. Recently he auditioned before a convention of booking agents in Washington speaking on the theme the human Side of  Antil praised Wright As a very Good speaker but suggested he needs a More controversial topic. His topic today was maybe a Little  Wright claims he in t Hilling the lecture circuit just to make Money he also has a message to deliver i Hope to overcome to the degree possible the Public s cynicism about politics and Public  Coelho is just As Active on the circuit spending about half his time travelling the country. He has signed with the Harry Walker Agency inc. A prominent now York booking Agency and although he won t disclose his fees he says to is competitive with Wright the former whip said that he gives three Standard lectures an inspirational speech about How i overcame epilepsy a behind the scenes speech about the House and an issues speech about economic competitiveness. I m doing very  but hitting the lecture circuit is Only part of the lucrative transitions Wright and Coelho Are making from the Pinnacles of Power to private life. For instance Wright and his wife. Betty Are planning to leave Mclean and move Back to his former congressional District fort Worth Texas. In fort Worth the former speaker is working to set up a Library at Texas Christian University to House his papers a collection of audiotapes and videotapes documenting his career and possibly the furniture from his Capitol Hill office he also plans to teach a Public policy seminar at the Small private co siege Wright is also writing a Book sort of an autobiography John White an old Friend says and is negotiating to join the boards of several Texas based corporations the Federal government meanwhile provides the former speaker a substantial pension estimated by the National taxpayers Union at $83.070 a year three paid staffers and a $67.000 yearly allowance Lor an office in the fort Worth Federal building. He s making a Good adjustment asserted while former chairman of the democratic National committee. He s optimistic he s smiling and it s not forced. He seems to be looking Forward to the new  Coelho s financial Outlook is equally Bright. Although at age 47 he is too Young to draw his House pension and receives no Federal office allowance immediately after he announced his resignation from Congress. Coelho received about 70 Job  according to a former aide he s spending the summer testing their Bona fides to see where they might Lead i expect by september he is going to Celt -1 on 3 Joh " Coelho said to would have a main Job that would involve working in a a or capacity for either a Large corporation a Public relations firm or an investment Bank. But he intends to remain involved in a Host of other activities. He said he would be affiliated with two universities continue his speaking join corporate boards do some television commentary and continue his fund raising Lor the epilepsy foundation of America. He said he had raised $35 million for the foundation Over the last three years and wants to raise $1 million More. In addition Coelho said he plans to open a consulting firm. He denies that the firm will be involved in lobbying saying. We will do some consulting for people who Are interested in How to Deal with government but we won t talk to any members of Congress. It s strategy  Tony s receiving some very generous  a Friend said. He will have enough income from whatever he decides to do that he won t have to depend on his House  while he looks Lor a Job Coelho said he has been offering Iree political advice to democratic congressmen and other politicians because he said i love partisan  Wright too is remaining involved in Capitol affairs. Although to is moving to fort Worth White predicted Wright would try to maintain close ties to Washington he still wants to at Lect Public  White said. Already the former speaker of the House has become such a frequent visitor to his old congressional office still occupied by his stall until a new representative is elected that the Wall Street journal recently dubbed him the phantom of the  wednesday september 6, 19b9 the stars and stripes Page 13