Bill Clinton Bought One Book at Powell's Yesterday—Here's What It Was

Hint: It's about another president.

Bill Clinton's surprise swing through Powell's City of Books on Monday included one purchase.

Powell's CEO Miriam Sontz says Clinton bought A First-Class Temperament: The Emergence of Franklin Roosevelt, 1905-1928, the second volume in an FDR biography by Geoffrey C. Ward.

The book's paperback edition retails for $19.95 at Powell's. The Powell's website suggests Clinton bought the last copy in stock at the Burnside location.

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown gave Clinton a guided tour of the bookstore Monday afternoon, hours before lending Hillary Rodham Clinton her endorsement in the Democratic presidential primary.

Bill Clinton left Portland to stump with the endorsement and two books. Sontz says Clinton was also given the popular history Astoria: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire as a gift.

She's not sure who gave it to him.

astoria

Willamette Week

Aaron Mesh

Aaron Mesh is WW's editor. He’s a Florida man who enjoys waterfalls, Trail Blazers basketball and Brutalist architecture.

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