Rudy paid Judi $125,000 a year for speechwriting

[DeepModem Mom]

NY Daily News: In Rudy's heart & on payroll
Judith Giuliani got $125G to craft speeches
By DAVID SALTONSTALL
DAILY NEWS SENIOR CORRESPONDENT
Friday, May 18th 2007


She does more than smile for him - Rudy Giuliani paid Judith Nathan $125,000 a year for speechwriting.

Being Mrs. Rudy Giuliani can't be easy, but at least it pays well - about $10,000 a month.

A day after the former mayor disclosed in federal filings that he considers his third wife, Judith, a salaried employee, sources said he has paid her about $125,000 a year for speechwriting help - since before they were married.

The tidy sums, which the couple have always reported as income on their joint tax returns, was for speech-writing help and the many days Judith spent traveling with her husband to paid engagements around the globe.

"Mrs. Giuliani made a professional contribution and the mayor recognizes and respects her efforts," one aide said. "He is merely acknowledging both her time commitment and her professional value."

Rudy Giuliani's haul for the 126 speeches he gave from January 2006 to March 2007 was $11.4 million, records filed this week show, which means he kicked back something less than 2% to his wife over that period.

But with Giuliani running hard for the Republican presidential nomination, he has stopped accepting money for his talks - and Judith is no longer getting a paycheck, aides said.

They added, however, that Judith had been getting paid for her time and expertise since shortly before the couple wed in 2003, when Giuliani hit the lecture circuit in earnest....

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/05/18/2007-05-18_in_rudys_heart__on_payroll-2.html

[TwilightGardener]

1. Isn't she a nurse? So am I--doesn't qualify me to be a speechwriter.

Odd, for a man with a lot of money, not to have hired a professional wordsmith.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. I think you're right -- I believe that is her profession. nt

[PresidentObama]

2. And you all thought John Edwards $400 haircut was bad.

At least he gave that money back.

:eyes:

[ben_meyers]

4. If he raked in 11 million

She must be one hell of a speach writer!

[Kool Kitty]

7. I think she was vastly over-paid.

I mean, really, how hard would it be to write a Giuliani speech? All you have to do is insert "9/11" into every other sentence, it practically writes itself. These two are my nominees for most annoying political couple so far this year.

[rusty_parts2001]

5. She was also squired around NYC, courtesy of the NYPD

at taxpayers' expense.

[LiberalFighter]

6. That's over $90,000 per speech

[kskiska]

8. She was also paid for accompanying him on his travels

The tidy sums, which the couple have always reported as income on their joint tax returns, was for speech-writing help and the many days Judith spent traveling with her husband to paid engagements around the globe.

I wonder what Laura Bush charges?