After President Barack Obama spoke at Federal Hall on Wall St. on the one year anniversary of the collapse of Lehman, he and former President Bill Clinton came up to Greenwich Village to meet for a private lunch at Il Mulino Italian restaurant on W. Third St. Afterward, Clinton was treated like a rock star as he walked through the Village for about 10 blocks, stopping at the Barnes & Noble bookstore at W. Eighth St. and Sixth Ave. According to a salesperson, Clinton bought “a bunch of books — more than two.” The associate, who didn’t give her name, said it was really “not cool” to say what books people buy — but then proceeded to reveal a couple. One was “The Owl Killers,” a medieval mystery by Karen Maitland. Another, she hinted, was by someone “who did something that they didn’t really like.” She gave another hint: The person’s first name starts with “T.” “Ted Kennedy?” we guessed. “Thank you!” the associate said, laughing, confirming that the book was “True Compass,” the memoir of the late Massachusetts senator, who last year endorsed Clinton’s lunch partner over his wife, Hillary, for president. Clinton bought another biographical book about a deceased person, but she wouldn’t be more specific. As for the rest of the more than two books, she said, “Historical mysteries seems to be one of his likes. … He’s very nice, signing autographs,” she added.
— Lincoln Anderson
