| NEW YORK, January 17, 1975 -- An arbitrator ruled that author William Safire could keep $83,000 as a partial advance for a book on first term of President Richard Nixon but that publisher William Morrow had a contractual right to cancel the project. Safire's contract with Morrow called for an additional $162,00 in an advance when the manuscript was delivered, but Morrow declined the maniuscript on grounds that Safire had refused to makes changes requested by his Morrow editor. Morrow said the manuscript was unsatisfactory because the Watergate scandal had diminished the market for "a positive book" on Nixon first four years. The case hinged on the "satisfactory manuscript" provision that is standard in publishing contracts. Safire argued that the manuscript was satisfactory, noting that another publisher, Doubleday, offed him a $10,000 advance after Morrow reneged on the deal. The arbitrator said, however, that no one can dictate to a publisher what it deems satisfactory -- not a second publishing house and note even arbitrators. Authors objected to the ruling. In effect, authors said, the decision rendered a contract nothing more than an option to buy a manuscript. |
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