Candidate for a Deal

The book was released, unheralded, several weeks before the Oct. 13 presidential debate in which the 20th Amendment was an issue. That’s the amendment dealing with who becomes President on Inauguration Day should the President-elect be incapacitated/ailing/absent.

With the media buzzing about the issue, and Dan Quayle hovering as the Republican veep candidate, “Oath of Office”--about the kidnaping of the President-elect--suddenly became a hot paperback novel.

And now, Hollywood’s come calling.

“We’re really wild about the book,” said Nick Grillo, director of development for Mace Neufeld Productions. “We’re absolutely in negotiation (for the project). We’ve already got a game plan for a possible miniseries.” A feature is also being considered, he added.

Author Steven J. Kirsch, a civil attorney in St. Paul, Minn., said, “I’ve found what I believe is a serious hole in the U.S. Constitution” having to do with presidential succession. Of the intensified interest in the book:”All the controversy about (Indiana Sen. Dan) Quayle hasn’t hurt.”