Reagan Signs to Write 2 Books : Will Compile His Speeches, Pen His Own Memoirs

Former President Ronald Reagan has signed a contract with publisher Simon & Schuster to write two books by 1991 for an undisclosed sum, his publisher and agent said today.

Neither party would reveal the amount of the deal, which his agent said was signed at the Reagans’ Bel-Air home Sunday afternoon, just two days after he left office. Sources in the publishing industry have previously estimated the worth of the Reagan memoirs at $2 million to $8 million.

Morton Janklow, the New York attorney and literary agent who represented former First Lady Nancy Reagan on her memoirs, disclosed today that he also is representing the former President. He said negotiations on the contract proceeded without Reagan’s knowledge during the last few months.

Blind Trustee’s Work

“He didn’t even know about this until Saturday,” Janklow said in an interview this morning. “This was something that was done by his blind trustee and me.”

The trustee, attorney George T. Scharffenberger, was appointed to handle Reagan’s financial affairs while he was in office to avoid the possibility of conflicts of interest.

“This will be an honest and straightforward look at where we have been with some thoughts on where we are going,” Reagan said in a press release issued by Simon & Schuster at noon. “I’ve got my pen in hand and I’m ready to get started.”

The first of the two books, to be released in 1990, will be the text of his speeches placed in what the publisher called their “historical context,” with some background on how they were written and why.

The second, to be published in 1991, will be his memoirs.

‘More Philosophical’

“I think this will be more philosophical and more anecdotal than many presidential memoirs have been,” Janklow said. “I don’t think he plans to rewrite the definitive history of the Reagan Administration. He’s going to talk about the philosophical ideas he represented and their impact on the American people.”

Janklow said no ghost writer had been retained to write the memoirs, as Reagan intends to write the book himself. “He may have an editorial assistant,” Janklow said, “but there have been no negotiations with anyone.”

In announcing the contract, Richard E. Snyder, chairman and chief executive officer of Simon & Schuster, predicted that the memoirs “will become one of the most valuable historical documents of this century.” He added: “We’re proud to have been chosen as his publisher.”

The books will be edited by Simon & Schuster editor-in-chief Michael Korda, the publishing house said.