WASHINGTON — The State University of New York at Buffalo paid Hillary Rodham Clinton $275,000 for a speech last year and had to agree to a long list of demands that included approval of the moderator and stage set, according to the nine-page contract made public Wednesday.
The university, which had been refusing to disclose terms of the deal, caved after the Public Accountability Initiative nonprofit research group filed a Freedom of Information request.
The payment was higher than Clinton’s average speaking fee of $200,000 to $225,000 and raised eyebrows, even though the university said the fee was not paid with taxpayer or tuition dollars.
By releasing the actual contract, the University of Buffalo provided the first details of what it takes to land Clinton for an engagement — other than the six-figure fee, of course.
Among other things, the university had to allow Clinton to approve the moderator; pay a $1,000 fee for a stenographer to provide a transcript for Clinton’s records; set a limit of 50 photos totaling no more than 100 people and limit advance advertising.
Advisers to past presidential candidates said Clinton is cashing in while she can before possibly announcing her run for the White House in 2016.
“If you said you were a candidate, you wouldn’t be able to speak at all these public events and not have the press ask questions,” said Katie Gage, Mitt Romney’s former deputy campaign manager.
“You wouldn’t be able to go to a public institution and charge $275,000 for speech . . . It just feels a little bit like greed. “
The contract shows the fee was paid to the Harry Walker Agency, which took an unspecified cut before sending the net proceeds to the Clinton Foundation.
Hogan Gidley, a former aide to GOP presidential candidates Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum, said he doesn’t begrudge Clinton for making money but said the price tag and the demands seem “aristocratic.”
The money may be going to charity, Gidley said, but “the charity is the Clintons themselves. It’s a little disingenuous.”
The university said about 6,500 people attended the speech at the Alumni Arena last Oct. 23 as part a distinguished-speakers series.
“The speaking fee and all other appearance costs are financed entirely through ticket sales, sponsorships and endowments,” the university said.
The university insisted the arrangements were standard practice for high-profile speakers.
After hosting movie stars, presidents and international heads of states, Clinton’s requests “are not out of the ordinary,” said university spokesman John DellaContrada.
“Mrs. Clinton was the highest paid speaker of the university’s 2013-14 series,” he said. “Her appearance at our university was very well received.”