WASHINGTON — After achieving fame by writing about religion and patriotism in songs, Sen. Orrin Hatch is turning to a new topic: himself.
Hatch, R-Utah, is finishing up his memoirs for a book titled, "Square Peg, Confessions of a Citizen Senator," published by Basic Books of New York City. The list price will be $25 for the 288-page volume due out in mid-October.
"It's a political memoir," said Jamie Brickhouse, director of publicity for Basic Books.
"It deals with a variety of political issues. The most timely is his position on stem cell research."
Hatch's support of stem cell research — and later support of human embryo cloning — upset many of his conservative allies, who view such research as akin to abortion and the killing of embryos that could grow into a baby.
Hatch has said that after prayer and consulting with scientific experts, he concluded that embryos are not life unless they are implanted in the womb of a mother and have a chance to grow into a baby. Therefore, he concluded that laboratory embryonic stem cell research and cloning are not killing life.
Publicity information from Basic Books said Hatch's book will also give behind-the-scenes looks at such pivotal events as the Bill Clinton Senate impeachment trial and the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings.
Basic Books describes the book in promotional materials as "part essay on how politics should be practiced, part memoir of how he has tried to embody those principles." It said it also addresses "the importance of having convictions and when to yield on them, how a politician survives personal attacks, and how to survive running for presidents."
Brickhouse said Hatch's book officially has a November publication date, but should be available in mid-October when Hatch begins making publicity appearances to plug it. He is scheduled to be in Salt Lake City, Washington, New York City, Dallas and Houston and to talk on radio shows in 40 cities.
Hatch himself was unavailable for comment Wednesday about the book.
Basic Books has also lined up some interesting written endorsements for the book, including former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, CNN talk show host Larry King, motion picture industry spokesman Jack Valenti and even the manager of the Senate Barber Shop, Mario D'Angelo.
D'Angelo, who has cut Hatch's hair for 25 years, wrote, "His devotion to family, religion, and politics has earned my respect all of this time. Senator Hatch: politician, composer, and potentially a great president if not for bad timing . . . and he has a good head of hair."
Hatch has already been the topic of biographies by two other authors. The new memoirs also are not the first book written by Hatch. He wrote one on religion, entitled "Higher Laws," for Deseret Book.
In recent years Hatch has attracted national attention as a lyricist — and 11 CDs of Hatch's songs have been recorded. For them, he has joined with such music composers as Janice Kapp Perry for religious and patriotic music, and Billy Hinche of the Beach Boys.
Last month, Hatch's "Little Angel of Mine," written with Madeline Stone, was added to the soundtrack album of "Stuart Little 2," even though the song did not appear in that movie itself.
Writing and entertainment has become a somewhat lucrative side-career for Hatch. His financial disclosure report showed he earned $13,119 in song-writing royalties last year.
Other entertainment-related income last year included $1,000 for his cameo appearance in the R-rated movie "Traffic"; $2,276 in royalties for his book "Higher Laws" and $767 in royalties from sales of a tape, "Your Family Hour," by Living Scriptures.
E-MAIL: lee@desnews.com