About 1,000 people waited in line for hours in the Friday morning heat outside BookPeople to shake the hand of former president Bill Clinton at a signing for his new book.
Clinton's book, "Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World," describes how the philanthropic efforts of both famous and ordinary citizens "can save lives and solve problems," according to the William J. Clinton Foundation Web site. Clinton is donating the proceeds he receives from his book to charities and nonprofit organizations that are "doing their part to change the world," according to the Web site.
Clinton said he hoped his book would impact today's youth.
"I actually wrote about a young woman from Austin in my book," he said.
BookPeople, located at 603 N. Lamar, began selling vouchers for Clinton's book signing on Sept. 1 for about $27. Those who bought the vouchers were guaranteed Clinton's book and a spot in the signing line, according to the BookPeople Web site.
"We sold just about 1,000 vouchers and everyone who waited in line got their book signed," said Alison Nihlean, the events coordinator for BookPeople.
Those who bought the vouchers were recommended to start lining up at 8 a.m. but President Clinton did not start signing until 11 a.m., according to the BookPeople Web site.
The first person got to BookPeople at 4 a.m. and the second got there at 4:02 a.m., said Kelly Nalle, a BookPeople employee.
"I got here at 6:30 a.m. and was one of the first 50 people here," said Shondra Wygal, president of the Texas Young Democrats. "President Clinton told me thank you and bless you after I said I supported him and his wife."
"He signs with one hand and shakes with the other. He talked to each and every person," Austin resident Kristine Kovach said.
At 90 years old, Estella Black was all smiles.
"I've waited seven years to see Bill Clinton and I got me a good old hug. I got here at 7:30 a.m. and enjoyed the wait," she said.
A few Bowie High School students decided to skip school to meet Clinton.
"I made Bill Clinton crack a smile when I said meeting him was way better than going to school," 16-year-old Paras Shah said after jumping up and down with excitement.
Not everyone attended the signing in support of the Clinton family.
"I'd rather have a dead armadillo than Hillary Clinton as president," said Robert Morrow, webmaster of www.1984ArkansasMotherofTheYear.com, an anti-Clinton Web site.
Clinton signed books until 1:45 p.m., met with the VIPs afterward and finally left around 3 p.m., Nihlean said.
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