THE FORUM FILES The Stories Behind the Richmond Forum by Ray McAllister

$38.95 retail. MEET THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!The Richmond Forum is likely the premier speaker series in the U.S., with a roster of Who's Who speakers: George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, the leaders of most major countries-plus a staggering array of celebrities, journalists, scientists, thinkers, and even athletes. For "The Forum Files," award-winning author Ray McAllister rummaged through more than a half-century of files and meeting minutes, scoured more than 150 years of newspaper articles, and interviewed scores of Richmonders and Forum speakers to unearth the history and behind-the-scenes stories. Some of the fascinating behind-the-scenes stories in this coffee-table book, lavishly illustrated with 200 photographs:* Former Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev drove his Secret Service detail batty, repeatedly ordering his car stopped so he could jump out and meet ordinary Richmonders. * Famed director Steven Spielberg doesn't accept speaking invitations-but he made an exception for a fascinating evening in Richmond. * Archbishop Desmond Tutu sneaked away privately before his speech-to visit the statue of his late friend, Arthur Ashe, Jr. * Baseball superstar Cal Ripken, Jr., meeting with three young players, couldn't have known one would become a football superstar. That fourteen-year-old, Russell Wilson, himself agreed to appear at The Forum twelve years later. * Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice delivered both a foreign policy speech . . . and a surprise virtuoso piano performance. * B.B. King was expected to give a talk, instead, he let Lucille do most of the talking. He drew a standing ovation- and insisted on receiving his very large payment in cash. "The Forum Files" should be on the must-read list-and the coffee table-of anyone who loves the inspiring pairing of big names and big ideas.