Algonquin removed a line from President Obama praising Roy Williams which they intended to run on the jacket of Hard Work: A Life On and Off the Court, after their lawyers concluded “that sitting presidents cannot make commercial endorsements.” The White House confirms to EW, “As a general matter, the White House does not authorize the use of the President’s likeness or words for commercial purposes.” Vintage used an endorsement from Obama on a recent paperback reprint of Joseph O’Neill’s NETHERLAND, though EW says they “did not check with the White House before issuing the stickered edition.”EW
