Just in: Justice Thomas to go on 60 Minutes

UPDATE:Several sources now indicate the CBS interview has already taken place. Correspondent Steve Kroft conducted the interview, which took place in part inside the Supreme Court building.

Legal Times has confirmed that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has agreed to be interviewed by the CBS News show 60 Minutes later this month to kick off promotion of his new autobiography, set for publication October 1.

Knowledgeable sources say that Thomas overcame an initial reluctance about doing publicity for the book and is scheduled to appear on the top-rated news magazine show on Sunday, Sept. 30.

Thomas' long-awaited book, titled "My Grandfather's Son: A Memoir" will be published by HarperCollins. The book has been closely guarded by the publisher, with few copies in circulation, even for book reviewers. It reportedly focuses on his upbringing in Georgia, continuing through his college days and into his early career, culminating with his contentious Senate confirmation hearing in 1991. Some who are familiar with the book say it contains explosive new details about the confirmation battle, while others knock down that characterization. “It’s really about his childhood, not gossip about the court,” said one person who has read the book.

HarperCollins paid Thomas a $1.5 million advance on royalties for the book five years ago. Thomas' agent Lynn Chu said this week that when Thomas signed the contract with the publisher, he insisted that the standard clause obliging him to do publicity for the book be removed. "He could have said no" to the CBS interview, said Chu, co-founder of Writers' Representatives in New York City. "He was very reluctant." But Chu said she was “really glad” that Thomas had finally agreed to do 60 Minutes and make other appearances, including a conversation with ABC News correspondent Jan Crawford Greenburg at the 92nd Street Y in New York City in October.

It is rare, but not unprecedented, for sitting justices to write memoirs and make high-visibility appearances. Sandra Day O'Connor and her brother Alan Day wrote about their Western upbringing in "Lazy B" in 2002, but it said little about her years on the Court. O'Connor was interviewed on the Today Show and other programs in connection with the book, and went on 60 Minutes II in 2004. CBS correspondent Mike Wallace interviewed Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2006, but it was an amiable chat and tour of her chambers that appeared on the CBS Sunday Morning Show, not 60 Minutes.

Comments

[Fitz]

"He is quick to state that he is in his position because of merit, but he pulled the race card out at the Senate confirmation hearing. He is a disappointment to his race, his people and more importantly to himself."

The left fears Justtice Thomas like no other.

The simple fact of the matter is that forces on the left cannot handle Americas most powerfull black man being a conservative.

Therefore: hi must be demonized and attacked at every turn.

[Thomas Laneaux]

I saw the interview and sincerely attempted to give Justice Thomas the benefit of the doubt. He is obviously a troubled soul and was obviously lying. He was not qualified to be nominated to this countries highest court. It was a race appointment, everyone is aware of that fact and I believe it is tearing up this man's insides. This bothers him so much because he is an intellectual, who beleives that his hard work got him to his station in life rather than benefiting by the connections that he met along the way and the change of philosphy. Especially, seeing as he has failed his people time and time again. He truly is an "uncle tom" or a republican puppet or an oreo (black on the outside and white in the middle). His grandfather told him not to look a white woman in the eye, and so he marries a white woman. When the Anita Hill topic came up, the twitch in his left eye told me the whole story as to his veracity. He is quick to state that he is in his position because of merit, but he pulled the race card out at the Senate confirmation hearing. He is a disappointment to his race, his people and more importantly to himself.

[Wilma Bell]

I saw Justice Thomas' interview on 60 minutes and felt sincerely sorry for him. Apparently, he is a bitter, angry man, not so much because of the confirmation hearings, but because of his life in general. Hopefully, he will consider getting help by a medical professional before it's too late. His pain is just under the surface and needs to be addressed by those trained to help. So sad.

Would love if he was asked why he didn't recuse himself on Bush v Gore.