November 16, 2009: Sarah Palin's memoir discusses divorce rumors

by Jeffrey Cottrill

JUNEAU, AK -- With great fame comes a lot of gossip and rumor. Public figures are always subject to speculation about their personal lives, some of it unfounded and some of it hinting at lifestyles a press agent wouldn't bring up. Our celebrity culture obsesses over the relationships of famous people, treating even the mildest rumor about a hookup or breakup as major news.

How do celebrities handle false news about their relationships? Some ignore it, feeling that it's not worth the trouble to publicly dispute and that their private lives are none of the public's business. Some issue public statements denying or confirming the story. And still others write tell-all books that purport to tell their side of everything, creating guaranteed bestsellers in the process.

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The always controversial politician Sarah Palin, who governed Alaska for less than three years and unsuccessfully ran for vice-president in 2008, has taken the third route. Her new book, Going Rogue, addresses a lot of issues about her political and personal life -- including rumors of an impending divorce that followed her and husband Todd Palin.

In the book, from which NBC News has obtained excerpts, Palin writes: "That day in sunny Texas, when the divorce rumors were rampant in the tabloids, I watched Todd, tanned and shirtless, take the baby from my arms and walk him back to the ranch house so Trig could nap while I made calls. Seeing Todd's blue eyes smiling, I chuckled. 'Dang,' I thought. 'Divorce Todd? Have you seen Todd?'"

Palin, 45, publicly addressed the divorce rumors this past summer, after Alaska political blog The Immoral Minority posted an August 1 story about an alleged marital breakdown that immediately hit the mainstream media.

Going Rogue hits bookstores tomorrow. In advance sales, it's already the top seller on Amazon.com.

Sarah Palin resigned from the governorship of Alaska on July 26. She is also a former mayor of the town of Wasilla.

Tuesday, May 15
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Out With the Tragedy: Turning Divorce into a meaningful experience
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