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DHS publishes 315-page book honoring Chertoff’s ‘Select Speeches.’

The Department of Homeland Security recently sent out an entire book honoring former Secretary Michael Chertoff’s “Select Speeches” from 2005–2008. The 315-page book contains 36 of Chertoff’s speeches and press conferences (many of which — if not all — are most likely available online). ThinkProgress recently obtained a copy of the book and contacted DHS to find out how much taxpayer money was spent on the book’s production. However, we received no response. But Michele Nix, a former top official for former DHS Secretary Tom Ridge, told ThinkProgress that this homage seemed to be exclusive to Chertoff, as the department did “nothing” similar for her former boss. Let us know in the comments section if you remember any of Chertoff’s speeches being particularly memorable.

Update:

New DHS spokesman Sean Smith tells ThinkProgress, “The project cost approximately $11,200 and came from DHS Chief of Staff funds. The speech books went to career and non-career DHS alumni who worked for and departed DHS during Secretary Chertoff’s tenure. Such a book was not created when Secretary Ridge departed. As the department matures, we are creating a history as our colleagues across government have been doing for years.”

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