Mayor Michael Bloomberg: I Hope There Are No Tell-All Books About Me

NEW YORK (AP) -- Mayor Michael Bloomberg has no use for aides who write tell-alls like the one former White House press secretary Scott McClellan published this week.

``I just hopefully hire people who are a little more responsible, that's the first thing I worry about,'' Bloomberg told reporters Thursday, when asked about McClellan's book.

McClellan, who served as President Bush's press secretary from May 2003 to April 2006, has written a stunning insider's account [WCBS 880] of his years there, depicting the administration as ``insular, secretive and combative.'' Current White House press secretary Dana Perino has portrayed the book as the biased work of a sour ex-official.

While Bush, who is in the final year of his second term, has had four press secretaries so far, Bloomberg, whose second term concludes at the end of 2009, has had two. His first, Ed Skyler, was promoted to deputy mayor. Stu Loeser succeeded him.

Neither admits to having books in the works.

Bloomberg, who was CEO of his financial information company before entering public life, has long said he values loyalty above all else among his employees and confidants.

``I've always thought that you, when you work for somebody, you have an obligation to not write a tell-all book afterwards, and that's true whether you're in an administration or whether you're working for a private company,'' he said.

``If you think the organization you work for is breaking the law, there are whistleblower protections and you should avail yourself of the opportunity to set things right while you're there, but afterward when there's no ways to check, I just happen to think that's wrong.''

At his multibillion-dollar financial information company, Bloomberg LP, there is a bit more of an insurance policy keeping mouths shut, employees sign confidentiality agreements upon being hired, according to a spokeswoman.

City Hall staffers do not sign such an oath. But the wealthy mayor, who was known for lavishing his top campaign aides with eye-popping bonuses after his election and re-election, could also similarly reward his city staff after he leaves office.

For all of these reasons, it's unlikely the public will get to read an insider's account of the Bloomberg administration, says George Arzt, who was press secretary to Ed Koch when he was mayor.

``It will never happen with these people,'' Arzt said. ``He treats his employees very well. I think based on that, you wouldn't do anything to harm him.''