Why Cal State kept Palin's speaking fee a secret

“The release of the fee, while well-intentioned to share all details, will likely only serve as the financial headline for a new round of stories rather than the intended purpose of clearing the air and making the stories go away,” Swain advises Reed. “Your event needs fewer story lines, less oxygen for the fuel, not more.”

Reed responded: “Bernie, I agree with you that the damage is done and the disclosure will just cause another round of newspaper stories. The campus should have worked this through with you all in the beginning.”…

University officials told ABC News that the emails are somewhat misleading because the conversation began with personal appeal the chancellor made to Palin’s representative to be able to disclose the speaking fee.

“He asked whether they would consider waiving the fee,” said Claudia Keith, a CSU spokeswoman. “Frankly, the chancellor would have preferred to send out the contract himself. But they said no.”