Former President Bill Clinton was at Barnes & Noble in the Prudential Center this morning as people lined up outside the door to received a signed copy of his new book, Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy.

Clinton greeted a steady stream of people hailing from next door, to New Zealand, shaking every person's hand and thanking them for attending. He also addressed the press, answering a question about the bipartisan struggle to agree on a $1.2 trillion deficit reduction plan - see the attached video.

With the Secret Service, local police, metal detectors and drug dogs on hand, security was tight starting at 7 a.m. when the bookstore opened to the public. People were encouraged to carry as few personal items as possible, and left purses and other objects in a bag check at the front of the store.

While the front section remained open, the back was closed for the event. Clinton set up shop in the Starbucks cafe, and at 10 a.m. people wound their way through roped-off shelves to meet him and purchase a copy of his book and have it signed.