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Who

One of the most powerful book agents in the industry, Newberg is co-head of the literary department at ICM, where she's worked for more than 30 years.

Backstory

Newberg started her professional life in Democratic politics and worked on Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign, before serving as chief of staff for firebrand Congresswoman Bella Abzug. In 1976 Newberg traded politics for publishing and joined ICM, where she worked her way up the ladder; in 1988, along with fellow hotshot agent Binky Urban, she took over the agency's literary division after then-ICM literary chief Lynn Nesbit departed to launch her own agency with Mort Janklow. In early 2007, Urban stepped down as co-head to reduce her workload and help guide ICM's international expansion. Newberg now shares the job with Sloane Harris, a 17-year ICM veteran.

Of note

Newberg's clients include Patricia Cornwell, Steve Martin, Richard Haass, Carl Hiaasen, Don Imus, and RFK's niece, Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg. Given her background, it's not surprising that she reps many of the left-leaning Times' Op-Ed-ers, including Maureen Dowd, Thomas Friedman, and Frank Rich (nor is it surprising that Newberg is a reliable Democratic donor). She's also the agent for Binky Urban's husband, New Yorker writer Ken Auletta.

Drama

In late 2006, Newberg was named by Judith Regan as one of four publishing insiders making up "a Jewish cabal" bent on her destruction; the others were then-HarperCollins CEO Jane Friedman, in-house counsel Mark Jackson and editor David Hirshey. News Corp.'s Rupert Murdoch fired Regan shortly thereafter.

Personal

The unmarried Newberg lives on the Upper East Side and has a weekend home in Sag Harbor.

True story

Newberg was at the infamous 1969 Martha's Vineyard party preceding Ted Kennedy's drive off the bridge at Chappaquiddick that killed Mary Jo Kopechne. Kopechne and Newberg had both been members of a RFK staffer clique known as the Boiler Room Girls.