VOL. 1. NO.
10. (to January 3, 1999).
BB=Bilderberger
CFR=Council on Foreign Relations M=Mason RS=Rhodes Scholar TC=Trilateralist
LANGUAGE ON SUCCESSION IN TEXAS MAY BE CHANGED SOON
If Governor George Bush (S&B 1968) becomes President, the present language in the Texas Constitution provides that the lieutenant governor "shall exercise the powers and authority appertaining to the office of governor." Texas Representative Tom Ramsey has stated (Austin American-Statesman Dec. 25) that a lieutenant governor, called on to assume the chores of the Governor, could also choose to retain the office of lieutenant governor. That, he says, would be absurd. So he will propose a constitutional amendment that would amend the Texas constitution to provide that a lieutenant governor who replaces the governor would only serve as governor. If Bush is elected, and the amendment is adopted, that would still make lieutenant governor Rick Perry the third Republican governor of Texas since Reconstruction.
CARTOONIST FEATURES BUSH CAMPAIGN AS BUSH DOMAINS GET BOUGHT
The cartoon strip Thadeus & Weez, by Charles Pugsley Fincher, featured George W. Bush (Jan. 2) with the last panel having Bush state: "Ready your checkbooks." At least 39 Internet sites have now (Austin American-Statesman Jan. 2) claimed the name of George W. Bush. Former bond trader Alex Goldstein, of Los Angeles, has bought net domains for nine different versions of Bush's name.
GORE PUTS HAT IN RING AND CHOOSES SMITH AS MANAGER
Vice-President Al Gore, Jr. (CFR/M) on Friday mailed the paperwork to the Federal Elections Commission announcing a campaign for the presidency (Austin American-Statesman Jan. 1). Bill Bradley (RS) has already formed an exploratory committee. Craig Smith has now been hired as Gore's campaign manager.
IMPEACHMENT TALK CONTINUES
Joseph I. Lieberman (CFR) (ABC News Jan. 3) doesn't want Senate testimony on sordid details on impeachment. Christopher Dodd (CFR) said members of the House should mind their own business on impeachment (ABC News Jan. 3). The law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand, viewed as the most powerful law firm in Washington, is assisting President Clinton (Austin American-Statesman Dec. 28) by providing the services of Bob Dole (33rd M) and Democrat George Mitchell (CFR). Partner Berl Bernhard, who worked for both JFK and LBJ, described the 185-attorney firm as "like a flower blooming in the desert. Unless you were there and saw it, you never knew about it." Lawyers at the firm include Lloyd Bensten (BB/CFR), former U.S. Senator and Secretary of Treasury as well as former Texas Governor Ann Richards (a non-lawyer). In 1997 the law firm was paid $2 million each by five major tobacco companies. Its clients include The Walt Disney Company, Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corp, RJR Nabisco, Conrail, McDonald Douglas Corp., Motorola and Merrill Lynch.
COMMENTARY ON THE IMPACT OF THE EURO AND ECB
The euro will not exist in tangible form for three years. It will be competitive with the dollar. There is now one single European Stock Market (ABC News Jan. 3). The Euro will initially be used for transactions between banks (CBS Jan. 1). Jacques Santer, President of the E-U Commission, called (PBS News Hour Jan. 1) this year the beginning of a new era. One euro will be worth 6.56 French Francs and 1.96 German Marks. The new European Central Bank will now make monetary policy and interest rate decisions for Euroland. Philippe Schmitter, with the European University Institute in Florence, says there is a major controversy over whether economic unification will result in political union. He believes the two are linked. Stephen Overturf, a Whittier College Professor, said the theme was economics with a political agenda. He added that U.S. interest rates might have to increase if Americans invest in Eurodebt. Jurek Martin, a journalist with the Financial Times of London, said the new European Central Bank was equivalent with the U.S. Federal Reserve System. The Bank of France, he said, was now on par with the Kansas Federal Reserve Bank. Europe will now have a centralized monetary policy. Students of the history of money place great significance on the creation of central banks. The typical articles in the papers and TV news reports do not.
IPOS EXPECTED IN 1999
The companies expected to go public in 1999 include: Gabelli Asset Management, Korn Ferry, Perot Systems, Keefe Bruyette, Prodigy Communications and Barnes and Noble.com (NBR Dec. 30).
BIG CORPORATIONS IN S&P 500 SHOWED BIGGEST GAINS
An analysis of the S&P 500 for 1998 (NBR Jan. 1) revealed that the largest 100 showed the biggest stock gains (44.1%) compared to 23.2% for the second 100, 9.9% for the third 100, 1,4% for the fourth 1000 and a loss of 19.7% for the smallest 100.
MARKET EXPERTS GIVE SLOW FORECAST
Gail Dudack, Investment Strategist with Warburg Dillon Reed, is bearish. Earnings are down (NBR Jan. 1). Only $2-$3 billion a month is going into Mutual Funds compared to $18 billion a month before. Only 8 key stocks in the S&P 500 are carrying the main load. She likes IBM and Fannie Mae stock. Ralph Acampora, Chief Technical Analyst with Prudential Securities says that other stocks will go up soon. He likes Bell Atlantic, Home Depot and Wallmart stocks. David Jones, Chief Economist with Aubrey G. Lanston, predicts a neutral year. A noted Fed-watcher, Jones does not expect Fed cuts until the second 1999 meeting. He is worried about a bubble. Alan Greenspan (CFR/TC) and Robert Rubin (BB) are the "two leading architects of this spectacular economic performance." He sees the market going slightly down. Duback said if Clinton left office it would cost the market 100 points. If Greenspan left, the market would drop 1,000 points.
Jack Brennan, Chairman and CEO of the Vanguard Group, was featured (Moneyline Dec. 29). Vanguard 5000 (as of Nov. 3) had $70 billion compared to $76 billion for Fidelity Magellan. Vanguard 500 had a year-to-date return of 28.2% compared to 26.4% for the S&P 500 (through Dec. 24). 1998 was the fifth year where the S&P 500 outperformed the money managers.
TOP FIVE U.S. MERGERS IN 1998
The top five mergers in the U.S. in 1998 were (Austin American-Statesman Jan. 1): 1) SBC Communications buying Americtech Corp ($78.2 billion in stock, May 11); 2) Exxon Corp. purchasing of Mobil Corp. ($76.9 billion, Dec. 1); 3) Bell Atlantic Corp. merging with GTE Corp. ($63.5 billion, July 28), 4) British Petroleum PLC acquiring Amoco Corp. ($57.6 billion in stock, completed Dec. 31) and 5) NationsBank Corp. and BankAmerica Corp. combining ($41.5 billion, completed Sept. 30).
BANANA WAR LOOMING?
A trade war is considered to be a major indicator of a depression. The U.S. is now protesting European exports. Carl Lindner, Chairman of Chiquita, has made significant political contributions to both parties (ABC News Dec. 27). The company issued a statement of denial: "Political contributions did not in any way influence the initiation of the United States . . . against the European Banana policy." Dole and Chiquita, the two U.S. food giants, are the envy of world producers. European governments are slapping quotas. Charlene Barshefsky, U.S. Trade Representative, stated: "This is pure protectionism." The W.T.O. has ruled that the European tariffs are illegal. President Clinton (BB/CFR/RS/TC) demanded an end to the tariffs but the Europeans have refused. So U.S. retaliation will begin. Leon Brittan, of the European Trade Commission, said: "Such measures would threaten companies and jobs right across Europe's economy."
HOSPITALS KEEPING TWO SETS OF BOOKS TO BILL AND BILK GOVERNMENT
Mike Wallace did a 60 Minutes piece ("Cooking the Books") (Dec. 27) on Columbia/HCA. Perhaps $1 billion in Medicare over-charges have occurred. Hospitals have been keeping "Aggressive" and "Reserve" books. When caught, the money is paid back without interest. The False Claims Act allows individuals to file suits for fraud against the U.S. government.
NEWS HOUR DISCUSSION OF IRAQ
Panelist interviewed by PBS (News Hour Dec. 28) included Rolf Ekens, former UNSCOM Executive Chairman (1991-1997) and now Sweden's Ambassador to the United States, and Zalmay Khalilzad (CFR), former Pentagon official in the Bush Administration and Director of the Strategy and Doctrine Program, RAND. Khalilzad said the result of the recent bombings was to weaken the U.S.'s support in the United Nations (because of opposition from Russia, China and France) as well as in the Arab world. So long as Saddam Hussein is in power, there will be weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The only solution is a new government if we want to end WMDs and long-range missiles. There is a need for a new regime.
RUSSIAN DEFAULT ON OLD DEBT SEEN AS NOT EARTH-SHAKING
The Russian government, according to Myron Kandel (Moneyline Dec. 30), failed to repay $362 million in interest on debt dating back to the Soviet era. Kandel said it would perhaps lead to a restructuring of the some $30 billion in loans to the Foreign Trade Bank of the old Soviet Union. The Russians claim that 70% of the investors have agreed to restructuring. This latest default is not expected to shake the foreign markets.
OIL COMPANIES SEEKING GUARANTEES ON PENDING DRILLING
Western oil companies have invested millions of dollars (Austin American-Statesman Jan. 1) to drill for oil off Sakhalin's northern coast. The most advanced project, Sakhalin-2, has already anchored an offshore rig. Shell, Exxon and Arco are among the oil companies waiting on the Russian legislature to provide legal guarantees on how the oil will be divided. Dinty Miller, of Arco, said: "You can't have people investing billions of dollars without a stable business climate."
OVERLOOKED NEWS IN 1998
PBS did a segment (Dec. 31) on stories that were not adequately covered in 1998. Robert Kittle, of the San Diego Union Tribune, said human cloning raised profound moral and ethical questions. A moratorium was needed. Lee Cullum (CFR), of the Dallas Morning News, said that economic news was neglected. The failure of the House to give us fast-track authority to prevent destruction of fragile negotiated agreements was one neglected story. Also neglected was the need to control the flow of short-term capital to developing nations. A tax on investors who pull their money out in less than a year deserved attention. This would prevent money from flooding in and then leaving the developing country both high and dry. Greenspan opposes such capital controls. Only PBS, she said, had reported on this issue. The defense policy of the U.S., aside from the Iraq situation, has been neglected. Peace-keeping, she said, should be discussed more. Patrick McGuigan, with the Daily Oklahoman, said that broad changes in the social security system needed exploration. Cynthia Tucker, of the Atlantic Constitution, believed Russia was under-reported. Russia, with economic and political chaos, still has nuclear weapons. There is a danger of theft or selling of nuclear weapons to raise American dollars. Susan Albright, of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, chose the expansion of NATO as a neglected story. Issues included economic inter-locks and labor shortages.
GO-AHEAD ON ISRAEL APARTMENT PROJECT EXPECTED THIS WEEK
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Austin American-Statesman Jan. 2) will decide this week whether to let a controversial building program go ahead. Florida businessman Irving Moskovitz, who contributed to Netanyahu's 1996 campaign, is preparing to build a 132-unit apartment complex for Jews on four acres he owns in traditionally Arab East Jerusalem. There is a possibility of a summit in March or April between Clinton and Arafat. Dennis Ross (CFR), the chief U.S. Mideast peace envoy, will arrive in the region on January 9.
REFORM RABBIS WIN DISTRICT COURT CONVERSION VICTORY
District judge Vardi Zeiller, in Israel, held that 23 petitioners converted to Judaism (Austin American-Statesman Dec. 31) by Reform rabbis are entitled to be registered as Jews by the Interior Ministry. Rabbi Uri Regev, who heads the Reform movement in Israel, said the ruling "restores the lost honor of scores of converts and their families." The ruling is expected to be appealed and an effort to pass legislation that will guarantee that only orthodox rabbis can make conversion is likely to occur.
ISRAEL NOW WASHINGTON, D.C. EAST?
Tom Teepen says that Israel's Labor Party has hired James Carville as a political consultant (Austin American-Statesman Dec. 30). In 1996 the Clinton administration all but campaigned for Labor which, like the British Labor Party, the Clinton Democratic party and Germany's Social Democrats, are moving toward the center or "Third Way." Carville has also involved former Clinton pollster Stanley Greenberg and media consultant Robert Shrum. Steve Rabinowitz, a Washington political consultant is advising Labor chief Ehud Barak.
"SANTA ANNA" MEXICO TAX ON TELEPHONES PROPOSED BY ZEDILLO
Faced with record low oil prices, Mexico's President Ernesto Zedillo has proposed a new 15% tax on telephone usage, on top of the current 15% sales tax adopted in 1995 (Austin American-Statesman Dec. 30). His proposal has incensed foreign-owned telephone companies which have invested millions since the telephone sector was privatized in the 1990s. Senator Luis Felipe Bravo Mena has compared Zedillo's proposals to those of the 19th century dictator Santa Anna, who reportedly taxed mustaches and beards, as well as doors and windows: "Unfortunately, the proposed telephone tax is not far from those unfortunate revenue measures."
The Texas Revolution followed the attempted collection of custom taxes by appointed Mexican collection mercenaries. Santa Anna launched a full scale invasion to quell the Texas tax revolt that became a successful revolution. In 1830 Santa Anna was originally elected president in 1833 as a Federalist and a supporter of republican reform. In 1834 he realigned himself with the conservative centralist faction -- with the wealthy, the church and the army. This oligarchy sought to reduce the states to departments totally subservient to Mexico City. Santa Anna came to power and strewed the plains of Zacatecas with murdered citizens only because they contended for their constitution. He disarmed the militia, strengthened centralist forces, and placed the people "entirely at the mercy of the executive and his minions, who completed the destruction of the Constitution of 1824 by blotting it from the statute book of Mexico."
Stephen F. Austin, the "Father of Texas," described the unconstitutional scheme of centralism's rise in a speech delivered at Louisville, Kentucky: "In 1834, the president of the republic, Gen. Santa Anna, who heretofore was the leader and champion of the republican party and system, became the head and leader of his former antagonists, the aristocratic and church party. With this accession of strength, this party triumphed. The unconstitutional general Congress of 1834, which was decidedly republican and federal, was dissolved in May, of that year, by a military order of the president, before the constitutional senate, which, agreeable to the constitution, ought to have been installed the day after closing the session of Congress, was also dissolved; and a new revolutionary and unconstitutional Congress, was also dissolved; and a new revolutionary and unconstitutional Congress was convened by another military order of the president. This Congress met on the 1st January, 1835: it was decidedly aristocratic, ecclesiastical, and central in its politics. A number of petitions were presented to it from several towns and villages, praying that it would change the federal form of government, and establish a central form. These petitions were all of a revolutionary character, and were called 'pronouncitmeintos' or pronouncements for centralism. They were formed by partial and revolutionary meetings, gotten up by the military and the priests. Petitions in favor of the federal system were also sent in by the people, and by some of the state legislatures, who still retained firmness to express their opinions. The latter were disregarded, and their authors persecuted and imprisoned. The former were considered sufficient to invest Congress with plenary powers. It, accordingly, by a decree, deposed the constitutional vice president, Gomez Farias, who was a leading federalist, without any impeachment, or trial, or even the form of a trial, and elected another of their own party, Gen. Barragan, in his place. By another decree, it united the senate with the house of representatives, in one chamber; and thus constituted, it declared itself invested with full powers, as a national convention. In accordance with these usurped powers, it proceeded to amend the federal constitution and system, and to establish a central or consolidated government."
CHINA CONTINUES ONE-PARTY POLITICAL MONOPOLY POLICY
China's anti-any-other-political-party policy was featured (PBS News Hour Dec. 31) with Michael Oksenberg (CFR/TC) of Stanford University, a former NSC member specializing in China in the Carter administration and President of the East-West Center, mainly defending China's policy against opposition. Numerous arrests in China have come six months after President Clinton's visit to China. President Jiang Zemin stated that China respects human rights and fundamental freedoms. In October China signed, but has not yet ratified, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. However, more than thirty have been arrested for trying to form a second party. In two speeches in December, Zemin said his tolerance has limits. He said on December 19 that "the Western mode of political systems must never be copied. " On December 23, he warned against "infiltration by both domestic and foreign hostile forces." He said "any factors that could jeopardize our stability must be annihilated in the earliest stages." Xigo Qiang, of the New York-based Human Rights in China organization, said there was a systematic suppression of Chinese dissidents. Minxin Pei of Princeton University said it was a step backwards but the regime was encouraging openness. Harry Wu, of the Laogai Research Foundation, said the crackdown was not surprising. The leaders of China want to maintain power and refuse to change the communist system. Oksenberg said the crackdown was both significant and unfortunate. He said there were periods of relaxation followed by periods of tightening up. But progress is being made and will continue to be made. A prison diary of one of the jailed dissidents was printed and available for purchase at bookstores. He said it was a mixed, complicated picture with the crackdown a significant step backwards. Xigo Qiang said that China is frightened by open discontent. Demands for more freedom are viewed as threatening. Pei said there was an unwritten line and that organized dissent is not permitted at the moment. Oksenberg said the leaders of China have used high-growth policies to obtain popular support with remarkable success. Growth has been increasing at 7-8% a year but is now slowing down. Unemployment is up. Bank reforms have been delayed. There is rising dissatisfaction with corruption and smuggling. China is killing the chicken to warn the monkey. A wiser course would be "liberalization" but China has decided to go for a maximum growth rate and sees liberalization as disorder. Oksenberg said he believes it is a bad policy but that is what they have decided. Harry Wu said that the economy is going another direction with private property. The U.S. policy is not moral, is based upon appeasement, business and money. A high-level delegation is going to China soon. Oksenberg said that strong statements need to be made against the crackdown. China will consider this to be interference in its own internal affairs. Madeleine Albright (CFR/TC), he said, has described our relationship with China as multi-faceted. We have many interests at stake. No one facet should be held hostage to another. The U.S. policy is enlightenment rather than appeasement. As China develops, the forces for political change will grow. Xigo Qiang said the solution is to go to the Human Rights Commission. China is where many are ruled by a few. The struggle will continue and history is on our side. Oksenberg was heard preparing to respond but the panel discussion ended with Qiang having the last word.
NEW PARTY BEING ATTEMPTED FOR LABOR IN CHINA
A new group in China, backed in the U.S. by activist Ye Ning, is now attempting (Austin American Statesman Jan. 2) to form an independent China Labor Party. 1999 will be the 10th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown on students and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Communist-only government.
TWENTY-YEAR RECORD OF CHINA MILITARY TECHNOLOGY STILL SECRET
A top-secret 700-page House committee report (Austin American-Statesman Jan. 1) found that U.S. security had been harmed by Chinese acquisitions of American military technology over the past twenty years. An unclassified version is coming.
RELIABLE SOURCES REVIEWED YEAR'S BAD PRESS/MEDIA
On CNN's Reliable Sources (Jan. 2), Jodi T. Allen (CFR) of Slate Magazine, Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune and Rich Lowry of The National Review joined Howard Kurtz, Washington Post media Reporter, and CNN's Bernard Kalb (CFR). Kalb said the media was throwing a lot of calories out about the Clinton impeachment process but very few vitamins. He also said reporters were skimping on homework. Allen said that both the far right and the far left want an impeachment trial. A review of the year's bad reporting included a writer for the New Republic, Stephen Glass, who had fabrications in 27 of 41 articles; Patricia Smith of the Boston Globe, who resigned after admitting she had invented characters for four of her columns and Mike Barnicle of the Boston Globe, who was suspended for lifting jokes, re-instated and then fired for a 1995 article. A lawyer, Floyd Abrams, investigated the "Operation Tailwind" story on CNN and found the evidence did not support allegations that nerve gas was used during the Vietnam War to kill American defectors. CNN retracted the story as did Time Magazine which ran the original article making the allegations. Lowry claimed that co-producer April Oliver was a conspiratorialist. The "Back Page" of the show featured Kurtz and Kalb.
KING DOES SHOW ON OLD AGE WITH CARTER, DOWNS AND GRAHAM
Larry King (CFR) (Jan. 2) (repeat show) hosted Jimmy Carter (CFR/TC), Hugh Downs and the Rev. Billy Graham (33rd M?). Carter promoted his new book: Virtues of Aging. King mentioned his book on prayer. Carter said the Wye Accord promised to be very fruitful, the peace process was back on track and what was agreed to at Oslo will be done. He had good hopes that the two leaders would carry out what they had each agreed to do. Billy Graham, turning eighty, said God is the proper authority to forgive Clinton who has admitted to sinning. He, like the Pope and Janet Reno, has Parkinson's disease. Downs said he had the same sort of religion as Thomas Carlyle. Carter said that twice as many Americans believe in UFOs as believe they'll ever see a social security check. Cater said he had never told a lie to the American public.
ELITES ON CNN'S COLD WAR THIS WEEK
Elites interviewed for CNN's "Cold War: Defining Moments" (Jan. 3) included: Robert Strange McNamara (BB/CFR/TC); Lucius Durham Battle (CFR), Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of State and Former Chairman, UNESCO Conference; Henry A. Kissinger (BB/CFR/TC); Joseph John Sisco (CFR/TC), U.S. State Department and Principal, Sisco Associates (Washington, D.C.); Donald Thomas Regan (CFR), White House Chief of Staff and George H.W. Bush (CFR/M/S&B1948/TC). Sponsors included ADM with spokesman David Brinkley (CFR) and Unisys. Dwayne Orville Andreas (BB/CFR/TC), Chairman and CEO of Archer Daniels Midland Co., has been one of the most consistent contributors to the Council on Foreign Relations. Brinkley, despite open criticism by Andy Rooney of 60 Minutes, has continued to narrate ADM spots. As shown by the list below, David Rockefeller (BB/CFR/TC has been the most frequent CFR contributor. A look at the Bilderberger chart compiled by Robert Gaylon Ross, Sr. in WHO'S WHO OF THE ELITE (Dec. 1995) also reveals that Rockefeller has been the most consistent attendee of the Bilderberger meetings.
EXCLUSIVE
THE WEEK THAT JUST WAS LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS TO THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
(Compiled from Annual Reports (1980-1993, 1995-1996).
**Odeh Felix Aburdene (1987-1996)
(10)
The Ahmanson Foundation (1990-1993) (4)
Joe L. Allbritton (1989-1990) (2)
Arthur G. Altschul (1982, in memory of his father Frank Altschul)
**Arthur G. Altschul (1983-1985, 1987-1993) (10)
**Dwayne O. Andreas (1989-1996) (8)
*Anonymous (1981-1984) (1991-1992) (6)
*Roone Arledge (1992-1996) (5)
Albert C. Bashawaty (1996) (1)
Roger E. Birk (1986) (1)
*John P. Birkelund (1989-1993) (5)
*William A.M. Burden (1980-1984) (5)
James E. Burke (1992-1993, 1995) (3)
Lammont du Pont Copeland (1980-1983) (4)
Marvin Davis (1983) (1)
Lois Pattison de Menil (1980) (1)
**Douglas Dillon (1980-1986, 1988-1989, 1995-1996) (11)
*The Dillon Fund (1987, 1990-1993) (5)
*Headley Donovan (1980-1981, 1987-1990) (6)
Jeffrey E. Epstein (1995-1996) (2)
Leonard K. Firestone (1983) (1)
Annie Fisher (1993, 1995) (1993 was in memory of Pieter Fisher)
(2)
Pieter Fisher (1989-1992) (4)
**George S. Franklin (1980-1993) (14)
*Stephen Friedman (1989-1993, 1995-1996) (7)
*Richard L. Gelb (1989-1990, 1991-1993, 1996) (6)
Lionel M. Gelber (1987) (1)
Patrick A. Gerschel (1995-1996) (2)
Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. (1996) (1)
Albert H. Gordon (1992) (1)
*Katharine Graham (1990-1993, 1995-1996) (6)
*Maurice R. Greenberg (1989-1990, 1992-1993, 1995-1996) (6)
Sanford D. Greenberg (1984) (1)
The William and Mary Greve Foundation (1988) (1)
John H. Gutfreund (1980) (1)
The Marc Haas Foundation (1996) (1)
Peter E. Haas (1990) (1)
James W. Harpel (1996) (1)
Caryl P. Haskins (1980, 1987, 1990-1991) (4)
H.J. Heinz II (1983-1986) (4)
William A. Hewitt (1990-1993) (4)
J. Tomilson Hill (1993) (1)
*John B. Hurford (1990-1993, 1995-1996) (6)
Yves-Andre Istel (1990-1993) (4)
*Eli S. Jacobs (1980-1982, 1988-1989) (5)
Robert Wood Johnson Jr. Charitable Trust (1995-1996) (2)
*Harry Kahn (1989-1993) (5)
Gilbert E. Kaplan (1996) (1)
Helene L. Kaplan (1996) (1)
Henry Kaufman (1991-1993) (3)
Henry R. Kravis (1995- 1996) (2)
**Leonard A. Lauder (1988-1993, 1995-1996) (1(8)
Gerald M. Levin (1995-1996) (2)
Harold F. Linder (1981) (1)
Kenneth Lipper (1988-1989) (2)
Edmund Littlefield (1983) (1)
Oswald Lord (1980) (1)
**C. Peter McColough (1980, 1982-1983, 1985-1988) (7)
Mr. and Mrs. C. Peter McColough (1984) (1)
Vincent A. Mai (1993, 1996) (2)
Kenneth Maxwell (1990-1993) (4)
Leo Model (1980-1981) (2)
Estate of Leo Model (1983-1985) (2)
David A. Morse (1986-1987) (2)
Open Society Institute (1996) (1)
Harry Oppenheimer (1983) (1)
Overbrook Foundation (Arthur and Frank Altschul) (1980-1981) (2)
**Peter G. Peterson (1983, 1985-1993, 1995-1996) (12)
John J. Phelan, Jr. (1991) (1)
Harvey Picker (1983-1984) (2)
Jean Picker (1984) (1)
Lester Pollack (1995-1996) (2)
Edmund T. Pratt (1980) (1)
Lewis T. Preston (1987) (1)
Philip D. Reed Foundation, Inc./In Memory of Philip D. Reed
(1989) (1)
Stephen Robert (1995-1996) (2)
**David Rockefeller (1980-1993, 1995-1996) (16)
**Arthur Ross (1986-1993, 1995-1996) (10)
*John T. Ryan, Jr. (1988-1993) (6)
Herbert Salzman (1982-1983) (2)
James B. Sitrick (1995-1996) (2)
George Soros (1990-1993) (4)
Paul Soros (1993) (1)
*The Starr Foundation (1989-1993, 1995-1996) (7)
David A. Stockman (1995) (1)
Lee B. Thomas, Jr. (1984) (1)
Laurence A. Tisch (1996) (1)
Cyrus R. Vance (1988) (1)
Paul A. Volcker (1991) (1)
Robert C. Waggoner (1995-1996) (2)
*Malcolm H. Wiener (1988-1993, 1995-1996) (8)
Ezra K. Zilkha (1993) (1)
A LOOK BACK: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND THE CHOICE OF CFR ELITES -- 1980
For a number of years elites have been the sole choice at the presidential polls. Democratic presidential candidates have included John F. Kennedy (CFR), Hubert Humphrey (CFR), Jimmy Carter (CFR/TC) while Republican candidates have included Dwight Eisenhower (CFR), Thomas E. Dewey (CFR) and Richard Nixon (CFR). The choice in 1992 was between George W. Bush (CFR/M/S&B1948/TC) or William Jefferson Clinton (BB/CFR/RS/TC). In 1996 the choices offered were Robert Dole (33rd M) or Clinton again.
The last President who never joined the CFR or TC was Ronald Reagan, a World Federalist, who became a 33rd degree Mason while in office. Bush got off to a strong start against Reagan. By December 31, 1979, at least 15 members of the Trilateral Commission had donated substantial sums to the GEORGE BUSH FOR PRESIDENT campaign (as reported to the Federal Election Commission): David Rockefeller (BB/CFR/TC) ($1,000), John Cowles Jr. (CFR/TC) ($1,000), Barber Conable, Jr. (TC) ($1,000) (NY Congressman and President, World Bank 1986-1991), William Alexander Hewitt (BB/CFR/TC) ($1,000) (Chairman of Deere & Company and U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, 1982-1985), Robert Stephen Ingersoll (CFR/TC) ($500) (Chairman of Caterpillar Tractor, Deputy Secretary of State and Chairman, Panasonic Foundation), Carla Anderson Hills (CFR/TC) ($1,000) (HUD Secretary and United States Trade Representative), Paul Winston McCracken (BB/CFR/TC) ($500) (Member, President's Advisory Board on Economic Policy, 1981-), David Packard (TC) ($1,000) (Overseerer of Hoover Institution, Chairman, Hewlett-Packard Co. and Bohemian Grove Participant, Mandalay Lodge), William Thaddeas Coleman, Jr. (CFR/TC) (Director, Chase Manhattan, Secretary of Transportation and Member, Bretton Woods Committee) ($200), Robert Taft, Jr. (TC) (Former U.S. Senator) ($1,000), Edson W. Spencer (CFR/TC) (CEO, Honeywell, Trustee, CEIP and Chairman, Ford Foundation, 1991-) ($250), Arthur W. Taylor (TC) (CBS) ($500), Russell Errol Train (CFR/TC) (Administrator, EPA, Chairman, World Wildlife Fund and Advisory Trustee, Rockefeller Brothers Fund) ($1,000), Martha R. Wallace (TC) (Ex. Director, Henry Luce Foundation) ($500), and George Hunt Weyerhauser (CFR/TC) (Chairman and CEO, Weyerhauser Company and RAND Trustee) ($1,000). [This list was compiled from election campaign contribution reports by Antony C. Sutton].
TRILATERALISM USED BY REAGAN TO BEAT BUSH IN 1980 PRIMARIES
In the 1980 Florida and Texas primaries in 1980, the Trilateral connection of Bush was used by Reagan to soundly defeat Bush. David Rockefeller did everything he could to make George Bush President in 1980. Bush, when asked about his Trilateralist associations, stated: "I personally severed my association with the Trilateral Commission as well as with many other groups I had been involved with because I didn't have time to attend endless conferences. I hold our nation's highest decoration for National Security. Clearly, I would never have belonged to any organization that had devious designs or favored one-world government." Bush's Skull and Bones membership never became an issue. When Bill Casey was picked by Reagan in February, the CFR issue was moot. But in April 1980, Reagan told the Christian Science Monitor that he would shun the directions of David Rockefeller's Trilateral Commission.
TRILATERIALISM WAS AN ISSUE IN 1980 REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
During the 1980 convention, Reagan lieutenants opposed a platform plank that would have denounced the TC and CFR. After Reagan won the nomination, conservatives watched to see if a an elite was chosen for his running mate. The day before Reagan selected his VP, a group of conservative activists visited him to ask him not to appoint from an elitist group. Republicans were furious when Reagan announced that Bush was his choice . The word "betrayal" was in common usage. Sir Henry Kissinger (BB/CFR/TC) and Gerald Ford (BB/33rd M), were present at the convention as agents of David Rockefeller. They assured Reagan the presidency if he accepted Bush on the ticket. Reagan first sought to get Gerald Ford to be his VP. At the urging of Henry Kissinger, Reagan then picked George Bush. Reagan was photographed dining with David Rockefeller before the November election. Afterwards, like Carter, when elected, Reagan offered a cabinet post to David Rockefeller -- which was declined.
While he railed against taxes, President Reagan put the United States much further in debt. The more debt, the more bankers can firmly control the country. And despite all the talk against elites, he, in the usual manner, went on to appoint numerous Trilateralists and CFR members to his cabinet.
DECEMBER ISSUE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS FEATURED HOST OF ELITES
In the December 1998 issue of Foreign Affairs (see links), the CFR's flagship publication, Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright (CFR/TC) reminded Americans of the burdens they must continue to bear such as stopping weapons of mass destruction, shoring up the international financial system, engaging Beijing and standing up to Baghdad and Belgrade. The problem, she says, is that Congress has foreign policy living hand-to-mouth. David D. Hale wrote an article on the IMF showing why the world needs a financial peacekeeper more than ever. Bernard Lewis (CFR), former Professor of Princeton University described the declaration of jihad by Usama bin Ladin in an Arabic newspaper. Ruth N. Glushien Wedgewood (CFR) wrote an article on the International Criminal Court. Yoichi Funabashi (TCJ), Washington Bureau Chief for the Asabi Shimbum, called on Japan to take the initiative in initiating trilateral dialogues with Beijing and Washington. Ashton B. Carter (CFR), Assistant Secretary, Defense Department, Nuclear Section, John Deutch (BB/CFR/TC) and Philip D. Zelikow (CFR) combined to discuss mass destruction and terrorism. Eliot A. Cohen (CFR) wrote on Israel and the peace process. Lucian Wilmot Pye (CFR), M.I.T. Professor, reviewed Christopher Patten's new book. James Fulton Hoge, Jr. (CFR/TC) is the editor of Foreign Affairs.
SAF SUIT TO BE FILED AGAINST CHICAGO AND NEW ORLEANS
A suit for a conspiracy to violate civil rights, abuse of process and an undue burden on interstate commerce is planned by The Second Amendment Foundation (Peaceable Texans Dec. 31) against the cities of Chicago and New Orleans. Joseph P. Tartaro, president of SAF, stated: "The nature and status of guns and tobacco are not analogous. Firearms have a significant beneficial use in our society beyond recreation, since independent research shows they are used over two million times a year to prevent or terminate predatory criminal assaults." SAF was founded in 1974 and has 600,000 members. It has previously filed successful suits against the cities of Los Angeles, New Haven, CT and San Francisco.
ALSO IN THE NEWS
Elizabeth Dole (ABC News Jan. 3) is stepping down as the head of the American Red Cross and expected to announce a run for the Republican presidential nomination.
Sam Donaldson on Nightline (ABC Dec. 30) hosted Jerry Nachman, former News Executive, Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune Columnist and May Matalin, Republican Strategist.
Politically Correct (ABC Dec. 30) (Oct. 2 re-run) featured Robert Reich (RS), University Professor and Former Secretary of Labor, Marilyn Manson, Rock Star, Cyndi Mosteller, Consultant and Pamela Anderson Lee, Actress. Manson said he liked Coca-Cola and cocaine, promoted his CD-ROM and book, said he had breasts and was an expert at oral sex.
The U.S. government is planning a nation-wide survey to detect violence (NBC News Dec. 30).
John H. Lichtblau (CFR), of the Petroleum Industry Research Foundation, said (Moneyline Jan. 1) that oil demand is down substantially compared to increases in previous years.
The main opposition party in Taiwan (Austin American-Statesman Jan. 2) is reconsidering its independence platform in view of the small likelihood of intervention by foreign countries if Communist China were to decide to invade the island.
A survey of 117 credit cards from 74 banks by Consumer Action (Parade Jan 3) found that banks earned 74% more on late fees in 1998 than in 1995 (late fees have increased from $5-$7 to $20-$29).
The Center for Media and Public Affairs found 1,502 stories on Monica Lewinsky and 502 stories on weapons inspections (News Hour Dec. 31) in 1998.
Kim Miller, leader of Concerned Christians, a Denver-based religious group, claims he is in direct contact with God (ABC News Jan. 3): "He speaks through my mouth."
Gasoline in the U.S. is now (CBS Jan. 1) cheaper than bottled water.
Barry Diller (Moneyline Dec. 29) controls Ticketmaster, Home Shopping Network, USA Network, the Sci-Fi Network and a dozen TV stations.
Moderator Cookie Roberts, daughter of law-makers, hosted This Year (ABC Jan. 3). Her panelists were Sam Donaldson, William Kristol (BB), George Will (TC) and George R. Stephanopoulos (CFR/RS).
Chief Justice Rehnquist has urged Congress to stop federalizing crimes (such as car-jacking, arson, child support and animal protection) that are already outlawed by the states (PBS News Hour Jan. 1). He said the trend "threatens to change entirely our federal system."
QUOTES
"The taxes paid by the ancient Hebrews at the time of the birth of Christ were levied to take 40% of their income, most of which was for tribute to Rome. It was not without reason that the Hebrews dreamed of a Messiah who would free them from this load." -- Harold M. Groves (1974)
"We must regain control of the presidency and the Congress for our democracy to survive. Every voter must be made aware that any candidate having any connection with the Trilateral Commission or David Rockefeller should be voted down. David Rockefeller and the Trilaterists have vested interests directly opposed to the public." -- F.W. Maisel, THE GREAT AMERICAN RIPOFF, p. 117.
"[T}he 'house of world order' will have to be built from the bottom up rather than from the top down . . . [A]n end run around national sovereignty, eroding it piece by piece, will accomplish much more than the old-fashioned frontal assault." -- Richard Newton Gardner (CFR/TC), Foreign Affairs (April 1974)
"The true, imminent danger to America and to all nations seeking peace and good will stems from widespread acceptance of the monstrous falsehood that in order to live in an "interdependent" world, all nation-states must yield their sovereignty to the United Nations. This lie is given dignity by other lies, chief of which is that Soviet totalitarianism has been buried forever. A too wide acceptance of these dangerous falsehoods is resulting in: 1) a massive transfer of wealth from the taxpayers in the West to the still-socialist governments of the East that remain under the control of "former" communists; 2) the gradual but accelerating merger or "convergence" of the U.S. and Russia through increasing economic, political, social, and military agreements and arrangements; and 3) the rapidly escalating of power -- military, regulatory, and taxing -- to the UN. Unless the fiction underlying these developments is exposed, national suicide and global rule by an all-powerful world government are inevitable." -- William F. Jasper, GLOBAL TYRANNY . . . STEP BY STEP (December 1992).
"The United Nations is preparing a series of treaties which operate as domestic legislation, affecting our citizens on matters on which our Constitution does not permit even the Federal Government to legislate. They would abolish the Bill of Rights and replace it with a body of state-granted privileges and duties modeled exactly on the Soviet constitution." -- Sen. William Jenner (1954) week010.htm