Did Democrat Fat Cats Make John Kerry Famous? [Including Seagram's Bronfman]

Compiled | Various

[Hon]

John Kerry became nationally known because of his appearance before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on April 22, 1971, and the other media appearances he made around that time.

This media attention was the result of Kerry's participation in the Vietnam Veterans Against The War's (VVAW) operation called "Dewey Canyon III" which was an anti-war demonstration conducted on the mall in Washington DC.

It would seem, however, that this pivotal event which catapulted John Kerry to fame was financed by Democrat Party fundraisers.

From a quote from the book "Home to War" by Gerald Nicosia, pp. 104-105:

Even worse, the week before Dewey Canyon was to start, there was not a cent left in the VVAW treasury. John Kerry was certainly doing yeoman's service at fund-raising. He had given up his book contract with Random House in order to travel and speak throughout the country on behalf of VVAW; organizing, bringing in veterans, asking for donations -- working sometimes twenty hours a day. But when Phelan had trouble with the park permits, Kerry had to return to Washington to marshal a group of lawyers, and in the end Kerry negotiated many of the permits personally. This accomplished, he returned to the VVAW office, only to receive a phone call telling him that five thousand vets were waiting for their bus tickets to D.C., but no one knew where the money to purchase them would come from.

Kerry immediately got on the phone to some of the biggest Democratic Party fund-raisers in New York and set up a meeting. When it broke up, VVAW was $75,000 in the black, and busfare for at least a few hundred out-of-towners was assured.

Here is quote from the book "Winter Soldiers" by Richard Stacewicz, pg. 242:

According to an FBI memorandum from the Washington office dated April 13, 1971, "VVAW had received fifty thousand dollars from United States Senators McGovern and Hatfield, who... obtained the money from an unknown New York source." (footnote 36)

36. FBI teletype serial number 448092-71, April 13, 1971... FBI archives.

And this from the Boston Globe:

The protests were set for the week of April 20. Kerry spent some of his time at the Georgetown townhouse of his longtime friend George Butler, working the phones, trying to round up veterans. But the real problem was money. Kerry, who was not financially independent despite rumors to the contrary, was supposed to raise money to pay for buses that would transport the veterans.

He called his friend Walinsky, who had run unsuccessfully for New York attorney general and had excellent financial connections. Walinsky arranged a meeting of potential donors at the Seagram Building in New York City. Among those present were Seagram chief executive Edgar M. Bronfman Sr. and about 20 other New York businessmen who opposed the war. Kerry delivered a low-key speech about the importance of having veterans attend the protest. Then the businessmen were each asked to stand and declare how much they would contribute.

"We raised probably $50,000," Walinsky recalled. "It took an hour."

http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061703.shtml

[Hon]

Interesting Times and I came across the book quotes while discussing Kerry on another thread:

Website Exposes Kerry's 1971 Antiwar Book, Activities (FRN) ^

[TexasCajun]

I am so glad to have a forum like Jim provides. So much great information as always. I see democratic flames......

[Interesting Times]

Bump...

[Hon]

From the Pittsburgh Tribune Review:

The truth about Kerry

As long ago as June 1971, a reporter for the Marxist Liberated Guardian described how Kerry was raising money from Wall Street's liberal elite, led by Edgar Bronfman, president of Seagram's Distillers, who gave $5,000 of 1971 money. The writer, a true Marxist, bemoaned that the donors had previously supported the Vietnam War, and wrote: "Most of these financiers of political movements are only interested in 'future access to the White House.' Does Kerry want to be in the White House someday? And if he were, how would he answer their calls?"

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/opinion/datelinedc/s_169739.html

[nopardons]

BTT

[Eric in the Ozarks]

It will be interesting to see if Kerry can be linked to Bronfman. My money's still on a 49 state win for W.

[Bobber58]

You freepers are just scared to admit the Dems are going to win.

I admit that the Dems are going to win...someday...somewhere...maybe in Chechnya

[red-dawg]

You freepers are just scared to admit the Dems are going to win.

Why don't you post an op-ed piece in breaking news to explain your reasoning?

[Interesting Times]

You freepers are just scared to admit the Dems are going to win.

Win what? The White House? The Senate? The House?

Granted, you guys are looking good in most of the school board races...

[mass55th]

Unless you're located on the other side of the world, how did you get registered on 2/25/04, when it's still only 2/24/04 on the east coast of the U.S?

[Hon]

BRONFMAN, CLARISSA ALCOCK
NEW YORK, NY 10152
HOMEMAKER

KERRY, JOHN F     VIA KERRY COMMITTEE
	10/23/1997	1000.00	98020041352

BRONFMAN, CLARISSA ALCOCK
NEW YORK, NY 10152
N/A/HOMEMAKER

KERRY, JOHN F     VIA JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC.
	06/30/2003	2000.00	23991403518

BRONFMAN, EDGAR JR
NEW YORK, NY 10152
J SEAGRAM & SONS INC

KERRY, JOHN F     VIA KERRY COMMITTEE
	10/23/1997	1000.00	98020041353
	06/30/2001	1000.00	21020110564
	10/24/2002	1000.00	22020901035

BRONFMAN, EDGAR M SR
NEW YORK, NY 10021
JOSEPH E SEAGRAM & SONS INC

KERRY, JOHN F     VIA KERRY COMMITTEE
	06/30/2001	1000.00	21020110564

BRONFMAN, EDGAR M.
KETCHUM, ID 83340
SEAGRAM/CEO

KERRY, JOHN F     VIA JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC.
	07/31/2003	2000.00	23992126818

BRONFMAN, EDGAR SR
NEW YORK, NY 10152
J E SEAGRAM & SONS

KERREY, J ROBERT     VIA KERREY FOR U S SENATE COMMITTEE
	11/03/1999	1000.00	20020071240

[sport]

Bump

[DCPatriot]

It would seem this is a lot more serious than a DWI?

[tapatio]

Here kitty kitty!