September 25, 2004
Sociopathic Self-interest Runs in The Family
It is not a big secret, though the family and its supporters have said it is fabrication. It's not, but I can hardly wait to see where this story goes - How Bush's grandfather helped Hitler's rise to power. No, this isn't some roaring rag spreading the news, it is The Guardian Unlimited in the UK.
Ben Aris and Duncan Campbell have written an excellent article with a complete discussion of the information they are drawing on: the Harriman papers from the Library of Congress; the information on Order 248 (the divestiture of assets under the 1942 Trading with the Enemy Act from the National Archives; finally, the files on "IG Farben, who was prosecuted for war crimes" also from the Archives. All three archives became publicly available last year.
The connection to Hitler and the rise of the Nazis is tied to Prescott Bush's business relationships with a man and his family - Fritz Thyssen. The Thyssens were "Germany's most powerful industrial family" and major underwriters of Hitler and the military machine he created. The article details P. Bush's multi-level and multi-corporation involvement with Thyssen.
Aris and Duncan point to three books and a lawsuit that are bringing the issue of Prescott Bush to center stage:
But now the multi-billion dollar legal action for damages by two Holocaust survivors against the Bush family, and the imminent publication of three books on the subject are threatening to make Prescott Bush's business history an uncomfortable issue for his grandson, George W, as he seeks re-election.
The Holocaust victims were used as slave labor at Consolidated Silesian Steel Company (which was one of Thyssen's companies) which was financed through Union Banking Corporation (UBC) of which Prescott was a director; subsidiaries Holland-American Trading Corporation and the Seamless Steel Equipment Corporation with which Bush was also involved; and Silesian-American Company which was also a business of Bush's.
Prescott was linked into UBC by his father-in-law - George Herbert Walker - who "helped set him up in business in New York with Averill Harriman, the wealthy son of railroad magnate E H Harriman in New York, who had gone into banking."
The bank was set up by Harriman and Bush's father-in-law to provide a US bank for the Thyssens, Germany's most powerful industrial family.
Prescott preceded George H. W. Bush and George W. in the skulls and in politics as a US Senator from 1952 to 1963.
Reading the article, I was struck by the similarities between the rise of Prescott and the rise of GW. Apparently, the family had hit upon a formula that worked (or perhaps this was just repetition from earlier Bushs). Find the biggest money and power nexus that you can and interweave your lives and fortunes with them. In the 1930s, it was the Walker's and Harrimans and through them the Thyssens. In G.H. W.'s time it was the House of Saud and the bin Ladens which has been passed down through the family to G. W.
This is a lengthy, but rich, article that provides a ton of information. I urge everyone to read it. In tracking down other information, I found some interesting sources to pursue for those who want to know more. When I get time, I will comeback to the topic again.
Interesting Links for Further Investigation
Life of Prescott Bush, Chronology of Prescott's life in the Guardian 9/25/04.
The Rules of Power (annotated bibliography)
The Bush Crime Family: Three Generations of Treason, Randy Lavello, Meta-religion website.
Wall Street and The Rise of Hitler, Anthony C. Sutton.
Fascism's Rise to Power, from the online book by Rob Sewell - GERMANY: From Revolution to Counter-Revolution
Research Note
The Aris and Duncan article notes that Prescott owned one share of UBC. It is important to know that the shares were not widely distributed. E. Roland Harriman held the controlling interest with 3991 shares. Cornelis Lievense held 4 shares, and holding one share each were Harold D.Pennington, Ray Morris, Prescott S. Bush, H.J. Kouwenhoven, and Johann G. Groeninger (Brown Brothers and Company). Also note that Harriamn, Bush, Kouwnhoven, and Groeninger were all members of Skull and Bones (Skull & Bones).
How does that saying go ? The acorn doesn fall far from the tree ?
It will be entertaining to watch Herr Karl Rove spin this to his advantage?????????
Heil Bush ! (just practicing)
Posted by: Bill Whitlatch at September 25, 2004 8:33 AMThe Guardian has little credibility, and the CBS debacle will lead most people to regard such reports as yet another load of crap from politically motivated left-wing news sources. I, for one, don't believe that, but that's how it will be dismissed. Beyond that, the information, if true, is ancient history and is not even about Bush the candidate. Finally, the left is more associated with anti-semitism than the right at this point in time, and Bush's support for Israel is well known. So it won't be easy to tar him with an anti-semitism brush simply because his grandfather may have been one. Beyond that, this is going to kill Bush and give Kerry the boost he needs.
Posted by: Bushrod Washington at September 26, 2004 1:36 AMBushrod has got it all figured out, and I hope that last statement Bushrod makes is true ! Although I would actually like to see bush defeated on his merits or lack of...but like all left wingers I tend to be idealistic, maybe that's why I tend to agree more often with the left......or maybe it's because they give new microwaves with each new addition to their ranks !
I do think however, that the Guardian does have credibility the rest of what you say is unfortunately all to true!
Posted by: Bill Whitlatch at September 26, 2004 8:24 AMFinal note and will listen to others respond: Henry Ford was actually right of Darth Vader; but it is my understanding the gas guzzler Expedition is the No. 1 selling SUV, wow what an honor !
Posted by: Bill Whitlatch at September 26, 2004 8:28 AMThe Guardian has little credibility? On what do you base that statement, Bushrod? It is used as a reference consistently in academic circles. It's a news source just like any other, and if you want to assert that it has little credibility you've chosen to ignore a major source of news for a healthy segment of the intellectual community.
I know that the right is opting for Fox News for a credible source of information, and I also know that it is extremely popular for the right to mitigate the impact of the better thinkers of our times and instead turn to Bill O'Reilly or Ann Coulter for inspiration. The president fully admitting that he's no "intellectual" (as if anyone would argue with him) ... so I guess if you're originating from that platform, The Guardian "has little credibility."
But for many, The Guardian is an entirely valid source of information.
Posted by: Pamela at September 26, 2004 10:58 AMHmmm. Absolutely fascinating.
I don't see the connection as proving a family anti-semitic or otherwise. GW Bush has professed himself Christian only after recovering from what, alcoholism?
The connection I see is the hunger for power and domination, regardless of identifying affiliation.
My concern is the power our government is attaining by limiting constitutional designs intended to protect us from tyranny. The social propaganda used in this nation to silence any dissention is even more disconcerting. Soon people will be distributing flyers made underground via bicycle routes hidden from the mainstream of the public eye just to be heard. By then, though, it might be too late.