Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Tanuki

(14,918 posts)
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 01:29 PM Jan 2017

Team Trump lied about Rockefeller at "press conference"

http://www.vox.com/2017/1/11/14238592/trump-nelson-rockefeller

..."Sheri Dillon, the lead attorney hired by Donald Trump to help advise him on his financial conflicts of interest, decided to offhandedly say something false about former Vice President Nelson Rockefeller.

Rockefeller, a longtime governor of New York and leader of the Republican Party’s moderate wing, became vice president under unusual circumstances. Richard Nixon resigned in disgrace, which elevated Gerald Ford to the presidency and created a vacancy, which Rockefeller filled.

Rockefeller was very rich, an heir to the famous Rockefeller fortune which posed some potential financial conflicts of interest. Dillon characterized the similarity between the situations this way: “You know, the business empire built by President-elect Trump over the years is massive, not dissimilar to the fortunes of Nelson Rockefeller when he became vice president. But at that time, no one was so concerned.”

It is simply not true that no one was so concerned. On the contrary, in a September 1974 article, Linda Charlton reported for the New York Times: “Rockefeller Vows Full Cooperation.”

Vice President‐designate Nelson A. Rockefeller, arriving for the start, tomorrow morning of his confirmation hearing, said again today that he would be “delighted” to do whatever Congress asked to resolve any potential conflict of interest—including placing his holdings in a blind trust.".......

4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Team Trump lied about Rockefeller at "press conference" (Original Post) Tanuki Jan 2017 OP
Rocky's fortune was inherited, and much easier to send off to a blind trust, but... TreasonousBastard Jan 2017 #1
Trump's Fortune Was Inherited erpowers Jan 2017 #3
Rocky didn't have much in the way of working assets... TreasonousBastard Jan 2017 #4
Rockefeller Was Going to be Vice President erpowers Jan 2017 #2

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
1. Rocky's fortune was inherited, and much easier to send off to a blind trust, but...
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 01:43 PM
Jan 2017

hey, howcum she didn't mention Kennedy-- who was actually President.

Or either Roosevelt, both of whom went into office with a few bucks.

erpowers

(9,350 posts)
3. Trump's Fortune Was Inherited
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 03:48 PM
Jan 2017

Much of Trump's fortune was inherited. Donald's dad started the Trump organization and Donald eventually inherited the company. Yes, Donald continued to grow the company, but he mainly just built upon what his dad started. How would it be any harder to put Trump's assets in a bling trust than it was to put Rockefeller's assets in a trust?

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
4. Rocky didn't have much in the way of working assets...
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 05:56 PM
Jan 2017

active companies, international trade, buildings, etc. And not a lot of debt.

Trump's deals are complicated-- he doesn't even own his own building. He does own a few, with huge mortgages, but most of the time he owns part of the lease, part of the building (or golf course), part of the lot the building is on... and much of that is overseas. It would not be easy to unravel all that, cash out, and put it in a blind trust.

JFK, Both Roosevelt's, and both Bushes were in the same place as Rocky-- they had big bucks, but most of the money was in stocks, bonds, and trusts, so it was easy to put in trust, or at least watch it.

erpowers

(9,350 posts)
2. Rockefeller Was Going to be Vice President
Wed Jan 11, 2017, 03:42 PM
Jan 2017

Nelson Rockefeller was going to be Vice President during an era when the Vice President still did not have much power. Back then, Vice Presidents were just Presidents in waiting. They did not have major roles in government. Donald Trump will be President. His role puts him in a position where he will have to make decisions and he will be able to push for certain people and/or companies to get certain jobs and certain contracts.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Team Trump lied about Roc...