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March 2, 2001/Adar 7, 5761, Vol. 53, No.22
Letters to the EditorMarch 2, 2001
Just desserts not always richEditor:The Republican outrage directed at the pardon of Marc Rich is curiously and hypocritically silent on the similar issues involved in the case of former Arizona Governor Fife Symington. Rich at least has atoned through his actions and good works for wrongdoing; Symington has refused to admit to his illegal actions, which bilked millions from pension funds, and instead has become a pastry chef at a north Scottsdale restaurant. After retiring from Arizona State University, I spent two years working closely with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Center for Jewish Art in its program to document Jewish sites from antiquity to the present. When news came in of an endangered site, time was of the essence. It was impossible to go through the normal fund-raising channels. Instead, we regularly turned for help to Rich, and he almost always gave it. Contrast this with Symington. As early as his election contest with Terry Goddard, news of his business shenanigans began leaking out. He and his fellow Republicans stonewalled and continued to campaign on his business successes. His situation at the time of the presidential pardon was very similar to that of Rich. The U.S. Justice Department was reviewing his conviction, overturned on a technicality, and all indications were that he would be retried. However, instead of going through channels, checking with the Justice Department and so forth, Clinton up and pardoned this convicted felon. Rich profited by insider trading. Symington profited by stealing from workers' pension funds. Rich has atoned by doing good acts. Symington makes baked Alaska. Gordon Weiner Tempe |
