Clinton's Rich Legacy

Former president Bill Clinton never ceases to amaze me. Poised to leave office with one of the highest approval ratings in history, it looked like the ultimate "survivor" had done it again. After presiding over eight years of the greatest peacetime prosperity in our nation's history, it looked like his place in the history books was assured. However, in the eleventh hour of his presidency, Clinton took a jackhammer to his prized legacy and chiseled it to pieces.

I am not referring to petty practical jokes, overpriced office space and silverware theft. By pardoning the greatest tax evader in U.S. history, literally bartering justice for campaign cash, Clinton capped off eight years of scandal with his most foul offense to date.

In his last day in office, Clinton gave legal immunity to fugitive billionaire Marc Rich. Rich, who has been living on the lam in Switzerland for the past 17 years, had been wanted by the FBI on 51 counts of tax evasion and "trading with the enemy" in what was deemed the biggest tax swindle in U.S. history, valued at over $48 million. Ever since, he has been living a rather comfortable life in his multi-million-dollar waterfront villa in Switzerland--where he was free from extradition.

What could possibly be Clinton's justification for pardoning a man who hasn't even stood trial in the United States and has renounced his U.S. citizenship?

One answer lies in Rich's ex-wife Denise, Democratic socialite and party fundraiser. In the past year alone, she has donated over $1.5 million to the Clintons and the Democratic Party, including $450,000 to the Clinton library, $70,000 to Hillary's senate campaign, $10,000 to the Clinton legal defense fund and $7,375 worth of furniture.

In addition, the entire deal was brokered by Rich lawyer Jack Quinn, who just so happened to be Clinton's former legal counsel. There had been rumors that Quinn would have been chief of staff in an administration headed by former vice president Al Gore '69.

The White House also conveniently forgot to send the pardon petition that Quinn filed to the Justice Department, as per normal procedure, for reasons that have never been adequately explained. A furious U.S. Attorney, Mary Jo White, said her office had been "bypassed" by the Clinton White House. "We were totally unaware that pardons for Marc Rich were even under consideration," she said.

Put plainly, Rich appears to have purchased his presidential pardon. Even more disturbing, he bought his freedom with money made betraying our country. As outraged Representative Chris Cox (R-Calif.) said on the house floor, "Mr. Rich traded with Libya when we had the embargo, he traded with Iran when we had U.S. hostages being held captive, and he traded with Iraq during the 12 years when we had our conflict." The ultimate backscratcher set free the ultimate traitor.

And the corrupt pardons didn't end with Rich. Clinton commuted the sentences of four orthodox Jews from New Square, N.Y. who were convicted of defrauding the government of $40 million in educational aid. The politically conservative sect of Jews from their hometown turned out in full force for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) in the 2000 Senate race, casting 1,359 votes for the former first lady and just 10 for her opponent Rick Lazio. Soon after the election, the local rabbi of the Skver sect was soon granted a personal meeting with the president to discuss the commutations. All four men were set free--and this time around Clinton appeared to barter votes, as opposed to cash, for pardons.

And most recent in the never-ending string of coincidences, Clinton's brother-in-law, attorney Hugh Rodham, returned the $300,000 he was paid to represent two people whose prison sentences were commuted by Clinton. The Clintons, of course, had no idea that the money was transferred.

These recent actions mark the pinnacle of Clinton's long and storied career of half-truths and manipulation. Trading pardons for cash and votes in a free market of corruption is Clinton's most morally abject offense to date.

Notice the conspicuous silence of the loyal Clinton defenders on this matter. Barbara Streisand is keeping her mouth shut for a simple reason--his acts are indefensible. He has disgraced himself, his office and his party.

Equally disturbing is the fact he thought he could get away with these pardons. The politician with nine lives, who has lived his entire life above the law, believed he was invincible.

But this time the comeback kid isn't coming back so quickly. His approval ratings have dropped 10 points since the Rich scandal and continue to plummet. And without an overzealous prosecutor or "vast right-wing conspiracy" to vilify, he doesn't have many cards left to play.

The great irony of this mess is that the manipulator has been manipulated. Rich has been given a clean slate and Clinton has soiled himself and his legacy.

As a soul-searching college student in the late '60s, Clinton once remarked that in the billion-page book of life, he wanted to make sure there was an asterisk next to his name. With Denise Rich recently pleading the fifth when questioned about the pardon and with the Justice Department and two congressional subcommittees holding hearings into the matter, there is no doubt that he will get his wish.

Alexander S. Grodd is a first-year living in Weld Hall.