The Corporate Thrust in American Politics
The Corporate Thrust in American Politics
Since the late ’60s American business has consolidated its organizational structure so as to vastly increase its political and economic power. A recent Fortune magazine article, entitled “Business is Learning How to Win in Washington,” detailing many such changes, opens with a conversation between two lobbyists for the Business Roundtable on how to defeat the Consumer Protection bill:
Just a few blocks from the White House, in Room 811 of one of Washington’s least memorable office buildings, this conversation is going on between two men, one of whom is holding a list of congressmen in his hand:
“Henry Gonzalez of San Antonio . . . should we use Sears? We have problems with Jake Pickle on this, I’m not sure we can get him . . . OK, let’s ask Sears about Gonzalez. . . Delaney of Long Island … well, Delaney’s a character still he was helpful as chairman of the Rules Commitee. . . . Bristol-Myers is close to Delaney, let Bill Greif handle that. . . .
“Gaydos of Pennsylvania . . . ask Alcoa if they’ll do it, John Harper was very enthusiastic about this one. . . . Hatfield of Continental could do it but I hate to ask him. . . ....
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