The Informant by Kurt Eichenwald

[This American Life]
The Informant: Campaign
Contributions

EXCERPTS FROM THE INFORMANT: A True Story by Kurt
Eichenwald

In The Informant, Americans for the first time can find
out the truth about what corporate executives think of
campaign finance laws -- and how laughable they find the
cost of fines for illegal contributions versus the
price-tag for disappointing politicians in need of cash.
The recordings, made under the supervision of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, were intended to
document a criminal conspiracy by the business, the
Archer Daniels Midland Company -- America’s most
politically powerful corporation.

In this scene, Mark Whitacre, the cooperating witness
working with the FBI, is in a meeting with two other ADM
executives -- Terry Wilson, the head of corn processing
and Mick Andreas, the vice chairman of the company and
son of Dwayne Andreas, a legend in campaign finance
circles. The men have just finished discussing a portion
of a criminal conspiracy, and now turn their attention
to campaign contributions.

***

The men changed subjects, discussing a request
from Howard Buffett, the assistant to the ADM
chairman and son of Warren Buffett, the famed
Omaha investor. Howard often heard from
politicians and their money men when they
wanted campaign contributions from ADM.

"Howie called us,’’ Whitacre said, "and asked
us for funds for somebody, Tommy Thompson or
whatever.’’

Thompson, the governor of Wisconsin, was a
rising star in the Republican Party. He was in
the midst of a fund-raising drive, ostensibly
for his 1994 re-election campaign. But party
officials were touting him for national
office—maybe even a White House run. A war
chest to scare off potential in-state
challengers was widely seen as a necessary
first step in that effort.

But Whitacre said there was a problem.

"Terry and I went up there and told ’em we’re
already at our limit and we couldn’t give,’’
he said. "We’re at our limit.’’

Andreas shrugged. "You can go over the limit.
Just a small fine.’’

"Yeah,’’ Wilson said, "that’s what we were
saying.’’

Whitacre laughed. Andreas was blithely
advising that they intentionally violate
campaign-finance laws—and Wilson was agreeing.
Already, Whitacre was imagining what the world
would think about the Andreas family’s
political giving if this tape became public.

"If they want a thousand dollars,’’ Wilson
said, "you give a thousand dollars.’’

Whitacre laughed again.

"So it costs us nine thousand,’’ Wilson
continued, adding an estimated fine for
violating election laws.

"Twelve thousand after tax,’’ Whitacre
laughed.

Andreas nodded. "That’s true,’’ he said. "You
know, if the guy’s up there asking you for
money, just don’t give it to him and see what
happens.’’

Wilson joined Whitacre in the laughter.

Andreas looked at the two men. "If you wrote a
check, you make sure Dad is behind it,’’ he
said. "Is Dad asking for ’em?’’

"Oh, yeah,’’ Wilson said, as Whitacre agreed.

"Okay,’’ Andreas said.

***

Continue by reading some of the discussions the execs
had about women in the ADM offices.

[WBEZ-FM, 91.5 in Chicago][PRI - Public Radio International]