Hall of Shame 1982 Action Handbook - Revision history

Ccarlsson at 06:22, 17 May 2026

2026-05-17T06:22:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:22, 16 May 2026
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	Actually, it was decided at the last minute to call it Embarcadero Center instead of Rockefeller Center West. Californians are so proud. But David Rockefeller was given 25% of the center in return for 1% of the investment "and his good name". The Rockefeller Interests is one of the most powerful institutions in the country. They have major investments in many of the nuclear corporations on the tour. Ironically though, none of the main Rockefeller corporations are represented on our tour because they've chosen L.A. for their western headquarters, (This includes Atlantic Richfield and Chase Manhattan Bank.) But it is only relative. There are many Rockefeller signs in San Francisco and not just Rockefeller/Embarcadero plaza or the Rockefeller Center Construction Co. up at 244 Pine.		Actually, it was decided at the last minute to call it Embarcadero Center instead of Rockefeller Center West. Californians are so proud. But David Rockefeller was given 25% of the center in return for 1% of the investment "and his good name". The Rockefeller Interests is one of the most powerful institutions in the country. They have major investments in many of the nuclear corporations on the tour. Ironically though, none of the main Rockefeller corporations are represented on our tour because they've chosen L.A. for their western headquarters, (This includes Atlantic Richfield and Chase Manhattan Bank.) But it is only relative. There are many Rockefeller signs in San Francisco and not just Rockefeller/Embarcadero plaza or the Rockefeller Center Construction Co. up at 244 Pine.

	[[Image:IMG244B.jpg~~\|330px\|right~~]]		[[Image:IMG244B.jpg]]

	For example, the influential Rockefeller Foundation that has given over $1.5 billion in its existence has recently chosen a trustee from San Francisco. His name is Herman Gallegos. Mr. Gallegos is also a trustee of Pacific Telegraph and Telephone. This is nice since PT&T is practically a sister corporation to PG&E; noted by the three directors the two companies share. Nor is this the only Rockefeller tie to PG&E, The Foundation's director for International Affairs recently became vice-president of PG&E for corporate planning.		For example, the influential Rockefeller Foundation that has given over $1.5 billion in its existence has recently chosen a trustee from San Francisco. His name is Herman Gallegos. Mr. Gallegos is also a trustee of Pacific Telegraph and Telephone. This is nice since PT&T is practically a sister corporation to PG&E; noted by the three directors the two companies share. Nor is this the only Rockefeller tie to PG&E, The Foundation's director for International Affairs recently became vice-president of PG&E for corporate planning.
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	Sort of a shy group. It took hours of research to find out very little about this (apparently) Los Angeles based group of investors who have huge holdings in DuPont (6th biggest shareholder), GE (20th), Kerr-McGee (5th), and Union Carbide (8th). Apparently, Jon Lovelace (b. 1927, Princeton) heads the group and American Mutual, Investment Co. of America, and New Perspective Fund. There is still lots to find out. Hopefully by March 22 we'll have more details.		Sort of a shy group. It took hours of research to find out very little about this (apparently) Los Angeles based group of investors who have huge holdings in DuPont (6th biggest shareholder), GE (20th), Kerr-McGee (5th), and Union Carbide (8th). Apparently, Jon Lovelace (b. 1927, Princeton) heads the group and American Mutual, Investment Co. of America, and New Perspective Fund. There is still lots to find out. Hopefully by March 22 we'll have more details.

	[[Image:IMG242A.jpg~~\|330px\|left~~]]		[[Image:IMG242A.jpg]]

	<big>'''First National Boston Corporation, 2 Embarcadero'''</big>		<big>'''First National Boston Corporation, 2 Embarcadero'''</big>
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	Until 1974, Union Pacific was controlled by the renowned Harriman robber baron clan and Eldridge T. Gerry, Harriman's grandson, sat on the board until recently. Other interesting interlocks: Oscar T. Lawler, a Union Pacific director is the retired chairman of Security Pacific National Bank. Brigham Young once served on the board, and Salt Lake City is now represented by George S. Eccles, the largest shareholder in the company, who is (surprise, surprise!) Chairman of First Security Bank of Salt Lake City, and by his nephew, Spencer F. Eccles, President of the bank.		Until 1974, Union Pacific was controlled by the renowned Harriman robber baron clan and Eldridge T. Gerry, Harriman's grandson, sat on the board until recently. Other interesting interlocks: Oscar T. Lawler, a Union Pacific director is the retired chairman of Security Pacific National Bank. Brigham Young once served on the board, and Salt Lake City is now represented by George S. Eccles, the largest shareholder in the company, who is (surprise, surprise!) Chairman of First Security Bank of Salt Lake City, and by his nephew, Spencer F. Eccles, President of the bank.

	[[Image:IMG245A.jpg~~\|360px\|right~~]]		[[Image:IMG245A.jpg]]

	<big>'''Union Carbide, 1 California'''</big>		<big>'''Union Carbide, 1 California'''</big>
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	'''FRIENDS AND OWNERS IN HIGH PLACES''': Union Carbide is considered part of the Morgan Group. They are interlocked with key corporations like GE/Utah International, Metropolitan Life, Rockwell Int., and the U.S. government. Ex-head of the Environmental Protection Agency Russel Train now sells his expertise (and connections) to Union Carbide. The flow goes the other way of course. Union Carbide's Union Carbide's president Rush left the company to serve in the Nixon administration as a Deputy Sec. of State and of Defense.		'''FRIENDS AND OWNERS IN HIGH PLACES''': Union Carbide is considered part of the Morgan Group. They are interlocked with key corporations like GE/Utah International, Metropolitan Life, Rockwell Int., and the U.S. government. Ex-head of the Environmental Protection Agency Russel Train now sells his expertise (and connections) to Union Carbide. The flow goes the other way of course. Union Carbide's Union Carbide's president Rush left the company to serve in the Nixon administration as a Deputy Sec. of State and of Defense.

	[[Image:IMG246A.jpg~~\|320px\|left~~]]		[[Image:IMG246A.jpg]]

	'''UNION CARBIDE IN THE PUBLIC EYE''': Union Carbide has staked a claim in the Black Hills. They want to strip-mine Craven Canyon and then use open-air leaching to extract enriched ore to make nuclear weapons and fuel.		'''UNION CARBIDE IN THE PUBLIC EYE''': Union Carbide has staked a claim in the Black Hills. They want to strip-mine Craven Canyon and then use open-air leaching to extract enriched ore to make nuclear weapons and fuel.
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	:— "The smokiest factory in the world." -		:— "The smokiest factory in the world." -
	:— "Pres. Bongo, Baron Guy de Rothschild, and that 7 year tax holiday in Gabon."		:— "Pres. Bongo, Baron Guy de Rothschild, and that 7 year tax holiday in Gabon."

	~~[[Image:Anti-Apartheid-demo-August-24-1987-on-Market-street-Lance-Woodruff TT AAT-1214.jpg]]~~

	~~'''Anti-apartheid demonstration on Market Street, August 24, 1987.'''~~

	~~''Photo: Lance Woodruff, Tenderloin Times archive, courtesy SF History Center, San Francisco Public Library, AAT-1214''~~


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	'''SCANDALS''': DuPont's history of scandals now includes the attempt to suppress the history of their scandals. They are being sued by author Zilg, for $5 million. Why? The publisher, Prentice-Hall, leaked an advance copy of the critical book to a Delaware bookstore with DuPont connections; subsequently, DuPont pressured the Book of the Month Club, who killed plans to issue the book to their members. Then Prentice-Hall reduced the printing, refused to advertise the book, and despite rave reviews, allowed the book to go out of stock just as demand was peaking.		'''SCANDALS''': DuPont's history of scandals now includes the attempt to suppress the history of their scandals. They are being sued by author Zilg, for $5 million. Why? The publisher, Prentice-Hall, leaked an advance copy of the critical book to a Delaware bookstore with DuPont connections; subsequently, DuPont pressured the Book of the Month Club, who killed plans to issue the book to their members. Then Prentice-Hall reduced the printing, refused to advertise the book, and despite rave reviews, allowed the book to go out of stock just as demand was peaking.

	[[Image:IMG246B.jpg~~\|340px\|right~~]]		[[Image:IMG246B.jpg]]

	DuPont's motto is, "There's a world of things we're doing something about." Zilg describes that world: "The Armorers of the Republic," as they like to call themselves, have helped drive America into world war, sabotaged world disarmament conferences, built deadly arsenals of atomic weapons and nerve gas, flirted with Nazis, and...were even implicated in an attempt to overthrow the US Government—at the same time managing to avoid paying their share of taxes." VP Henry DuPont summed up DuPont's attitude toward war and profits in 1954: "National Security must not be auctioned off to the lowest bidder...There are no bargains in the safeguarding of our freedom." The family's varied corporate interests grossed over $15 billion in war contracts between 1964 and '72, including the development of napalm and the powder that jammed M-16 rifles during combat.		DuPont's motto is, "There's a world of things we're doing something about." Zilg describes that world: "The Armorers of the Republic," as they like to call themselves, have helped drive America into world war, sabotaged world disarmament conferences, built deadly arsenals of atomic weapons and nerve gas, flirted with Nazis, and...were even implicated in an attempt to overthrow the US Government—at the same time managing to avoid paying their share of taxes." VP Henry DuPont summed up DuPont's attitude toward war and profits in 1954: "National Security must not be auctioned off to the lowest bidder...There are no bargains in the safeguarding of our freedom." The family's varied corporate interests grossed over $15 billion in war contracts between 1964 and '72, including the development of napalm and the powder that jammed M-16 rifles during combat.
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	E. F. Hutton is also dealing with the failure of their subsidiary DNA, Inc. Designed to commercialize biotechnology, it has become the "conspicuous first casualty" in the commercial gene-splicing derby, according to Science. But the collapse of their 50 million investment "is a blessing in disguise"; now they're turning it into a tax shelter. E.F. Hutton is the largest dealer in tax shelters, a $700 million dollar a year business. Soon biotechnology failures will take its place next to oil and gas drilling, real estate, race horses, and fake farms like Reagan has.		E. F. Hutton is also dealing with the failure of their subsidiary DNA, Inc. Designed to commercialize biotechnology, it has become the "conspicuous first casualty" in the commercial gene-splicing derby, according to Science. But the collapse of their 50 million investment "is a blessing in disguise"; now they're turning it into a tax shelter. E.F. Hutton is the largest dealer in tax shelters, a $700 million dollar a year business. Soon biotechnology failures will take its place next to oil and gas drilling, real estate, race horses, and fake farms like Reagan has.

	[[Image:IMG250A.jpg~~\|400px\|right~~]]		[[Image:IMG250A.jpg]]

	<big>'''Westinghouse, 1 Maritime Plaza (Alcoa Bldg., Clay & Front Sts.)'''</big>		<big>'''Westinghouse, 1 Maritime Plaza (Alcoa Bldg., Clay & Front Sts.)'''</big>
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	The "Pru" didn't start out so big. At first they mainly sold burial insurance to working people. Then they shifted to "industrial" life insurance. If a worker didn't pay for three years straight they cancelled his/ her policy and pocketed the money. Two thirds of the workers who took out Prudential policies were cancelled out before their investment was worth anything. So the rich grow richer.		The "Pru" didn't start out so big. At first they mainly sold burial insurance to working people. Then they shifted to "industrial" life insurance. If a worker didn't pay for three years straight they cancelled his/ her policy and pocketed the money. Two thirds of the workers who took out Prudential policies were cancelled out before their investment was worth anything. So the rich grow richer.

	[[Image:Img258.jpg~~\|320px\|right~~]]		[[Image:Img258.jpg]]

	Corporate headquarters are in Newark, New Jersey but Prudential is a "decentralized" company, so they have eight other skyscrapers (including the one in S.F.) for the regional companies. Like ail insurance companies. Prudential is rich in cash and investments. The Pru has $26 billion in corporations, $13 billion on mortgages, and $2 billion in real estate, making it the fifth biggest US corporation of its size in assets, only falling behind AT&T, Bank of America, Citicorp and Chase Manhattan. Prudential has stuck to investing and insuring, by and large. One exception is PruLease which leases nuclear-fuel cores to nuclear power plants. So remember, if you buy "a piece of the rock" it will be radioactive.		Corporate headquarters are in Newark, New Jersey but Prudential is a "decentralized" company, so they have eight other skyscrapers (including the one in S.F.) for the regional companies. Like ail insurance companies. Prudential is rich in cash and investments. The Pru has $26 billion in corporations, $13 billion on mortgages, and $2 billion in real estate, making it the fifth biggest US corporation of its size in assets, only falling behind AT&T, Bank of America, Citicorp and Chase Manhattan. Prudential has stuck to investing and insuring, by and large. One exception is PruLease which leases nuclear-fuel cores to nuclear power plants. So remember, if you buy "a piece of the rock" it will be radioactive.
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	This is also a secretive company. Aren't listed with the SEC or Standard and Poors or even Dunn and Bradstreet. But they do show up on one list we checked: PG&E subcontractors for Diablo Canyon—$1,364,437 worth of "Design Review" in 79. Did a great job didn't they?		This is also a secretive company. Aren't listed with the SEC or Standard and Poors or even Dunn and Bradstreet. But they do show up on one list we checked: PG&E subcontractors for Diablo Canyon—$1,364,437 worth of "Design Review" in 79. Did a great job didn't they?

	[[Image:Img260.jpg~~\|360px\|left~~]]		[[Image:Img260.jpg]]

	<big>'''US Steel, 120 Montgomery'''</big>		<big>'''US Steel, 120 Montgomery'''</big>
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	Among the many steel products Big Steel puts out, they make the enormous steel plates that form the walls for nuclear reactors. Although steel accounts for 3/4 of their business, Big Steel is shifting its focus. A falling off of the steel market forced the shutdown of 160 steel mills in 1979 putting 13,000 people out of work. So Big Steel is relying more and more on its chemical plants, investments and uranium and coal reserves. They are large investors in nuclear banks; the US Steel pension fund, along with that of Bethlehem Steel, has $133 million invested in stock of Citibank, Chemical Bank, Continental Illinois, the Mellon Bank, Western Bank Corp., First Chicago, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan, Security Pacific and Ranier Bancorp. (These 10 banks have loaned $593 million to the Japanese steel industry; So, the retirement funds of US Steel workers is being invested to help drive the steel workers out of their jobs.) They are the new owners of Marathon oil.		Among the many steel products Big Steel puts out, they make the enormous steel plates that form the walls for nuclear reactors. Although steel accounts for 3/4 of their business, Big Steel is shifting its focus. A falling off of the steel market forced the shutdown of 160 steel mills in 1979 putting 13,000 people out of work. So Big Steel is relying more and more on its chemical plants, investments and uranium and coal reserves. They are large investors in nuclear banks; the US Steel pension fund, along with that of Bethlehem Steel, has $133 million invested in stock of Citibank, Chemical Bank, Continental Illinois, the Mellon Bank, Western Bank Corp., First Chicago, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan, Security Pacific and Ranier Bancorp. (These 10 banks have loaned $593 million to the Japanese steel industry; So, the retirement funds of US Steel workers is being invested to help drive the steel workers out of their jobs.) They are the new owners of Marathon oil.

	[[Image:IMG255A.jpg~~\|200px\|right~~]]		[[Image:IMG255A.jpg]]

	Who owns this sprawling conglomerate now? Well, the employee pension plan has the largest portion with 13% of the stock: next is JP Morgan with 2.5% of the stock (although they haven't had direct control since JP jr. retired as chairman in 1932). DuPont owns 1.3%. They have interlocking directorates with JP Morgan (Walter T. Page is a retired chairman of the board of JP Morgan) and the Boeing Co. (T.A. Wilson, Chairman). Their accountants are Price Waterhouse, a big eight accounting firm—they also do the books for Standard Oil of California and Westinghouse. Also on the board at Big Steel is Cyrus Vance, secretary of state under Carter.		Who owns this sprawling conglomerate now? Well, the employee pension plan has the largest portion with 13% of the stock: next is JP Morgan with 2.5% of the stock (although they haven't had direct control since JP jr. retired as chairman in 1932). DuPont owns 1.3%. They have interlocking directorates with JP Morgan (Walter T. Page is a retired chairman of the board of JP Morgan) and the Boeing Co. (T.A. Wilson, Chairman). Their accountants are Price Waterhouse, a big eight accounting firm—they also do the books for Standard Oil of California and Westinghouse. Also on the board at Big Steel is Cyrus Vance, secretary of state under Carter.

Ccarlsson: added new photo

2026-05-17T06:17:12Z

added new photo

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:17, 16 May 2026
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	:— "The smokiest factory in the world." -		:— "The smokiest factory in the world." -
	:— "Pres. Bongo, Baron Guy de Rothschild, and that 7 year tax holiday in Gabon."		:— "Pres. Bongo, Baron Guy de Rothschild, and that 7 year tax holiday in Gabon."

			[[Image:Anti-Apartheid-demo-August-24-1987-on-Market-street-Lance-Woodruff TT AAT-1214.jpg]]

			'''Anti-apartheid demonstration on Market Street, August 24, 1987.'''

			''Photo: Lance Woodruff, Tenderloin Times archive, courtesy SF History Center, San Francisco Public Library, AAT-1214''


	<big>'''DuPont, 50 California'''</big>		<big>'''DuPont, 50 California'''</big>

Ccarlsson at 20:51, 19 October 2023

2023-10-19T20:51:19Z

Ccarlsson at 20:47, 19 October 2023

2023-10-19T20:47:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:47, 19 October 2023
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	<big>'''Union Carbide, 1 California'''</big>		<big>'''Union Carbide, 1 California'''</big>

	:::"An unwieldly giant run amok, plunging into often mindless new ventures.."		::"An unwieldly giant run amok, plunging into often mindless new ventures.."
	:::—''The Wall St. Journal''		::—''The Wall St. Journal''
	.
	:::"A reactionary ogre obsessed with profits!"		::"A reactionary ogre obsessed with profits!"
	:::—''Fortune Magazine''		::—''Fortune Magazine''

	'''SIZE''': The 34th largest corporation in the U.S. 18th largest uranium reserves. No. 1 in garbage bags worldwide. Union Carbide has over 500 factories in 45 countries around the world employing over 116,000 workers. In 1981, these workers generated over half a billion dollars profit on sales of over $9 billion.		'''SIZE''': The 34th largest corporation in the U.S. 18th largest uranium reserves. No. 1 in garbage bags worldwide. Union Carbide has over 500 factories in 45 countries around the world employing over 116,000 workers. In 1981, these workers generated over half a billion dollars profit on sales of over $9 billion.

Ccarlsson at 04:28, 19 October 2023

2023-10-19T04:28:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:28, 18 October 2023
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	Bechtel has constantly proven its ability to influence every sector of the technological world. It contributes heavily to conservative political candidates and to legislative battles, such as the $390,000 in direct and indirect contributions (second only to PG&E) laid out to oppose a 1976 Caifornia proposition that would have imposed stricter safeguards on nuclear power plants. It also cultivates good relations with members of the US government, often by employing them—a tradition initiated when John McCone (president of Bechtel-McCone, a major defense contractor during WW II) went on from Bechtel to become chairman of the AEC and director of the CIA. Connections with the CIA have meant profits for Bechtel. More recent talent swaps include:		Bechtel has constantly proven its ability to influence every sector of the technological world. It contributes heavily to conservative political candidates and to legislative battles, such as the $390,000 in direct and indirect contributions (second only to PG&E) laid out to oppose a 1976 Caifornia proposition that would have imposed stricter safeguards on nuclear power plants. It also cultivates good relations with members of the US government, often by employing them—a tradition initiated when John McCone (president of Bechtel-McCone, a major defense contractor during WW II) went on from Bechtel to become chairman of the AEC and director of the CIA. Connections with the CIA have meant profits for Bechtel. More recent talent swaps include:

	~~- George~~ Schultz, a former Secretary of the Treasury and of Labor who is now president of Bechtel;		:—George Schultz, a former Secretary of the Treasury and of Labor who is now president of Bechtel;

	~~- Caspar~~ Weinberger, a former Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare who later went to work as general counsel for Bechtei and who is now Reagan's Secretary of Defense;		:—Caspar Weinberger, a former Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare who later went to work as general counsel for Bechtei and who is now Reagan's Secretary of Defense;

	~~- Parker~~ T. Hart, a former ambassador to a number of Middle Eastern countries who is now a consultant to the company;		:—Parker T. Hart, a former ambassador to a number of Middle Eastern countries who is now a consultant to the company;

	~~- Richard~~ Helms, a former director of the CIA who also has been retained as a consultant.		:—Richard Helms, a former director of the CIA who also has been retained as a consultant.

	'''SCANDALS''': Bechtel has been embarrassed by some of its tactics being exposed in the courtroom. In 1972, a woman employee filed a class action suit against Bechtel for sex discrimination in job assignments and promotion; Bechtel settled out of court by paying $1.4 million in damages to past and current employees. Four hundred black employees then filed a race discrimination suit. Bechtel was sued again in 1978 by the directors of Consumer Power in Michigan when the Palisades nuke they had built broke down shortly after it opened. Bechtel was also charged in 1976 with refusing to deal with American subcontractors who were on the Arab blacklist of firms that do business with Israel.		'''SCANDALS''': Bechtel has been embarrassed by some of its tactics being exposed in the courtroom. In 1972, a woman employee filed a class action suit against Bechtel for sex discrimination in job assignments and promotion; Bechtel settled out of court by paying $1.4 million in damages to past and current employees. Four hundred black employees then filed a race discrimination suit. Bechtel was sued again in 1978 by the directors of Consumer Power in Michigan when the Palisades nuke they had built broke down shortly after it opened. Bechtel was also charged in 1976 with refusing to deal with American subcontractors who were on the Arab blacklist of firms that do business with Israel.
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	"PG&E has transformed a once wild and free-flowing stream into a series of stagnant, polluted, overheated, silting, artificial reservoirs and scarred the length or the river."		"PG&E has transformed a once wild and free-flowing stream into a series of stagnant, polluted, overheated, silting, artificial reservoirs and scarred the length or the river."
	:—Pit River Indian Tribe Public Statement		:—Pit River Indian Tribe Public Statement
	.
	'''SIZE''': Over 26,000 employees; 4,600,000 angry customers, and millions of miles of pipes, tubes, wires, and press releases. The largest and (formerly) the most profitable electrical utility in the world.		'''SIZE''': Over 26,000 employees; 4,600,000 angry customers, and millions of miles of pipes, tubes, wires, and press releases. The largest and (formerly) the most profitable electrical utility in the world.

Ccarlsson at 04:25, 19 October 2023

2023-10-19T04:25:02Z

Show changes

Ccarlsson: Created page with "''' Primary Source ''' '''2012 Introduction''' ''In 1982, the Abalone Alliance organized a tour of the city's corporations that had nuclear power and weapons links. Over a thousand activists toured the corporations in downtown. As part of the action, an 8 page action manual was put together. It included maps and information about corporations from Bechtel, PG&E, Wells Fargo and m..."

2023-10-18T20:16:08Z

Created page with "''' Primary Source ''' <big>'''2012 Introduction'''</big> ''In 1982, the Abalone Alliance organized a tour of the city's corporations that had nuclear power and weapons links. Over a thousand activists toured the corporations in downtown. As part of the action, an 8 page action manual was put together. It included maps and information about corporations from Bechtel, PG&E, Wells Fargo and m..."

New page

''' Primary Source '''

<big>'''2012 Introduction'''</big>

''In 1982, the Abalone Alliance organized a tour of the city's corporations that had nuclear power and weapons links. Over a thousand activists toured the corporations in downtown. As part of the action, an 8 page action manual was put together. It included maps and information about corporations from Bechtel, PG&E, Wells Fargo and many more. Below is a scanned in copy of the original action handbook, including images. FoundSF did an excellent [[Hall of Shame Tour 1982|article on the Hall of Shame tour]] that includes photos from the event. The Hall of Shame concept would be [[1984 War Chest Tours|copied again by activists in July 1984]] when the national Democratic Convention came to San Francisco, that took place during an entire week, resulting in hundreds of arrests. Here's a link on SF/Cal Corporate history for more on mega corporations in San Francisco. ''

<big>'''Collective Statement'''</big>

[[Image:Hall-3.jpg|left]]

To say that a handful of gigantic corporations and government agencies have conspired to bring us all to the brink of apocalypse for the sake of their personal careers and pocketbooks is an amazing accusation. But just take a close look at the front page of the ''Wall Street Journal'' for the latest faces in the President's cabinet. The evidence is overwhelming. It is so obvious, in fact that the real question is: why isn't it common knowledge? Clearly, most of us would rather not think about it too much. That's understandable. We usually feel that way ourselves. There are more enjoyable, things to do than contemplate the power-drunk anti-nature sub-culture that controls our society. But things are so out of hand that we feel compelled to think about these things and to act on what we learn.

[[Image:Map2.jpg|right]]

Here is what we've learned. There is a pattern. These same corporations are dishonest they are racist they are sexist they co-opt the unions they can't break, they are war profiteers, they invest more and profit more each year from the third world, they are major polluters and many of their workers are dying from unsafe conditions and procedures. And these corporations—with their twin brother the government—dominate our economic and political lives.

One note of encouragement though: their very greed and arrogance may be their downfall. Even the gigantic corporations are made up of individuals who are finding fewer and fewer other individuals willing to cooperate in grandiose schemes for profitable destruction. The more we expose the monumental waste and stupidity of the nuclear cycle of death, the more we rely on our own consciences and ability to create alternatives, the more we reject arbitrary exercise of authority by those whose only power lies in fast-disappearing public apathy, the sooner we will close the Hall of Shame and take on the challenge of building a nuclear-free World.

[[Image:IMG242B.jpg]]

<big>'''Rockefeller Empire, Rockefeller Center West'''</big>

Actually, it was decided at the last minute to call it Embarcadero Center instead of Rockefeller Center West. Californians are so proud. But David Rockefeller was given 25% of the center in return for 1% of the investment "and his good name". The Rockefeller Interests is one of the most powerful institutions in the country. They have major investments in many of the nuclear corporations on the tour. Ironically though, none of the main Rockefeller corporations are represented on our tour because they've chosen L.A. for their western headquarters, (This includes Atlantic Richfield and Chase Manhattan Bank.) But it is only relative. There are many Rockefeller signs in San Francisco and not just Rockefeller/Embarcadero plaza or the Rockefeller Center Construction Co. up at 244 Pine.

[[Image:IMG244B.jpg|330px|right]]

For example, the influential Rockefeller Foundation that has given over $1.5 billion in its existence has recently chosen a trustee from San Francisco. His name is Herman Gallegos. Mr. Gallegos is also a trustee of Pacific Telegraph and Telephone. This is nice since PT&T is practically a sister corporation to PG&E; noted by the three directors the two companies share. Nor is this the only Rockefeller tie to PG&E, The Foundation's director for International Affairs recently became vice-president of PG&E for corporate planning.

Rockefellers deserve a whole book, not just these few paragraphs. There isn't space to talk about their numerous institutions (Trilateral Commission, Council of Foreign Affairs),' projects (The Urban League, Rockefeller University), or companies (Exxon, United Nuclear). Let's just be thankful that there is only one Rockefeller Center, . .at least in name.

<big>'''General Electric, 2 Embarcadero'''</big>

"GE brings good things to life!"

"Progress is our most important product!"

'''SIZE''': Profits of $1.5 billion on sales of $24.9 billion in 1980.

'''PRODUCTS''': GE makes steam turbines, locomotives (80% of South Africa's for example), nuclear reactors, jet engines, lightbulbs, machine guns, missile launch systems, a refrigerator with 63 separate electricity-burning components, and factory robots. Through its GE Credit Corp. (another major nuclear financier), it makes money on money ($80 million in 1980). GE owns radio and TV stations; they just about own
Schenectady, NY; they bought Utah International (coal and uranium mining) for $2.2 billion; they are seeking to patent gentically-engineered life forms, find a way to use fingerprints as credit cards, and GE knows what else. GE provided police equipment and training to the Shah's (Iran) infamous SAVAK police.

'''WHO CONTROLS''': GE is run by professional managers and bankers. Large institutions—bank trust departments, insurance companies, pension funds, investment firms—control 20% of the stock. The largest shareholder is Morgan Guaranty which boasts three GE directors. Other directors include the president of Citibank and the president of Utah International who also sits on the board of Wells Fargo.

'''FRIENDS & INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE''': Before our showbiz president (Reagan) made it to the top of the acting world, he spent eight years as a mouthpiece for GE as host of its weekly General Electric Theater TV show. Several times a year Reagan toured GE plants offering insights on the evils of "the swiftly rising tide of collectivism." Reagan's chief science consultant is Arthur Bueche, ex-GE senior VP for technology. Recently GE's board of directors included an Air Force advisor, a Secretary of the Army, and two Secretaries of Defense. Three current board members are also members of the Trilateral Commission. When you're as big as GE you've got to have friends everywhere. That is why of 429 NRC officials studied by Common Cause, GE topped the list with 34 former employees. (105 came from other nuclear corporations.)

'''SCANDALS''': GE's history is one of greed, growth, and war profiteering. When in 1961 it was indicted as ringleader of a massive conspiracy to fix prices, rig bids, and divide markets in the $1.75 billion electrical equipment industry, one jailbound GE exec explained, "Sure, collusion was illegal, but it wasn't unethical.

This insight into business ethics may explain another GE skeleton. While the Nazis bombed England, GE conspired with Germany's largest defense corporation (Krupp) to fix prices and control trade; after they were indicted by the U.S. government in 1948, the price of one hard metal crucial to the war effort fell from $453/lb. to $40/lb. These kinds of activities caused GE's sales to increase by nearly 400%, from $340 million to $1.3 billion between 1940 and 1942. A Fortune Magazine article from 1942 blithely states: "Last year...it made some $100 million worth of household appliances; by the end of 1942 practically all of them will be replaced by lethal appliances...It was only natural for these engineer-managers to regard the war almost as if it was primarily another phase in the company's history."

GE was also intimately involved in the Manhattan Project and was rewarded with a $945 milllion contract for plutonium production at Hanford, WA. GE now ranks third among corporations which profit from defense spending, and is seventh among arms exporters. With the rate of profit in the weapons industry currently above 19% (highest for any U.S. industry), we might paraphrase GE: "Death is our most important product." GE has been involved in almost every major missile system—Poseidon, Polaris, Trident, the Minuteman Ml MIRV. At the trial of the "Ploughshares Eight", a group of catholics who went into a GE factory and beat oh some missiles with hammers, the judge consistently found that expert testimony on nuclear war was inadmissable; finally a frustrated onlooker shouted, "How do you find GE for building genocidal weapons?" The judge had no comment on that but he did sentence the protesters to federal prison.

[[Image:IMG244A.jpg]]

<big>'''Security Pacific, 1 Embarcadero (consumed by BofA)'''</big>

A major investor in PG&E and Union Carbide, Security Pacific isn't in the same league as B of A, Wells Fargo, or Morgan Trust, but they are representative of the important role the middle-weight banks play in the nuclear system. $22 billion in deposits.

<big>'''Capital Research & Management Capital Group, Inc., Capital Guardian Trust Co., 2 Embarcadero'''</big>

Sort of a shy group. It took hours of research to find out very little about this (apparently) Los Angeles based group of investors who have huge holdings in DuPont (6th biggest shareholder), GE (20th), Kerr-McGee (5th), and Union Carbide (8th). Apparently, Jon Lovelace (b. 1927, Princeton) heads the group and American Mutual, Investment Co. of America, and New Perspective Fund. There is still lots to find out. Hopefully by March 22 we'll have more details.

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:51, 19 October 2023
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	AT THE HALL OF SHAME TOUR you'll learn more about this exciting company and such enigmas as:		AT THE HALL OF SHAME TOUR you'll learn more about this exciting company and such enigmas as:

	:- "Studd, chaste, and tightspot"		:— "Studd, chaste, and tightspot"
	:- "The smokiest factory in the world." -		:— "The smokiest factory in the world." -
	:- "Pres. Bongo, Baron Guy de Rothschild, and that 7 year tax holiday in Gabon."		:— "Pres. Bongo, Baron Guy de Rothschild, and that 7 year tax holiday in Gabon."

	<big>'''DuPont, 50 California'''</big>		<big>'''DuPont, 50 California'''</big>
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	Sales: $32 billion; Profits: $1.7 billion; Employees: 171,000		Sales: $32 billion; Profits: $1.7 billion; Employees: 171,000

	What do they make? DuPont is the nation's oldest and most successful munitions industry, a company that has "waxed gloriously fat on war." They supplied 40% of all explosives used by the Allies in WW I, thereby earning more in those four years than it had earned in 126 years of peacetime business. They ~~aiso~~ make industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, agrichemicals, dyes and fibers. A significant part of this work is heading overseas; DuPont is in 26 countries worldwide, in search of cheap labor. Their big nuclear venture: designing, building, and running the giant facility for plutonium waste reprocessing and storage on South Carolina's ~~Savanah~~ River. When they built it in 1956, it cost twice as much as the total value of all plants and facilities owned by DuPont at the time. This information is highlighted in a popular book of the time: Atomic Energy For Your Business: Today's Key for Tomorrow's Profits.		'''What do they make?''' DuPont is the nation's oldest and most successful munitions industry, a company that has "waxed gloriously fat on war." They supplied 40% of all explosives used by the Allies in WW I, thereby earning more in those four years than it had earned in 126 years of peacetime business. They also make industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, agrichemicals, dyes and fibers. A significant part of this work is heading overseas; DuPont is in 26 countries worldwide, in search of cheap labor. Their big nuclear venture: designing, building, and running the giant facility for plutonium waste reprocessing and storage on South Carolina's Savannah River. When they built it in 1956, it cost twice as much as the total value of all plants and facilities owned by DuPont at the time. This information is highlighted in a popular book of the time: Atomic Energy For Your Business: Today's Key for Tomorrow's Profits.

	WHO CONTROLS? DuPont is still controlled by the DuPont family, with the help of board members who chair MIT, head AT&T, and run the Wilmington Trust Co. A more relevant question: who do the DuPonts control? In Zilg's brilliant DuPont: Behind the Nylon		'''WHO CONTROLS?''' DuPont is still controlled by the DuPont family, with the help of board members who chair MIT, head AT&T, and run the Wilmington Trust Co. A more relevant question: who do the DuPonts control? In Gerald Colby Zilg's brilliant ''DuPont: Behind the Nylon Curtain'', the family is fortunate enough to have its own state: Delaware. They control both state and local government, its major newspapers, radio and TV stations, universities and colleges, largest banks and industries. When you include the family's holdings, they employ over 75% of the state's labor force. The family holds a staggering $150 billion in assets in corporations like GM (which they directly controlled for years), Uniroyal, Remington Arms, Phillips Petroleum, Boeing, and North American Rockwell. In the last 25 years, DuPont lieutenants have served as U.S. representatives and senators, attorney general, secretaries of defense, directors of the CIA and even Supreme Court justices.
	Curtain, the family is fortunate enough to have its own state: Delaware. They control both state and local government, its major newspapers, radio and TV stations, universities and colleges, largest banks and industries. When you include the family's holdings, they employ over 75% of the state's labor force. The family holds a staggering $150 billion in assets in corporations like GM (which they directly controlled for years), Uniroyal, Remington Arms, Phillips Petroleum, Boeing, and North American Rockwell. In the last 25 years, DuPont lieutenants have served as U.S. representatives and senators, attorney general, secretaries of defense, directors of the CIA and even Supreme Court justices.

	DuPont's new head recently announced that DuPont would try to "get off oil dependence" — two months later the company purchased 55% of Conoco Oil's stock in the biggest takeover in corporate history: $7.5 billion. Morgan Stanley and First Boston stand to make as much as $15 million apiece just in finder's fees! .		DuPont's new head recently announced that DuPont would try to "get off oil dependence" — two months later the company purchased 55% of Conoco Oil's stock in the biggest takeover in corporate history: $7.5 billion. Morgan Stanley and First Boston stand to make as much as $15 million apiece just in finder's fees! .

	SCANDALS: ~~DuPonts~~ history of scandals now includes the attempt to suppress the history of their scandals. They are being sued by author; Zilg, for $5 million. Why? The publisher, Prentice-Hall, leaked an advance copy of the critical book to a Delaware bookstore with DuPont connections; subsequently, DuPont pressured the Book of the Month Club, who killed plans to issue the book to their members. Then Prentice-Hall reduced the printing, refused to advertise the book, and despite rave reviews, allowed the book to go out of stock just as demand was peaking.		'''SCANDALS''': DuPont's history of scandals now includes the attempt to suppress the history of their scandals. They are being sued by author Zilg, for $5 million. Why? The publisher, Prentice-Hall, leaked an advance copy of the critical book to a Delaware bookstore with DuPont connections; subsequently, DuPont pressured the Book of the Month Club, who killed plans to issue the book to their members. Then Prentice-Hall reduced the printing, refused to advertise the book, and despite rave reviews, allowed the book to go out of stock just as demand was peaking.

	[[Image:IMG246B.jpg\|340px\|right]]		[[Image:IMG246B.jpg\|340px\|right]]