Robert Anderson

Robert Anderson    (politician, businessman)
Born	Robert Bernard Anderson June 4, 1910, U.S. Burleson, Texas, U.S.
Died	1989-08-14 (Age 79) Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Nationality	US
Alma mater	University of Texas
Religion	Methodist
Children	Gerald Lee Anderson James Richard Anderson
Spouse	Ollie Rawlins Anderson
Member of	Bohemian Grove, Council on Foreign Relations/Historical Members, Le Cercle, Links Club
limited partner In office 1961 - 1973 Employer Loeb,  Rhoades & Co. New York-based investment banking firm  US/Secretary of the Treasury  In office July 29, 1957 - January 20, 1961 Succeeded by Douglas Dillon  President of Ventures Ltd. In office 1955 - 1957 "Canadian holding company with far flung international interests"  United States Deputy Secretary of Defense In office May 3, 1954 - August 4, 1955  United States Secretary of the Navy In office February 4, 1953 - March 3, 1954 Deputy Thomas Gates

Not to be confused with Robert O. Anderson

Robert Bernard Anderson was a US administrator and businessman. From 1957 until 1961, and was one of President Eisenhower's closest confidants. Two years before his death from cancer, he was disbarred for illegal banking operations and tax evasion. His career ended in personal suffering and disgrace. He was hospitalized for alcoholism 10 times since 1981.

Career

Upon leaving the University of Texas School of Law in 1932, Anderson soon became an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas where he worked in 1933-1934. By 1934, he moved onward to become a State of Texas Tax Commissioner.

By 1939-1940, Anderson pursued opportunities within the private sector; he and two other partners purchased the City of Austin-based KTBC radio station from the Texas Broadcasting Company. Not able to increase KTBC's broadcasting power from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the three partners then sold KTBC to Lady Bird Johnson in January–February 1943; she was the wife of U.S. Representative - and future Senator and U.S. President - Lyndon B. Johnson. In World War II he was a civilian aide to the Army Secretary.

Business

After leaving office, he was active in business, investment and banking affairs, and, during the 1960s, carried out diplomatic missions on behalf of his friend President Lyndon B. Johnson including leading a commission that negotiated new treaties involving the Panama Canal. He was also an economic adviser to the Sultan of Oman and worked as a Manhattan-based lobbyist and consultant for the Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church.

Money laundering

He illegally operated the Commercial Exchange Bank of Anguilla, British West Indies, which had an unlicensed New York branch office. The bank lost $4.4 million and several investors lost their life savings in the mid 1980s. The bank also laundered large amounts of cash for drug traffickers. In 1987, Anderson pled guilty to criminal violations of the banking laws and to tax evasion, and was sentenced to prison. The Supreme Court of New York Appellate Division, in disbarring Anderson from the practice of law, called his disbarment "a sad but we think necessary end to the legal career of one who has in times less beclouded by poor and corrupt judgment served his country in high office as Secretary of Treasury, Deputy Secretary of the Navy and as Special Ambassador to Panama during the Panama Canal negotiations."

Deep Political connections

He attended Le Cercle.

 

Event Participated in

Event	Start	End	Location(s)	Description
Bilderberg/1971	23 April 1971	25 April 1971	US Vermont Woodstock Woodstock Inn	The 20th Bilderberg, 89 guests

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