ADL Charges Agnew Has Acquired Tax Exempt Foundation to Disseminate His Anti-israel, Pro-arab Views

The Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith today charged that “the disgraced Spiro Agnew, a convicted felon who has been engaging in classical anti-Semitism,” has taken control of a tax exempt educational foundation, “Education for Democracy,” for the purpose of organizing a movement to reflect his anti-Israel, pro-Arab views.

According to Arnold Forster, ADL’s general counsel, the foundation has been converted into a membership organization and has begun publication of a newsletter, “Memoranda,” which features anti-Israel propaganda, as well as attacks on the American news media.

Forster said a nationwide mailing is now being conducted by Agnew, enclosing the newsletter and membership application and subscription forms offering a patron membership for a minimum of $500. For lesser sums, Agnew is offering other types of memberships.

CHARGES TYPICAL AGNEW DISTORTIONS

Lawrence Peirez, chairman of ADL’s civil rights committee, which is conducting continuing research into the new Agnew operation, reported: “Agnew, in a foreword in the first issue of Memoranda,’ calls on Americans to regard their news media ‘with the same suspicion and distrust that they…focus on public officials or large corporations.’ Yet, while Agnew says there is a need to bring ‘the vital facts to the people,’ the lead article, entitled ‘Mideast Time Bomb,’ consists of nothing more than typical Agnew distortions and misrepresentations of facts.

“What Agnew continues to spew out,” Peirez went on, “are his usual twisted half-truths–pro-Arab, anti-Israel, anti-news media.”

In the article, Agnew sought to use statements by The Social Action Commission of Reform Judaism and Rabbi Henry Siegman, executive director of the Synagogue Council of America, to support the Agnew argument that prominent Jews and respectable Jewish organizations are critical of alleged “Israeli imperialism,” Peirez said.

Rabbi Siegman, however, has told the ADL that “the views Agnew attributes to me are a total fabrication.” The Social Action Commission of Reform Judaism has told the League that statements critical of Israel which were attributed to it by Agnew were distorted and taken out of context of a resolution “that is supportive of Israel.”

FORMER ADMIRER DISGUSTED WITH AGNEW

Forster said an ADL inquiry about Education for Democracy, Inc., shows that it was initially incorporated in Indiana on Sept. 16,1971, with the alleged purpose of educating persons without regard to race, religion, color or creed for future community leadership.

Control of the organization passed through a number of persons until Nov. 19, 1975, when articles of amendment were filed with the Secretary of State of Indiana, changing the resident agent and the principal office and listing Agnew as president of Education for Democracy. Mary Ellen Warner, who has been Agnew’s secretary, is listed as the organization’s corporate secretary.

Forster said that John A. Von Kannon, a magazine publisher in Bloomington, Indiana, told the ADL that he was the previous president and resident agent for the organization. Von Kannon added that when Agnew took over the organization last November, it was “just a paper, shell organization,” which had retained its tax exemption. The publisher, who said he has been an admirer of Agnew but is now “disgusted” with Agnew’s views on Israel, declared that the former Vice-President had told him he planned to use the organization to hold conferences and publish books and a newsletter.

Prior to the current nationwide mailing, Forester said, Agnew sent out 250 letters to a private list to seek contributions to supplement what Agnew claimed was a “substantial contribution” he had made to the organization for the purpose of disseminating “to opinion leaders and other citizens information now routinely supplied by the national-impact media.”