For any export-oriented American business, an invitation to join the U. S. Commerce Secretary on one of his trade missions abroad is like a World Series ticket—the hottest seat in town, and something you might pay top dollar to get. In 1992, Bill Clinton promised that his Administration would fight hard to help American companies win foreign business. That’s a worthy goal of trade missions, which provide selected chief executives with priceless connections to the corporate heads and government officials of other nations.
But under the late Commerce Secretary Ron Brown were the Democrats "selling" seats, using those missions to reward party donors And did the trips serve the dual purpose of drumming up (招徕) more donations abroad Those are the questions at the heart of the lawsuit filed by the non-profit conservative group Judicial Watch Inc. Last week, thousands of pages of Commerce Department documents have been turned over to the group.
The Commerce Department papers clearly indicate many corporate contributors expected their money to earn them special consideration when seats were being handed out on the secretary’s plane. In a letter addressed to Deputy Assistant Commerce Secretary Jude Kearney, C. Payne Lucas, a development-organization executive suggests he should be added to a mission headed for South Africa president Nelson Mandela. In another, Philip Verveer, a Washington attorney, recommends a place on 1994 mission to India for William Ginsberg, chief executive of Cellular Communications International. "Oinsberg was an early financial supporter of Clinton/ Gore campaign," Verveer writes.
These missives occasionally show federal officials urging their superiors to favor donor executives. In one letter, Reta Lewis, a political affair official at the White House, urges that a spot be found for Gerald McGowan, a partner in a Washington law firm, on a trade mission to Indonesia or India. For one thing, Lewis points out, McGowan qualifies as D. N. C. "managing trustee (托管人, 理事)," someone who gives $100,000 a year to the Democratic National Committee.
But did the White House always give its funders the heavy preference they expected That is another story.
An invitation to one of the Commerce Secretary’s trade missions abroad ().
A. is desirable for all American business
B. can serve as a World Series ticket
C. can be guaranteed only by paying top dollar
D. brings contacts with corporate heads and government officials of other nations