Jimmy Walter

Last updated

James W. Walter, Jr. (born 1947) [1] is an American venture capitalist and author. [2] [3] He is best known for sponsoring advertisements asking to reopen the investigation of the September 11, 2001 attacks and offering financial rewards to anyone that could prove the World Trade Center was destroyed without the use of explosives. [4] [5]

Contents

Biography

Jimmy Walter Jimmy Walter2.jpg
Jimmy Walter

Walter is the older of two sons of James W. Walter, Sr., a Tampa, Florida home builder and industrialist. He excelled at math and science in school, completing high school at the Asheville School in North Carolina, and was offered a Morehead scholarship to the University of North Carolina, but turned it down at his father's urging in order to enter business school. [1]

Walter earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina in 1969, [6] and worked in his father's business for two years. His father's political influence helped Walter join the Air Force Reserves to stay out of active combat in the Vietnam War; he earned an officer's commission and served for four years. [1]

After leaving Walter Industries, Walter lived in New York City, Hong Kong, and Tampa. He worked in a number of jobs and industries, including financial public relations in New York City, and founded several corporations. [6]

On May 28, 1991, Walter and Jack Edwards co-wrote Banzai, You Bastards ( ISBN   028563027X), the story of Edwards's abuse in a Japanese World War II prisoner-of-war camp. [6]

When his father died in January 2000, Walter inherited a fortune reported between $7–14.3 million; he says $11 million. [4] [7] Much of that has been spent on his campaigns. [5] He no longer receives a salary, but receives income from investments. [1]

Since January 2005, Walter has been living in self-imposed exile in Vienna, Austria, after being attacked and threatened due to his campaign. [1] [2] [5] [8]

Non-profit organizations

In the early 1990s, Walter used outside funding and US$3 million of his own money to found the Life Skills Foundation, an organization that taught skills and goal setting to Florida prison inmates. [1] The project produced results, but was shut down after the governor cut state financial backing. [9]

Walter is also the founder of "Walden Three", a non-profit educational foundation in Santa Barbara, California that researches ideas for sustainable, environmentally friendly urban development. The foundation has developed a computer model for the ideal sustainable living, carfree and fossil fuel-free city or society that produces almost all of the consumables, durable goods, structures, mass transportation and social security needed by its citizens. The model uses rational-emotive therapy (REBT), developed by Dr. Albert Ellis. [10] Walter considers Walden Three his "day job" when he is not involved with campaigning. [1]

Anti-war campaign

Walter had been opposed to the Vietnam War, a source of contention with his father, [1] but had not used his money to act on his convictions. On February 27, 2003, Walter spent US$125,000 to take out a full-page advertisement in the New York Times attacking Secretary of State Colin Powell's justification for the impending 2003 invasion of Iraq. It was headlined "Powell Lied?" describing Powell's February 5, 2003 speech to the United Nations Security Council—the New York Times insisted on adding the question mark. Walter took out similar advertisements in English and Spanish in local newspapers in Santa Barbara, California, where he was living. His stance was unpopular; posters he attached to his house were torn down, and a rock was put through his car's window. Walter did not repeat the advertisement. [11]

Walter also created a "Chicken-Hawk-In-Chief" design mocking George W. Bush which he put on t-shirts, sweatshirts, and a full costume. [1] In May 2004, a Williamstown, Vermont middle school student gained national attention when he wore the t-shirt and was required to cover parts of the design depicting Bush drinking and snorting cocaine. [12] On August 30, 2006, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the school was wrong to censor the shirt, and on June 29, 2007 the US Supreme Court rejected an appeal, allowing that ruling to stand. [13] [14]

Reopen 9/11 campaign

Walter began a series of advertisements about the September 11, 2001 attacks in October 2004, which included full page ads in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal , and 30 second cable television spots on CNN, Fox News, and ESPN. They implied that no plane flew into The Pentagon, and that 7 World Trade Center was brought down by internal explosives. They called for a new investigation into what happened on September 11, and referred viewers to the website reopen911.org. [7] [15] In conjunction with the campaign, Walter sponsored an October 2004 Zogby poll, which found that 66% of New York City residents wanted a fuller investigation of the events of September 11. [16]

Walter's theory is that the hijacked planes were replaced by remote controlled drones that were crashed into the World Trade Center and Pentagon, [17] while the buildings were brought down by preset explosives, [4] to create a pretext for the war in Afghanistan and 2003 invasion of Iraq. [17] At the web site, Walter offered a US$10,000 reward for a mathematical proof of how the World Trade Center buildings collapsed from the fire and impact, the way the 9/11 Commission said. [4] [18] By 2005, the reward had grown to $1,000,000 for proof that explosives were not used in the collapse of the World Trade Center. [5]

On November 10, and November 11, 2004, Walter appeared on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360° , where he debated journalist Gerald Posner about the claims made by the campaign. [16] [18] On May 9, 2005, Walter was featured on the "Conspiracy Theories" episode of Showtime cable television program Penn & Teller: Bullshit! , [19]

As of December 2004, Walter estimated the total cost of the campaign at more than $3 million; [4] [15] by December 2005 it rose to $5.5 million. [1]

In May 2005, Walter financed European tours of speaking engagements for William Rodriguez and his lawyer in the Rodriguez v. Bush lawsuit, Philip Berg. [20] Rodriguez claims that he saved hundreds of people in the World Trade Center who were trapped behind locked fire escape doors.[ citation needed ]

In 2006, Walter traveled to Malaysia with Rodriguez, appearing at a conference with Michael Collins Piper. Rodriguez and Walter also traveled to Venezuela. [21]

Confronting the Evidence

Walter produced a video documentary called Confronting the Evidence in 2005 and distributed over 300,000 free copies on DVD, [1] including one to every household in Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency. [22] Confronting the Evidence was broadcast on Italian Rai Tre television on September 24, 2006 at 9:00 p.m., during the Report program. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeb Bush</span> American politician and businessman (born 1953)

John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician and businessman who served as the 43rd governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. A member of the Bush political family, he was an unsuccessful candidate for president of the United States in the 2016 Republican primaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George W. Bush 2000 presidential campaign</span> Presidential campaign

The 2000 presidential campaign of George W. Bush, then governor of Texas, was formally launched on June 14, 1999 as Governor Bush, the eldest son of former President George H. W. Bush, announced his intention to seek the Republican Party nomination for the presidency of the United States in the 2000 presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 Madrid train bombings</span> Jihadist attack on Madrids suburban trains

The 2004 Madrid train bombings were a series of coordinated, nearly simultaneous bombings against the Cercanías commuter train system of Madrid, Spain, on the morning of 11 March 2004—three days before Spain's general elections. The explosions killed 193 people and injured around 2,050. The bombings constituted the deadliest terrorist attack carried out in the history of Spain and the deadliest in Europe since 1988. The official investigation by the Spanish judiciary found that the attacks were directed by al-Qaeda, allegedly as a reaction to Spain's involvement in the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.

The following is a timeline of events during the 2004 U.S. presidential election:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lou Dobbs</span> American television host (born 1945)

Louis Carl Dobbs is an American conservative political commentator, author, conspiracy theorist and former television host who presented Lou Dobbs Tonight from 2003 to 2009 and 2011 to 2021. Since 2021, he hosts The Great America Show on iHeart Radio and loudobbs.com.

Bill Clinton was criticized for some of his presidential pardons and acts of executive clemency. Pardoning or commuting sentences is a power granted by the Constitution to sitting U.S. presidents. Scholars describe two different models of the pardons process. In the 'agency model' of pardons the process is driven by nonpolitical legal experts in the Department of Justice. In contrast, Clinton followed the 'presidential model', viewing the pardon power as a convenient resource that could be used to advance specific policy goals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 United States presidential election</span> 55th quadrennial U.S. presidential election

The 2004 United States presidential election was the 55th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. The Republican ticket of incumbent President George W. Bush and his running mate incumbent Vice President Dick Cheney were elected to a second term, defeating the Democratic ticket of John Kerry, a United States senator from Massachusetts and his running mate John Edwards, a United States senator from North Carolina. As of 2020, this is the only presidential election since 1988 in which the Republican nominee won the popular vote and the only presidential election since 1984 in which the incumbent Republican president won re-election. Due to the higher turnout, both major party nominees set records for the most popular votes received by a major party candidate for president; both men surpassed Reagan's record from 20 years earlier. At the time, Bush's 62,040,610 votes were the most received by any nominee for president, although this record would be broken four years later by Barack Obama. Bush also became the only incumbent president to win re-election after previously losing the popular vote.

American Apparel Inc. is a North American clothing retailer. The brand began with operating retail stores between the late 1980s and late 2010s. Its operations are based in Los Angeles, California. Founded by Canadian businessman Dov Charney in 1989, it was a vertically integrated company that ranked as one of the largest apparel manufacturers and marketers in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9/11 truth movement</span> Group of loosely affiliated 9/11 conspiracy theorists

The 9/11 truth movement encompasses a disparate group of adherents to a set of overlapping conspiracy theories that dispute the general consensus of the September 11 attacks that a group of Al-Qaeda terrorists had hijacked four airliners and crashed them into the Pentagon and the original World Trade Center Twin Towers, which consequently collapsed. The primary focus is on missed information that adherents allege is not adequately explained in the official National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) reports, such as the collapse of 7 World Trade Center. They suggest a cover-up and, at the least, complicity by insiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George W. Bush</span> President of the United States from 2001 to 2009

George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 46th governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Rodriguez</span> American 9/11 survivor

William Rodríguez is a former janitor at the North Tower of the World Trade Center during the September 11, 2001, attacks and was in the basement of the North Tower when American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the building. After the attacks he received several awards for heroism for helping in the evacuation of many survivors. The Birmingham Mail said about Rodriguez: "He bravely led firefighters up the stairs, unlocking doors as they climbed and helping hundreds of survivors" and The Lancashire Telegraph added: "He then went back into the building in a bid to rescue his friends at the top of the tower, on the 106th floor. But he kept finding others who needed his help as well."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Soros</span> Hungarian-American billionaire investor and philanthropist (born 1930)

George Soros is a Hungarian-American billionaire investor and philanthropist. As of October 2023, he had a net worth of US$6.7 billion, having donated more than $32 billion to the Open Society Foundations, of which $15 billion has already been distributed, representing 64% of his original fortune. Forbes called Soros the "most generous giver". He is a resident of New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Trade Center controlled demolition conspiracy theories</span> 9/11 conspiracy theories

Some conspiracy theories contend that the collapse of the World Trade Center was not solely caused by the airliner crash damage that occurred as part of the September 11 attacks, and the resulting fire damage, but by explosives installed in the buildings in advance. Controlled demolition theories make up a major component of 9/11 conspiracy theories.

Americans for Honesty on Issues is a Houston, Texas based 527 group that by mid-October 2006 had spent over one million dollars on television advertisements, critical of Democratic Party candidates, in advance of the 2006 United States general election. 527 groups are tax-exempt organizations that participate in political activities, typically via soft money contributions, which have no legal limit. By United States federal law, they are not allowed to coordinate their efforts with political campaigns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Rodríguez (tenor)</span> American singer

Daniel Rodriguez is a Puerto Rican American operatic tenor from New York City. He became known as "The Singing Policeman" in his former work with the New York City Police Department, due to his role as one of the department's designated National Anthem singers. In the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, he received widespread attention with his rendition of "God Bless America", which he sang at memorial events and on television. This led to an offer of formal training from Plácido Domingo. Rodriguez has recorded numerous albums and appeared as lead tenor in several operas. He regularly appears in support of his chosen charities, as well as performing a full domestic and international concert schedule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitt Romney 2008 presidential campaign</span> US presidential campaign

The Mitt Romney presidential campaign of 2008 began on January 3, 2007, two days before Mitt Romney left office as governor of Massachusetts, when he filed to form an exploratory committee with the Federal Election Commission to run for President of the United States as a Republican in the 2008 election. Subsequently, on February 13, 2007, he formally announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president in 2008. He did so at the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan, as an emblem of American ingenuity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American Union</span> Theoretical economic and political continental union of Canada, Mexico, and the United States

The North American Union (NAU) is a theoretical economic and political continental union of Canada, Mexico and the United States, the three largest and most populous countries in North America. The concept is loosely based on the European Union, occasionally including a common currency called the amero or the North American Dollar. A union of the North American continent, sometimes extending to Central and South America, has been the subject of academic concepts for over a century, as well as becoming a common trope in science fiction. One reason for the difficulty in realizing the concept is that individual developments in each region have failed to prioritize a larger union. Some form of union has been discussed or proposed in academic, business, and political circles for decades. However, government officials from all three nations say there are no plans to create a North American Union and that no agreement to do so has been proposed, much less signed. The formation of a North American Union has been the subject of various conspiracy theories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Lieberman 2004 presidential campaign</span> American political campaign

The 2004 presidential campaign of Joe Lieberman, the long-time United States Senator from Connecticut and the vice-presidential nominee under Al Gore in the previous election, began on January 13, 2003, when he announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination as a candidate in the 2004 presidential election. Describing his Presidential hopes, Lieberman opined that his historically hawkish stance would appeal to voters. Prior to his defeat in New Hampshire, Lieberman famously declared his campaign was picking up "Joementum". On February 3, 2004, Lieberman withdrew his candidacy after failing to win any of the five primaries or two caucuses held that day. He acknowledged to the Hartford Courant that his support for the war in Iraq was a large part of his undoing with voters. Lieberman's former running candidate Al Gore did not support Lieberman's Presidential run, and in December 2003 endorsed Howard Dean's candidacy, saying "This is about all of us and all of us need to get behind the strongest candidate [Dean]."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerome Corsi</span> American conservative author (born 1946)

Jerome Robert Corsi is an American conspiracy theorist and author. His two New York Times best-selling books, Unfit for Command (2004) and The Obama Nation (2008), attacked Democratic presidential candidates and have been criticized by opposition.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Suspicious Mind: Why the heir to a Tampa home-building fortune has spent millions trying to prove that the 9/11 attacks were a U.S. government plot.", by Eric Snider, Creative Loafing , 2005-12-14. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
  2. 1 2 "What Really Brought Down the Towers? Open Secret", by Zach Dundas, Maxim , March 2006. Retrieved 2007-07-23. Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ ReOpen 911 - Welcome to 1984!
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Sept 11 conspiracy theorist poses $130,000 challenge", December 16, 2004, Reuters, hosted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2007-07-25. Archived December 24, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
  5. 1 2 3 4 "No evidence? It must be conspiracy", by Mark Coultan, November 21, 2005, Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  6. 1 2 3 Biography at JimmyWalter.com Retrieved 2007-07-23.
  7. 1 2 "A Hidden Story Behind Sept. 11? One Man's Ad Campaign Says So", Ian Urbina, November 8, 2004, New York Times . Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  8. ↑ "Vitae", Walden3.org. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  9. ↑ David R. Corder (May 8, 1998). "Business incubator's future uncertain". Tampa Bay Business Journal . Retrieved 2007-07-18.
  10. ↑ Walden Three project home page
  11. ↑ Kathryn Wexler (February 28, 2003). "Walter heir makes his $125,000 point". St. Petersburg Times . Retrieved 2007-07-18.
  12. ↑ "Banned! Williamstown teen becomes a First Amendment poster boy" Archived 2007-08-01 at the Wayback Machine , by Shay Totten, Vermont Guardian , January 28, 2005. Also archived at KidspeakOnline Archived 2007-08-01 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  13. ↑ "ACLU of Vermont Wins in Appeals Court Over Right of Student to Wear Anti-Bush T-Shirt", ACLU press release, 2006-08-30. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  14. ↑ "Court Allows Student's Anti-Bush T-Shirt" Archived 2007-07-01 at the Wayback Machine , Associated Press, June 29, 2007, published by the San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  15. 1 2 (in German) "Verschwörungstheorien  : Dämmerzone zwischen Wahn und Wissen", by Marc Pitzke, December 1, 2004, Der Spiegel. Article also available at T-Online.de Archived 2006-07-18 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  16. 1 2 "A look at Conspiracy Theories Surrounding 9/11", transcript of Anderson Cooper 360° , CNN, aired November 10, 2004. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  17. 1 2 "On Election Eve, Sept. 11 Doubters Surface", Dean Schabner, November 1, 2004, ABC News.
  18. 1 2 Jimmy Walters and Gerald Posner continued, transcript of Anderson Cooper 360° , CNN, aired November 11, 2004. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  19. ↑ "Season 3: Conspiracy Theories" Archived 2012-09-13 at archive.today , Penn & Teller: Bullshit!, Showtime. Retrieved 2007-07-25.
  20. ↑ "Phil Berg's Blog".
  21. ↑ "Press Release 18". www.thepowerhour.com.
  22. ↑ "London September 11 '9/11 Activists' Meeting Calls to Reopen 911" Archived 2013-02-22 at archive.today , 2005-06-03, Mathaba . Retrieved 2007-07-25
  23. ↑ (in Italian) "Confronting the Evidence" Archived 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine transcript, RAI, September 24, 2006
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.