Simone Lawson
Paul Manafort has worked on several political campaigns throughout his career. He was involved in the campaigns of Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Bob Dole. Manafort also worked as an advisor on the Ukrainian presidential campaign of Viktor F. Yanukovych and his Party of Regions, which was backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Manafort's involvement with Ukraine and Russia led to his indictment on charges of money laundering, conspiracy against the US, and tax crimes. He was also convicted of bank and tax fraud in a separate case and sentenced to 47 months in prison. In 2016, Manafort joined Donald Trump's presidential campaign as his convention manager but resigned amidst scrutiny over his work for foreign agents.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Worked on the 1976 campaign for Gerald Ford
Paul Manafort has a long history of working with Republican presidential candidates, including Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Bob Dole. In the 1976 presidential campaign, Manafort worked on Gerald Ford's campaign, helping to manage the convention floor.
Manafort's career in politics began with the 1976 Ford campaign, and he soon jumped into lobbying in 1985 with the first of two lobbying firms bearing his name: Black, Manafort, Stone, & Kelly. The firm's work included a $1 million deal with Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos to improve his image in the US media and government ahead of the Philippine election. Marcos' reign was marked by brutality and corruption, with his government committing thousands of extrajudicial killings, acts of torture, and incarcerations.
Manafort's work with Ford's campaign in 1976 marked the beginning of his involvement in Republican politics and his subsequent career in lobbying and political consulting. His work with Ford connected him to other influential Republican figures and paved the way for his future endeavours, including his controversial work in Ukraine.
In the years following his work on the Ford campaign, Manafort established himself as a prominent Republican strategist and consultant. He went on to work on the campaigns of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Bob Dole, further solidifying his presence in Republican politics. Manafort's connections and influence within the Republican Party would later play a significant role in his career, including his brief stint as Donald Trump's campaign chairman in 2016.
United Way's Political Campaign Contributions: Ethical?
You may want to see also
Worked for the campaigns of Ronald Reagan
Paul Manafort has a long history of working with Republican presidential candidates. He worked on the campaigns of Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, and later for George H.W. Bush and Bob Dole.
Manafort's work for Reagan came after his political education with the campaign of Ford. In the late 1980s, Manafort was criticized for using his connections at HUD to ensure funding for a $43 million rehabilitation of dilapidated housing in Seabrook, New Jersey. Manafort's firm received a $326,000 fee for its work in getting HUD approval of the grant, largely through personal influence.
In 1985, Manafort jumped into lobbying, founding the first of two lobbying firms with his name on it: Black, Manafort, Stone, & Kelly. The firm was hired by Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos to improve his image in front of the US media and government ahead of the upcoming Philippine election. Marcos had ruled as the president of the Philippines for 21 years and had a reputation as a brutal and corrupt leader.
Manafort's involvement with Ukraine can be traced back to 2003, when Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska hired Manafort's prior campaign candidate, Dole, to lobby the State Department for a waiver of his visa ban. In early 2004, Deripaska met with Manafort's partner, Rick Davis, to discuss hiring Manafort and Davis to return the former Georgian Minister of State Security, Igor Giorgadze, to prominence in Georgian politics.
In 2004, Manafort began working as an adviser on the Ukrainian presidential campaign of Viktor F. Yanukovych, a pro-Russian politician, and his Party of Regions. Manafort advised on the campaign and helped negotiate the framework for Ukraine's entry into Europe. Manafort received millions of dollars for his work in Ukraine, including $12.7 million in undisclosed cash payments from Yanukovych's political party from 2007 to 2012.
Momentum in Political Campaigns: Does it Exist?
You may want to see also
Worked for George H.W. Bush and Bob Dole
Paul Manafort has a long history of working with Republican presidential candidates. In the 1976 presidential campaign, Manafort helped manage the convention floor for Gerald Ford. He later worked on the campaigns of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Bob Dole.
Manafort's work for Bush and Dole took place against the backdrop of his burgeoning career as a lobbyist and consultant. In 1985, Manafort started the first of two lobbying firms bearing his name, Black, Manafort, Stone, & Kelly. The firm was notable for its work with international dictators, including Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos. Marcos hired Manafort's firm to improve his image in the US media and government ahead of the Philippine election.
Manafort's involvement with the Bush campaign came during his time at Black, Manafort, Stone, & Kelly. The firm was hired by the Bush campaign to provide strategic and communications advice. Manafort's role within the campaign is not publicly known, but it is likely that he drew on his experience in lobbying and public relations to shape Bush's image and messaging.
Similarly, Manafort's work for Bob Dole drew on his expertise in campaign strategy and communications. By the time of the Dole campaign, Manafort had established himself as a seasoned operative with a track record of success. He brought this experience to bear in shaping Dole's message and strategy, helping to craft a platform that resonated with Republican voters.
The Political Campaign Trail: America's Strategy and Tactics
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Worked for Viktor F. Yanukovych in Ukraine
Paul Manafort has a long history of involvement in political campaigns, both in the United States and abroad. Notably, Manafort worked for Viktor F. Yanukovych in Ukraine, serving as an adviser to the Ukrainian president and his Party of Regions from December 2004 until the February 2010 Ukrainian presidential election.
Manafort's involvement in Ukraine can be traced back to 2003 when he was hired by Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska to lobby the State Department for a waiver of his visa ban. In early 2004, Deripaska met with Manafort's partner, Rick Davis, to discuss hiring Manafort to return the former Georgian Minister of State Security, Igor Giorgadze, to prominence in Georgian politics. Manafort's connection to Ukraine was further solidified when he was introduced to Yanukovych by Rinat Akhmetov, a contributor to Yanukovych's Party of Regions.
Manafort's work for Yanukovych began in the aftermath of the Orange Revolution, which saw massive street demonstrations overturn Yanukovych's rigged victory in the 2004 presidential race. Yanukovych's campaign manager, Borys Kolesnikov, acknowledged that the party hired Manafort to address the organisational and other problems that plagued the 2004 elections. Manafort himself stated that his role extended beyond the election, as he aimed to play a constructive role in developing Ukraine's democracy and building a political party.
Manafort's work in Ukraine was not without controversy. In 2016, secret records uncovered by Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau indicated that Manafort received $12.7 million in undisclosed cash payments from Yanukovych's political party between 2007 and 2012. Manafort's lawyers denied these allegations. Additionally, Manafort faced scrutiny for his unregistered lobbying activities in Ukraine, which led to his indictment on charges of money laundering, conspiracy against the United States, and tax crimes, among others.
Manafort's involvement with Ukrainian politics and his connections to foreign leaders and governments were significant enough to force his resignation from the Trump campaign in 2016. Manafort's work in Ukraine highlights the extent of his political influence and the ethical questions surrounding his activities.
Where Does Campaign Money Go?
You may want to see also
Worked for Donald Trump's 2016 campaign
Paul Manafort was hired by Donald Trump as his convention manager on March 28, 2016. Manafort's partners in his original consulting firm, Roger Stone and Charlie Black, also signed on with 2016 candidates. Stone advised Trump's campaign until August 2015, and Black joined the John Kasich campaign as a delegate strategist in March 2016.
Manafort's work for Trump was short-lived, as he resigned on August 19, 2016, amid scrutiny over his work for foreign agents. Manafort's ties to Ukraine and Russia were particularly concerning, as he had previously worked with Ukrainian leader Viktor F. Yanukovych, who was backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Manafort advised Yanukovych's campaign and his Party of Regions from December 2004 until the February 2010 Ukrainian presidential election. Manafort received millions of dollars for his work in Ukraine, including $12.7 million in undisclosed cash payments from 2007 to 2012, according to Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau.
Manafort's involvement with Ukraine and Russia continued during his time with the Trump campaign. In February 2016, Manafort met with Konstantin Kilimnik, a suspected Russian intelligence officer, and discussed a Ukrainian peace plan. Manafort gave Kilimnik polling data related to the 2016 campaign, including private Trump campaign polling data. Manafort also met with Russian-Ukrainian political consultant Kilimnik in May 2016.
Manafort's work with the Trump campaign and his connections to foreign governments led to his indictment on various charges, including money laundering, conspiracy against the US, and tax crimes. He was convicted of tax and bank fraud and sentenced to 47 months in prison.
Political Campaign Commercials: UK Style
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Paul Manafort has worked on several political campaigns, including:
- The 1976 presidential campaign of Gerald Ford
- The campaigns of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bob Dole
- The 2016 campaign of Donald Trump
- The campaign of Viktor F. Yanukovych, former President of Ukraine
- The campaign of Ferdinand Marcos, former President of the Philippines.
Manafort helped manage the convention floor for Ford.
Manafort was hired as Trump's convention manager. Manafort resigned from the campaign in August 2016 amid scrutiny over his work for foreign agents.
Manafort worked as an adviser on the Ukrainian presidential campaign of Viktor F. Yanukovych and his Party of Regions from December 2004 until the February 2010 Ukrainian presidential election. Manafort was hired months after Yanukovych's victory in the 2004 election was overturned by massive street demonstrations.
