Bill Liedtke

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Bill Liedtke was the co-founder of Zapata Corporation in 1952, along with his brother, Hugh, and former U.S. President George H.W. Bush. Zapata merged with Pennzoil, and the Liedtkes took over United Gas Pipeline in 1956. They made a fortune in the Texas oil industry.

Bill Liedtke became the Texas finance chairman for Richard Nixon's Presidential campaigns in 1968 and 1972. Liedtke raised $700,000 in anonymous donations in 1972, including $100,000 laundered through a Mexican bank. Liedtke passed the 'Mexican' donations to Maurice Stans of the Committee to Re-Elect the President (CREEP), who gave them to Watergate burglar G. Gordon Liddy. The largest contribution was $100,000, which came from Robert H. Allen of Gulf Resources, who served as Texas CREEP's chief financial officer.

Bill Liedtke attended the University of Texas School of Law. His son, Bill Liedtke, Jr., served as finance chair for the Bush-Quayle campaign of 1988. His grandson, William C. Liedtke III was treasurer for the Bob Anthony for Senate campaign. His great grandson, William Clarence Liedtke IV, naturally attended an elite college preparatory school in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.