Bill Liedtke, Jr. was the co-founder of Zapata Corporation

Zapata Corporation

Zapata Corporation is a holding company based in Rochester, New York, and originating from an oil company started by a group including the former United States president George H. W. Bush. Various writers have alleged links between the company and the United States Central Intelligence Agency...

 in 1952, along with his brother, Hugh, and former U.S. President George H.W. Bush. Zapata merged with Pennzoil

Pennzoil

Pennzoil is an American oil company founded in Los Angeles, California in 1913. In 1955, it was acquired by Oil City, Pennsylvania company South Penn Oil, a former branch of Standard Oil. In 1963, South Penn Oil merged with Zapata Petroleum; the merged company took the Pennzoil name. During the...

, and the Liedtkes took over United Gas Pipeline in 1956.

Liedtke became the Texas finance chairman for Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon

Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...

's Presidential campaigns in 1968 and 1972.

Liedtke, attended the University of Texas School of Law. He also served as finance chair for the Bush-Quayle campaign of 1988. His son, William C. Liedtke III was treasurer for the Bob Anthony for Senate campaign.