Edward von Kloberg III
Encyclopedia
Edward von Kloberg III was an American
lobbyist
, infamous for his representation of some of the most notorious dictator
s of the 20th century.
Born Edward Joseph Kloberg III (he added a "van" to his name in the 1960s and changed it to "von" on the advice of Arnaud de Borchgrave
, who told him it was more "distinguished") in New York City
, he was the son of an engineer who built housing projects. He graduated from Rider College in 1965 and went on to receive a Master's Degree
in history at American University
. He was then hired by American University as a fundraiser, and was eventually appointed Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid.
In 1982, von Kloberg began a public relations
and lobbying firm, named van Kloberg & Associates, which was renamed the Washington World Group in 1992. In 1984, he was convicted of filing false financial statements with a Washington bank in connection with loan application. He was sentenced to one year probation. Von Kloberg, who often referred to his clients as "the damned," eventually went on to represent Saddam Hussein
, Samuel K. Doe of Liberia
, Nicolae Ceauşescu
of Romania
, Mobutu Sésé Seko
of the then-Zaire
and the Burmese embassy in the United States. Upon the overthrow of Mobutu, von Kloberg then represented the government of Laurent Kabila, whose forces had pushed Mobutu from power.
In 1996, von Kloberg represented the apparel manufacturers of Honduras
, who were being accused of sexual abuse
and child labor
. He later admitted that his clients had been guilty of the accusations, but insisted that his representation of them had led to reforms.
Von Kloberg was known for his flamboyant personal style. He affected the title "Baron", and was frequently seen wearing a black opera cape, either lined with red silk or with silk in a dove pattern, and a sash decorated with medals given to him by clients. He traveled with steamer trunks, and drove a black limousine
also decorated with medals and badges.
The authors of the book Washington Babylon wrote of von Kloberg, "Even within the amoral world of Washington lobbying,[he] stands out for handling clients that no one else will touch." Washingtonian
magazine once labeled him one of the city's "hired guns". Von Kloberg himself reveled in the motto, "Shame is for sissies."
Spy magazine once ran a sting operation
against von Kloberg, in which a staff employee posed as a neo-Nazi who advocated the annexation
of Poland
by Germany
. When von Kloberg offered to represent her, the magazine reported on the sting operation under the headline, "Washington's Most Shameless Lobbyist". Following publication of the story, von Kloberg showed up at the magazine's Washington office wearing a helmet, announcing that he was ready to "take the flak
".
In 2001, exiled King Kigeli V of Rwanda invested von Kloberg as a Chevalier
Grand Croix of the Royal Order of the Intare
. The King called von Kloberg "a great friend of Africa and a true aristocrat
."
in 2005- by this time sick and broke- by jumping from the walls of the Castel Sant'Angelo
in Rome
. In his pockets were a note for his younger lover, Darius Monkevicius, who had left him, and a magazine cover showing him beside president George H. W. Bush
.
Broke, in ill-health and despondent, he had followed his much younger former boyfriend there. Said boyfriend was a Lithuanian "masseur" and similarly self-styled "Baron" named Darius Monkevicius. This young "Baron" had been working as a novice cocktail waiter in The Townhouse, a well-known gay bar in Manhattan frequented by older gentlemen, and took up with von Kloberg after he had grossly overtipped him. Subsequently, Monkevicius received a sudden promotion, serving as "executive vice president and partner for United Nations outreach" at the Washington World Group. Unfortunately, it seems the former cocktail waiter ran out when the money did. It was literally an "operatic" end, as von Kloberg chose the Castel Sant'Angelo--well-known as Tosca's launching pad. He was survived by one sister and, ostensibly, by the "Baron" Monkevicius.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lobbyist
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
, infamous for his representation of some of the most notorious dictator
Dictator
A dictator is a ruler who assumes sole and absolute power but without hereditary ascension such as an absolute monarch. When other states call the head of state of a particular state a dictator, that state is called a dictatorship...
s of the 20th century.
Born Edward Joseph Kloberg III (he added a "van" to his name in the 1960s and changed it to "von" on the advice of Arnaud de Borchgrave
Arnaud de Borchgrave
Arnaud de Borchgrave is an American journalist who specializes in international politics.Born in Belgium to Audrey Dorothy Louise Townshend, daughter of Major General Sir Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend, and Belgian count Baudouin de Borchgrave d’Altena , head of Belgium's military intelligence...
, who told him it was more "distinguished") in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, he was the son of an engineer who built housing projects. He graduated from Rider College in 1965 and went on to receive a Master's Degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in history at American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
. He was then hired by American University as a fundraiser, and was eventually appointed Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid.
In 1982, von Kloberg began a public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
and lobbying firm, named van Kloberg & Associates, which was renamed the Washington World Group in 1992. In 1984, he was convicted of filing false financial statements with a Washington bank in connection with loan application. He was sentenced to one year probation. Von Kloberg, who often referred to his clients as "the damned," eventually went on to represent Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
, Samuel K. Doe of Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
, Nicolae Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Mobutu Sésé Seko
Mobutu Sese Seko
Mobutu Sese Seko Nkuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga , commonly known as Mobutu or Mobutu Sese Seko , born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, was the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1965 to 1997...
of the then-Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
and the Burmese embassy in the United States. Upon the overthrow of Mobutu, von Kloberg then represented the government of Laurent Kabila, whose forces had pushed Mobutu from power.
In 1996, von Kloberg represented the apparel manufacturers of Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, who were being accused of sexual abuse
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
and child labor
Child labor
Child labour refers to the employment of children at regular and sustained labour. This practice is considered exploitative by many international organizations and is illegal in many countries...
. He later admitted that his clients had been guilty of the accusations, but insisted that his representation of them had led to reforms.
Von Kloberg was known for his flamboyant personal style. He affected the title "Baron", and was frequently seen wearing a black opera cape, either lined with red silk or with silk in a dove pattern, and a sash decorated with medals given to him by clients. He traveled with steamer trunks, and drove a black limousine
Limousine
A limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white....
also decorated with medals and badges.
The authors of the book Washington Babylon wrote of von Kloberg, "Even within the amoral world of Washington lobbying,
Washingtonian (magazine)
Washingtonian is a monthly magazine distributed in the Washington, DC area since 1965. The magazine describes itself as "the magazine Washington lives by." The magazine's core focuses are local feature journalism, guide book-style articles, and real estate advice.-Editorial Content:Washingtonian...
magazine once labeled him one of the city's "hired guns". Von Kloberg himself reveled in the motto, "Shame is for sissies."
Spy magazine once ran a sting operation
Sting operation
In law enforcement, a sting operation is a deceptive operation designed to catch a person committing a crime. A typical sting will have a law-enforcement officer or cooperative member of the public play a role as criminal partner or potential victim and go along with a suspect's actions to gather...
against von Kloberg, in which a staff employee posed as a neo-Nazi who advocated the annexation
Annexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...
of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
by Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. When von Kloberg offered to represent her, the magazine reported on the sting operation under the headline, "Washington's Most Shameless Lobbyist". Following publication of the story, von Kloberg showed up at the magazine's Washington office wearing a helmet, announcing that he was ready to "take the flak
Flak (disambiguation)
Flak refers to anti-aircraft gunfire, derived during World War II from the German Flugabwehrkanone, for "aircraft defence cannon".Flak may also refer to:* Flak , an informal term for a media relations representative...
".
In 2001, exiled King Kigeli V of Rwanda invested von Kloberg as a Chevalier
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
Grand Croix of the Royal Order of the Intare
Royal Order of the Intare
Royal Order of the Intare is the dynastic order of the Rwandan Monarchy. It was founded by King Mutara III of Rwanda. Since 3 January 1998, King Kigeli V of Rwanda has affirmed right to bestow the order on certain individuals that have earned the right to be awarded this prestigious award. The ...
. The King called von Kloberg "a great friend of Africa and a true aristocrat
Aristocracy (class)
The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
."
Death
Von Kloberg committed suicideSuicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
in 2005- by this time sick and broke- by jumping from the walls of the Castel Sant'Angelo
Castel Sant'Angelo
The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as the Castel Sant'Angelo, is a towering cylindrical building in Parco Adriano, Rome, Italy. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. In his pockets were a note for his younger lover, Darius Monkevicius, who had left him, and a magazine cover showing him beside president George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
.
Broke, in ill-health and despondent, he had followed his much younger former boyfriend there. Said boyfriend was a Lithuanian "masseur" and similarly self-styled "Baron" named Darius Monkevicius. This young "Baron" had been working as a novice cocktail waiter in The Townhouse, a well-known gay bar in Manhattan frequented by older gentlemen, and took up with von Kloberg after he had grossly overtipped him. Subsequently, Monkevicius received a sudden promotion, serving as "executive vice president and partner for United Nations outreach" at the Washington World Group. Unfortunately, it seems the former cocktail waiter ran out when the money did. It was literally an "operatic" end, as von Kloberg chose the Castel Sant'Angelo--well-known as Tosca's launching pad. He was survived by one sister and, ostensibly, by the "Baron" Monkevicius.
External links
- "King Kigeli V Honors Von Kloberg, DuVal", The Washington DiplomatThe Washington DiplomatThe Washington Diplomat is an independent monthly newspaper.It features one-on-one interviews with foreign ambassadors. It also contains articles examining international relations, politics, trade, U.S...
, July 2001. - Richard Leiby. "Fall of the House Of von Kloberg", The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, July 31, 2005.