Perhaps you've heard of the gentleman who taped his good buddy George W. and released those tapes to the world, Doug Wead. And you may ask: who is Mr. Wead, and what kind of a man is he?
And after you read this, you may also ask: So what prompted him to reveal these tapes now? And what other tapes does he have?
Scoop: Amway, Republicans & That Old Time Religion
First off, lets take a look at evangelist Doug Wead, a divorced Baptist Minister, and former Diamond distributer, who is still a regular speaker at Amway conventions.
Wead was the first President Bush's liaison to the Christian Right and he later served as Special Assistant to the President in the first Bush White House. Time magazine referred to him as "the man who coined the phrase the compassionate conservative."
He was linked to the second President Bush early on as well. US News and World Report described Wead as an "old friend and advisor" to George W Bush. In the book, First Son, Author and Dallas Morning News Reporter, Bill Mintuglio, said that Wead was a man who had spent years "preparing strategy reports" for both President Bush and GW.
The book claims W was the "family liaison to hard-edged conservatives and to Christian evangelical leaders, developing close ties to (among others) defeated ... congressional candidate Doug Wead, with his Amway and Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker connections."
In 1998, W decided it was his turn. Within days of his reelection as governor, W was secretly planning to run for President, because, as he said, he felt certain he had been called. He was encouraged in this belief by evangelical friends like Doug Wead and by his mother, who called him "the Chosen One," according to Kitty Kelly's book, the Family.
Anticipating W's reelection, Wead had already written a memo encouraging him to run, "You have been given a great opportunity, an opportunity that has been denied to many who have sought it. It is a gift that has rarely been extended. It might not ever be extended again," Wead wrote.
Years earlier, Wead had lost his own Congressional bid after Republican Senator Barry Goldwater, threw his support behind Wead's Democratic opponent, and stunned the Christian community with the remark, "I don't think God should be sold for money."
Goldwater was obviously a good judge of character and realized that it would be better to have a Democrat in office than a charlatan like Wead. And he was absolutely right, because as it turns out, Wead's past with Amway is even shadier than most people know.
At one time, Wead and his ex-wife Gloria, were both Diamond distributors, sponsored by Dexter and Birdie Yager. Wead earned large sums of money by speaking at Amway functions throughout the Yager organization.
Wead and another kingpin, Jean Godzich, eventually branched out and set up an Amway in France. In 1986, the French government began investigating it and decided the company was a dangerous mind-control cult, and a fraudulent business. Amway France terminated the distributorship of Godzich, from whose group most of the complaints had originated.
So what do Wead and Godzich do next? They set up a new MLM in France, called Groupement or GEPM. Its product line consisted of Amway products, its business structure was identical to Amway France, and its cultic activities were just as blatant as they were in the first operation.
After receiving numerous complaints about GEPM, French authorities moved in to shut it down, but this time it issued criminal arrest warrants, 13 for the company's distributors, and 2 for Godzich and Wead. Godzich took all the cash and fled the country and Wead never returned to France.
This man is the same Doug Wead, who 2 years later, would become a White House Aide to the first President Bush, and spiritual adviser to the second.
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Comments (18)
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Jack Murphy (4:04 PM on Sat Feb 26, 2005)
As usual like most reporters you do not have all your facts in a row. Doug Wead did not set up a amway france. That is impossible to do. It was setup by the parent corporation. Get your facts right or say nothing. I have met the man and it must be fun to give out half truths and half stories. Thats why no decent person listens to the alphabet networks cause they do the same thing you do half thruthsKaren (9:53 PM on Sun Feb 27, 2005)
Glen (11:44 PM on Sun Feb 27, 2005)
For those who do not know Doug Wead personally, and (as is apparent) do not know how an AMWAY business works, please be aware that you are showing your true ignorance. Mr. Wead, a friend of mine for the last 15 years, is a wonderful person who would certainly do more for anyone than any of those who choose to speak out against him would do. To those people I ask, 'Do you know him?', 'Have you spoken at length with him?'. If not, then how can you possibly make any kind of judgement about him other than a purely ignorant one. Generally speaking, 'please shut up!'Marc (1:29 PM on Mon Feb 28, 2005)
Strangely, your article fails to mention that Doug Wead did set up MercyCorps International, one of the most respected relief organizations in the world. And no person can set up an Amway of France...it is the sole responsibility of the parent corporation.Michael (12:53 AM on Tue Mar 8, 2005)
As with so much of your nonsense that is incorrect and outrigh lies you are mistaken when you say he was a Baptist minister - he was an Assembly of God minister.Jean Pierre (2:53 AM on Wed Mar 9, 2005)
It is PARTLY true. Wead did gave speeches to a group in France. But this Godzich-group was terminated by Amway for not following the Distributor Rules of Conduct. What company would loose 85% of the profits to protect its reputation?! Only the ones thinking long term, in my opinion! Godsizh did start in own company. Afterwards, the French government did start an investigation about this company in which Wead was never a partner. All charges were dropped and case closed in 1994, since no facts came with the complains. What a knot!!Vikas Utreja (7:26 AM on Thu Mar 24, 2005)
I have witnessed one of the seminars of Mr. Doug Wead in India. Here in India, he has set up a hospital for the poor and has helped over a hundred thousand People to build their Amway Business. When a person can help close to a million people without expecting anything in return, why would he setup Amway France?Armel LAMINSI (6:57 AM on Fri Mar 25, 2005)
Hello. I'm looking for M. Godzich ad M. Wead email address. I'm living in France, i'm starting a MLM business and i'd like to get some advice of these men whome tapes inspires me every day. Thanks to help me if you can. best regards, Armel.KM (2:52 AM on Thu Jul 14, 2005)
Armel - you can reach Doug through his website at www.dougwead.comSanjiv Munjal (3:51 PM on Mon Feb 27, 2006)
I am an ardant fan of Mr. Doug Wead. Whatever appears here seems to have come out from an illogical brain. I attended his convention in Mumbai, India in Feb 2003 and believe me, he absolutely touched the hearts of 30,000+ people sitting there through his powerful expressions to encourage Indians to do something with their lives. Just check your facts before writing wrong statements for someone who is helping millions and millions of families all across the globe.Julita (2:55 PM on Wed Mar 8, 2006)
All I want to say about Doug Wead is that he had given me and my husband a great opportunity to reach our dreams after he speaks in Network 21 Leadership Seminar in front of 10 thousand people in Indonesia on March 2005. I will always remember what he taught us, this is what he said "You can't feed the hungry if you're hungry. You can't serve the poor if you're poor. You have to do something with your own life then help others". He's a great guy and one day I will meet Doug Wead and thank him for all the lessons he had given us and all the people in Indonesia. Also for Mercy Corps that helped Aceh after Tsunami.Richard Segura (9:35 AM on Tue Apr 11, 2006)
Mr. Wead thanks for all your teaching, I reside in the Dominican Republic and a have a tremendous respect for you. God bless you!Erik Pizzorni (8:41 PM on Wed May 31, 2006)
Glenn you are funny guy. You cannot setup "AMWAY FRANCE". Amway is an international company the manufactures products. You cannot "SETUP AMWAY FRANCE" on your own. Amway would have taken years to analyse the market and setup distribution. I cannot comment on the individuals that use the amway distribution system for their own benefit outside of the amway code of conduct. However Doug Wead is an inspiring individual that has helped hundred of thousands of people. Just read the comments above. Nice effort at a cheap shot, but you'll just have to try better, next time. ;)Stayalert (3:13 AM on Sat Aug 19, 2006)
Here is a "man of god" but is divorced and telling everyone how to behave? Here is a man who sets up organizations to help "millions" yet tells W that he is the "chosen one" and W singlehandedly kills over 26oo soldiers, maims hundreds of thousands of our own men and women and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis are killed and that makes WEAD a "good man"? Obviously he is atoning for his sin of sicing W bush on the US and the world ruining any good will that would have helped in this terrorist new world. Yep, that WEAD is a good speaker , but not a good man, just one who is atoning for his sin of speaking out of both sides of his mouth while lining his pockets just like Bush Sr and Bush Jr.Anonymous (8:58 PM on Sun May 11, 2008)
No one ever said believers could not divorce! and 'W' singlehandedly killed over 2600 soldiers and maimed hundreds of thousands of our own men and Iraqis? Get ytour facts straight before you distort them. doug being a good speaker had nothing to do with this. Obama is a good speaker and is not qualified to run for any office much less President.
dillan (1:10 AM on Fri Nov 7, 2008)
George W ranked as one of the worst presidents ever, Mr. Obama will go down as one the great presidents. He will unify this country and the world,and repair America's battered reputation around the world, unlike the Republican party!!!!
You will have to update your facts pretty quick!!!
A Big Sinner (10:11 PM on Mon Sep 4, 2006)
There is not a just man (or Good man) that does good and does not sin. (Which includes me as well). So before you say someone in not a good person, think about yourself also. The world is coming to an end soon and we will all stand before the Lord God Almighty and have to give an account of ALL of our sins and short comings. The Scriptures are very clear on this. That day will be a dreadful day and much wailing and nashing of teeth will occur then.David Garlock, Ph.D (7:32 PM on Thu Aug 21, 2008)
Could this possibly be the same Doug Wead who was a friend of mine at Central Bible College from 1962-1965? I remember him then as a personable, charismatic presence who stood out in the rather grim surroundings of that institution at that time. (I have no idea what CBC is like today.) If you happen to read this, Doug, I want you to know that I have taken the "cure," subsequently earning two degrees from Columbia Universtiy in New York, and, more recently, my Ph.D. (finally) from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, where I am employed. Currently active in the Episcopal Church, as well. Talk about "the road not taken." Google me online sometime.
David ("yesterday, today, forever")