Howard Leach

Howard Leach served as President George W. Bush's U.S. Ambassador to France until he vacated his post in April 2005 and was replaced with a relative, Craig Roberts Stapleton.

Leach is one of several prominent conservatives funding Freedom's Watch, a new White House front group which began "a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign to urge members of Congress who may be wavering in their support for the war in Iraq not to 'cut and run'."

Profiles
"President Bush stuck with tradition in his nomination for ambassador to France, naming a very wealthy -- and extremely generous -- contributor to serve in Paris, considered one of the most prestigious foreign posts," the Center for Responsive Politics reports.

"Howard Leach, a successful investor involved in numerous business interests, has a net worth reported to be in the billions. He is the CEO of Leach Capital Corp. and president of Foley Timber and Land Co., which is based in Florida.

"He is also a big-time Republican donor. Leach contributed $225,559 to GOP candidates and party committees in the 1999-2000 election cycle, including $190,300 in soft money. His wife, Gretchen, gave $63,800 to Republican candidates and party committees -- $32,800 of which in soft money.

"Leach was one of the Bush campaign's 'Pioneers', who raised at least $100,000 for the campaign. He contributed $100,000 to the Bush-Cheney Inaugural Committee and $5,000 to the Bush-Cheney recount fund, a contribution matched by his wife.

"All told, Howard and Gretchen Leach gave $289,359 to GOP candidates and party committees in 1999-2000, $10,000 to the Bush-Cheney recount fund, and $100,000 to the Bush-Cheney inaugural committee."

External articles

 * Mike Allen, "Pro-Bush group spends $15M defending war," The Politico (posted by Free Republic), August 22, 2007.