CREDIT: Mikael Kjellstrom, Canwest News Service; The Calgary Herald Posted on 06/12/2003 9:40:16 PM PDT by Mister Magoo
Rumours abound as Clinton 'befriends' billionaire socialite
Former U.S. president seen frequently with Magna CEO
Robert Fife CanWest News Service
Thursday, June 12, 2003
Former U.S. president Bill Clinton met Belinda Stronach at a charity event at Magna's private Ontario golf course.
Magna CEO Belinda Stronach is reportedly charmed by Bill Clinton's intelligence and knowledge of world affairs.
OTTAWA - Belinda Stronach, the billionaire chief executive of Magna International, has developed a close personal and business relationship with former U.S. President Bill Clinton, but friends of the auto giant executive insist they are not "romantically linked."
Stronach, who recently announced plans to divorce Olympic speed-skating champion Johann Olav Koss, struck up her friendship with Clinton after he attended a charity event at Magna's private golf course in Aurora, Ont., two years ago.
Since then, Stronach, 36, and Clinton, 57, have been spotted together on at least three other occasions, including a private dinner last July when he was in Toronto to honour rock and roll legend Ronnie Hawkins. Over the past six months, the two have dined together at the Democratic governors' conference in Baltimore as well as a Democratic fund raiser in California.
It has fuelled speculation in Toronto's business and political establishment and in the U.S. media, including the New York Daily News and Chicago Sun Times, that there may be more to the relationship than meets the eye.
However, friends say they are simply good friends, although the wealthy socialite has admitted to being attracted to Clinton.
Stronach split four months ago from Koss, a four-time Olympic gold medalist for Norway who is working toward his MBA at the University of Toronto. It was Stronach's second marriage. She has two children from the first marriage.
Stronach is reportedly intrigued by the former president's charisma and brain-power, particularly his knowledge of world events.
Magna spokesman Jim Warren characterized Stronach's friendship with Clinton as a "business relationship." Clinton's office in New York requested that any questions about the relationship be submitted in writing.
Rumours of a more serious relationship are not surprising given Clinton's checkered love life and reputation as a womanizer. Hilary Clinton acknowledges Clinton's unfaithfulness in her new book, describing how angry she was at discovering he had a sexual relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
Stronach is one of the beneficiaries of the Stronach Trust, which controls Magna, the biggest independent auto-parts maker in Canada and a major international player. The company has annual sales of more than $13 billion US.
Clinton is also friends with Frank Stronach, the father of Belinda who is founder and controlling shareholder of Magna. He is reported to have expressed an interest in contributing to Clinton's presidential library in Little Rock, Arkansas.
© Copyright 2003 Vancouver Sun
Two words: spousal immunity.
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.
You mean they would both need to have the other Arkancided?
No! Mr. Clinton No! Take his wife... but put down his speedskating suit. For the love of God! Do not put on the suit!
Pine.
He was just here in Indianapolis as a guest of Mr. Simon for the Indy 500. Simon is a billionaire who owes a host of shopping malls, mega malls, througout our country.
Hard for me to imagine anyone possessing a soul even wanting to be in the same state as that rapist. Oh puke.
Just proves that many of the so called super rich are truly suffering from poverty. A deep poverty of the soul.
I'd rather see a thread about her girl friend. I really doubt she's jealous; she just doesn't want any affairs to be widely publicly known so she would have to act the part of the forgiving wife publicly.
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