The Rich and Powerful (Again)

They Are Among Us
How did Senator John Warner (R) of Virginia come to throw the biggest hurdle in front of the Cape Wind farm in Nantucket Sound? Family connections, and a coincidence of Senatorial Committee assignments that makes the Perfect Storm look like an afternoon thunder shower.

Mellon, remember that name. Senator John Warner married money, both times. It was very instrumental in advancing his political career. (Sound familiar?) His first wife was Catherine Mellon, daughter of Paul Mellon, of the famed Pittsburg Mellons. But by the time Paul Mellon got the money, the family had moved to the Virginia side of Washington, DC.

There, John Warner and Catherine Mellon, had 3 children, Virginia, John and Mary. Turns out Mary and Virgina have homes in Osterville, Oyster Harbors, where they are preoccupied with philanthropic and environmental causes.

Senator John Warner has a vested interest in not seeing, the wind farm built within sight of the family homes in Osterville. Virginia and Mary would be very put out if it were built, not least because they had the clout to kill the project, and the gaggle at the Wianno Club would be mortified if they found out that they hadn't used it.

But wait, there is an even more important family connection at play here. Turns out the family patriarch's (Paul) 2nd wife is non other than the much beloved Bunny Mellon (formerly Rachel Lloyd Lambert) of Osterville, which would make her Catherine's step-mother and Virginia's and Mary's step-grandmother. Mrs. Mellon owns ALOT of real estate in Osterville.

Also, Paul Mellon's 1rst wife and Catherine's mother was Mary Conover. Senator John Warner's first wife, Catherine Mellon, now Catherine Conover (very generous to local environmental causes) is also living in Osterville. And as anyone who has ever been divorced will understand, " now what's a Senator to do?"

Enter Opportunity
US Senator John Warner, is Chairman of the Armed Service Committee, and also chairman of the subcomittee that oversees the Army Corps of Engineers (the permitting agency of the Cape Wind project).

While the Cape Wind Environmental Review was being held hostage at the Pentagon, Senator Warner proposed an amendment to a military appropriations bill pending in the Senate, to kill the Cape Wind project. I'll leave it up the the professional scribes to expose the inner workings of the Senate and the Pentagon from here on, but let's not forget, Senator John Warner once served as Secretary of the Navy.

There's nothing like having a third Senator from the Cape to get the job done, (stopping CapeWind) when the other two can't or won't get their hands dirty. Especially when there's a really good family tree to do so. Turns out it was Mellon's, not Kennedy's, or Heinz's.

First published on Thursday, October 7, 2004.