Party Faithful

His passions are religion, Republicans, and raising money.

by Suzanne Herel

#14 Foster Friess, 57, Jackson, Wyo. Party: R. $321,200 total contributions.

View Friess' itemized contributions.

Republican Foster Friess' Delaware investment fund is so successful that even the state Democratic Party chairman -- himself an investment banker -- belongs. But Friess breathes more than business. "The most important thing in his life is his belief in Christ as his savior," says friend Art Brosius, who met Friess at Bible study.

And faith influences his politics. He's vice president of the Council for National Policy, the secretive group headed by former Attorney General Edwin Meese that includes Oliver North and Pat Robertson and influenced the fundamentalist planks in the GOP's 1996 platform.

Friess helped raise more than $1 million for unknown politico Raymond Clatworthy's failed 1996 bid to unseat Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), persuading investment bankers nationwide to contribute $1,000 each. His $260,000 in donations to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, headed by Sen. Al D'Amato (R-N.Y.), drew criticism because they began pouring in days after D'Amato resurrected a bill that will save the mutual fund industry billions by lifting state regulations. Friess shrugs it off: "I have never talked to anyone about the bill."

As for his future calling, Friess has weighed a presidental bid. But, he says, "I then would have to worry about my wife, who is very attached to making chocolate chip cookies."

Photo Credit: Ted Wood

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