Navigation bar
  Print document Start Previous page
 51 of 96 
Next page End  

51
witness described how in 1965 Moon had maneuvered, through Yang You Chan,
a former Korean Ambassador, to arrange a meeting with President Dwight D.
Eisenhower. Moon remarked later that Eisenhower had "paid his bill in full,"
meaning "that Eisenhower had opened all the doors for Sun Myung Moon." As a
result, Moon "would be recognized by national and international leaders.
'' (413)
During the 1973-74 Day of Hope tour, Moon's followers solicited
endorsements and congratulatory messages from political and church leaders
around the United States at the Federal, State, and local levels. Moon
commented to his followers on the significance of this effort:
"This initial effort was well rewarded when I began the Day of Hope tour. As
you .know, they have sent many telegrams and congratulatory messages. In
doing this, they are lending us me entire weight of their names. * * * This will lift
our movement up to the pinnacle."
(414)
Moon explained how obtaining endorsements from a few prominent persons
made it easier to obtain others:
"When you go get the proclamations in your various cities and you meet the
Mayors, it is easy, because your foundation has been laid. All you have to do is
show other proclamations, other letters, and say what other people have done to
honor Father." (415)
Moon's apparent acceptance by American political leaders, coupled with his
ability to turn out hundreds of disciplined followers for rallies and demonstrations,
were assets enabling him to solidify his and his organization's ties with the
Government.
Activities of the Korean American Political Association
  In a speech on December 27, 1971, Moon stated that he intended "to make
an Asian-American political association" as part of his
349
effort to strengthen the anti-Communist movements in the United States. (416)
Moon also suggested in the same speech that money was to be raised by the
Moon Organization to finance this political association. At about this time, an
organization fitting Moon's description, the Korean American Political Association
(KAPA), was being set up, financed in part by members of the Moon Organiza-
tion.
KAPA had been started in December 1970 by. Kim Yong Baik after
consultations with Kim Doo Whan, the Consul at the Korean Consulate in San
Francisco. Consul Kim introduced Kim Yong Baik to Choi Sang Ik, head of the
International Re-education Foundation, another part of the Moon organization.
Consul Kim suggested Choi as a possible president and potential source of funds
Previous page Top Next page