| Notes |
https://laddeveritt.medium.com/meet-u-s-person-2-in-maria-butinas-spy-ring-2b136bf7bf6f
Butina often communicated in group emails with Erickson and U.S. Person 2. As it turns out, George O’Neill has known the balding, South Dakota-based GOP insider for some time. In 1992, Erickson served as Pat Buchanan’s campaign manager and national political director during his unsuccessful run to secure the GOP nomination for President. O’Neill was an ardent supporter of Buchanan’s and a valuable volunteer in his 1992 campaign. That year, O’Neill temporarily moved to New Hampshire with his [then] wife Amy Whittlesey to organize Buchanan’s computer database. “We were in chaos before they got here,” recalled Caroline Douglas, who ran Buchanan’s campaign effort in New Hampshire. “They were so organized and knew so much about campaign work, and were just so charming together. Of course, at first we thought they were spies.” That effort led to a surprise second-place finish for Buchanan in the primary in New Hampshire, which the New York Times deemed a “jarring political message” to Republican incumbent President George H.W. Bush. |