Evelyn de Rothschild

Born August 29, 1931. Cousin of Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild (left NM Rothschild in 1980, but remained the official head of the family). Sir Evelyn de Rothschild failed his economics degree at Cambridge, but made up for it 40 years later when he took an honorary one from Hull. Evelyn was a polo player in his youth and played often against Prince Philip.

Became a Partner of the French Rothschilds in 1969, who were headed by Guy de Rothschild. Deputy chairman of Milton Keynes Development Corporation 1971-1984.

"We [Chase; mid 1970s] approached three banks in the Rothschild Group. Since both Evelyn de Rothschild, chairman of L.M. Rothschild, and Leon Lambert, chairman of Banque Lambert (a Rothschild through his mother), were personal friends, I had positive initial conversations with them."(2002, David Rockefeller, 'Memoirs', pg. 207)

Chairman of the The Economist from 1972 to 1989. Director of IBM UK Holdings Plc. 1972-1995. Executive chairman NM Rothschild & Sons, London 1976-2003. In 1976 he followed up Edmund de Rothschild. In 2003 the French David de Rothschild took over as executive chairman of Rothschild international (the different branches had been merged), while Evelyn de Rothschild continued to be non-executive chairman of NM Rothschild & Sons.

Chairman of the Delegacy of St Mary's Hospital Medical School from 1977 to 1988. Chairman United Racecourses from 1977 to 1994. Director De Beers Consolidated Mines from 1977 to 1994, a firm once founded by the Rothschilds and headed by Cecil Rhodes. Chairman of Swiss-registered Rothschild Continuation Holdings from 1982 to 2003, in which Jardine Matheson (Keswick family of the 1001 Club and Pilgrims Society) bought a 20% stake in 2005 as only allowed outside shareholder.

Co-founded the Interfaith consultations between Jews, Christians, and Muslims in 1984, together with HRH Duke of Edinburgh and HRH Crown Prince El Hassan (head Club of Rome since 2001). Patron of the Interfaith consultations. Chairman of the British Merchant Banking & Securities House Association 1985-1989. Governor of the Imperial College of London from 1988 to 1998 and governor of the London School of Economics.

Became a Knight of the British Empire in 1989. Some have claimed that Evelyn is a co-founder of the Progressive Policy Institute (Today Jay Rockefeller is a task force member, just as Lynn Forester de Rothschild), the think tank of the DLC in the 1985-1989 period (the DLC refused to comment on the issue). Co-chairman of the Rothschild Bank A.G., Zurich from 1994 to 2003. Director of Telegraph Newspapers. Former member of the Hollinger International Advisory Board, a company owned by Privy Councillor Conrad Black.

Member of the Council of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, the premier acting school in the UK, if not the world. Fellow of the Imperial College in 1998. In 2000, Sir Evelyn clandestinely provided the newly established British "super think tank," Policy Network, with 250,000 pounds sterling to get it started. Policy Network is the coordinating organization between the DLC and Labour’s inner circle. Peter Mandelson, Privy Councilor since 1998 and a Ditchley governor, was the initial chairman of the Policy Network.

Evelyn married Lynn Forester in November 2000, who was introduced to him by Henry Kissinger at the 1998 Bilderberg Conference in Scotland, a meeting Sir Evelyn normally doesn't attend. After the wedding they seemingly flew to the US, since they were having diner with Senator Moynihan (worked for 'Pilgrim Averell Harriman in the 1950s, the person who set up the Psychological Strategy Board; important United Nations official in the 1970s; important DLC operative; attended the 1984 Jonathan conference on international terrorism; chairman of the 1997 Commission on Protecting and Reducing Government Secrecy, which shed a little bit of light on the inner workings of the Black and Deep Black Programs, the latter officially known as Unacknowledged Special Access Programs) and the Clintons the very next day. According to EIR, the Clintons invited the married couple to spend their wedding night at the White House.

Other close associates of the the Rothschild couple are Margaret Thatcher, Lord Hanson, Rupert Murdoch, Peter Mandelson, and Sir James Goldsmith. George Soros and Warren Buffett are said to be others. Lynn Forester generously funded Bill Clinton's election campaigns, is very wealthy, and part of New York's democratic elite.

Evelyn's former wife, Lady Victoria, also spends her time in New York, but is vigorously campaigning on behalf of the Republican George W. Bush. Lynn is the CEO of ELR Holdings and became a director of The Economist in 2002. She launched FirstMark Communications in the late 1990s and got Evelyn Rothschild, Henry Kissinger, Vernon Jordan (senior managing director Lazard; close Clinton friend and advisor; friend of Evelyn de Rothschild; permanent Bilderberg visitor), Michael J. Price (former managing director Lazard), Nathan Myhrvold (former CEO Microsoft; PPI Task Force member), and others as its initial directors.

In September 2002 Evelyn and Lynn organized a fundraising diner for the Outward Bound Trust. It teaches self-reliance through outdoor programs. Prince Andrew, Jacob Rothschild, and New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger were among those attending.

Evelyn was present when The Archbishop of Canterbury laid the foundation stone of the new Evelina Children’s Hospital in March 2003. Evelyn became its president in September 2003. In late August 2004, Clinton and his wife Hillary, Evelyn de Rothschild, Lynn de Rothschild, Vernon Jordan, and Prince Andrew were all hanging out at the Vineyard at their very own "Anyone but Bush" party. Rothschild and Jordan were jointly celebrating their birthdays that day. Together with his wife he attended the 32nd Williamsburg Conference in Delhi in 2004. Lynn was deeply involved in the 2005 Live 8 event (to support debt release for Africa and to promote the United Nations) and was even instrumental in getting U.S. television to carry the show after they dragged their feet, worrying that the event might become politicized. She spoke with Karl Rove several times seeking and getting White House help.

Evelyn is well-known for his angry outbursts and keeps very quiet about all the details of his life. Journalist Karina Robinson gave him the award of being the 'most condescending' person she interviewed in recent times.

September 1, 2001, Karina Robinson for The Banker, 'A hard nut to crack': "Karina Robinson talks to NM Rothschild's chairman Sir Evelyn de Rothschild and finds a man reluctant to give much away... The next hour (actually, the next 40 irritating minutes since I did not last the hour) was spent being told that everything is "going well," "doing well" and "with our name we can get in anywhere"... the meeting was set up by the bank's public relations firm. It seems an odd strategy to push forward someone who appears disinterested in communicating."

August 30, 2004, New York Newsday: "There were Democrats everywhere - Maureen White and her financier hubby, Steve Rattner, plus veteran liberals Vernon and Ann Jordan, and add the Baron Evelyn de Rothschild's all-American wife, Lady Lynn, the Jack Valentis, ... Prince Andrew... also Democratic kingmaker Mandy Grunwald and her now famous Time magazine mister, Matt Cooper, who is under the gun for refusing to reveal his Washington sources. Also seen, former Clinton aide Lisa Caputo, now of Citibank, and hubby Rick Morris, wearing an "Anyone but Bush" button. At a party given to celebrate the Baron's and Vernon Jordan's joint birthdays, I spoke with Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg and Maurice Tempelsman of Jackie fame, as well as both Clintons. The former president made a gracious, brief speech in which he said that since he first came to the Vineyard, he'd been accused of "hanging out with the swells." He added it was true, he loved Vineyard people, and they had all been simply "swell" to him."

Evelyn and his family live in Ascott House, which just as Waddesdon Manor is owned by the National Trust.

Affiliations

• Centre for European Reform