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Conrad Black looking to teach, rewrite history
Posted on June 2, 2008 by Douglas Bell
He haunts us still. Conrad Black—newly minted instructor of American history at Coleman Federal Correctional Institute—takes his case before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals this Thursday, with the help of his able appeals lawyer, Andrew Frey. Oral arguments are limited to a half-hour on both sides, with yellow and red lights aflashin’ to ensure a timely disposal of the arguments. Steve Skurka has a piece on the National Post’s Web site that neatly summarizes the case on both sides.
Beyond that, The Guardian notes that Black has resigned as a director of Britain’s influential Catholic Herald, though he was, as of last November, still listed as owning 45 per cent of that publication.
And finally, an unnamed source in Chicago tells the Post that behind-the-scenes documents are being readied for former House Speaker Denny Hastert, so that he might appeal to the outgoing president for a pardon on Black’s behalf.
Needless to say, the better bet resides with the Court of Appeals—though even that’s a long shot.
• Conrad Black’s appeal [National Post]
• Black day for the Herald [The Guardian]
• Conrad Black an inmate turned professor [National Post]
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JONES June 2, 2008 at 7:53 p.m.
There was a story in the papers quoting an "unidentified source" saying CB was teaching a course in jail and adapting. I strongly oppose the publication of these "unidentified sources". These sources let journalists run wild to say anything. I might write an "unidentified source" told me C.B. dropped his soap in the showers and suffered a double hernia whilst bending over and picking it up.
kjopc June 3, 2008 at 2:08 p.m.
Given Black's celebrity status in jail plus the allure of such an eager, "captive" audience makes me wonder why he would want out! Maybe the professor should drop his appeal?
Trust it to CB to drive us nuts by making a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
We demand satisfaction! That includes Black admitting that he's having a miserable time and wishes he hadn't been such a high-handed, arrogrant, elitist, greedy slime.
Barbara_in_BC June 3, 2008 at 3:19 p.m.
I can only assume that Conrad is learning as much as he is teaching, and that's why he's there.
jade_lee June 3, 2008 at 3:59 p.m.
I am confident that Conrad Black is not enjoying his stay at Coleman. What do people do in prison with others? They talk.
The post had a story about Hollinger Inc. and how retired judge Ground is approaching the civil matter as a consultant. They are currently going after the lawyers and the accounting firms and the banks who accommodated CB and those convicted of fraud along with him in their theft via deception. Does the appeal have a chance? I say no.
GravityLevity2 June 3, 2008 at 4:29 p.m.
Contrary to the authoritative predictions and fulminations of some quondam posters when the possiblity was first bruited on this blog, Coleman Prison is making good use of Con's talents and qualifications by having him work in the library and teach. I believe he will be productively engaged there in his cataloguing and pedagogy for years to come.
Fintan June 3, 2008 at 4:52 p.m.
Barbara in BC: "I can only assume that Conrad is learning as much as he is teaching, and that's why he's there."
Well said, especially the "that's why he's there" bit!
I guess that's why they call that particular hoosegow a "correctional facility".
He needed a lot of correcting, and now he's getting it. Karma be praised!
I suppose those history courses will be more entertaining than educational. I doubt whether he will teach the theory of history - or that he is qualified to - as a background to the information and comments he presents in his lectures.
When I studied history at undergraduate level, we were taught to examine different accounts from different perspectives and , by going deeper into the matter, forming our own understanding. The danger is that some of His Lardship's students will just swallow his version whole, such as his assertion that the American justice system is flawed, Nixon was not a crook, etc. And that is not something that someone should be teaching to criminals.
Wouldn't it be too much of a hoot if they nailed Morticia for something as well. Just imagine the courses she could teach the other gals in the juz gado por ninas. Some courses: "Cosmetic surgery made painless", "Designer shoe appreciation", "Social climbing in rarefied atmospheres" and "How to survive on $1,000 an hour".
Note to Morticia or her stalker catspaw: the six-digit numbers in this part of Helsinki are being changed to eight- digit on Wednesday (tomorrow). Your guess whether it's one digit at the beginning and end or two at the beginning, or ...
Stop brooding about daddy and the others and get ringing. I forgot to ask my son what the chances are of dialling the right number, but I'm sure you'll figure it out. ☺☺☺
charley June 3, 2008 at 5:04 p.m.
Maybe he'll introduce a course on Duplessis-era Quebec so he can work that tome onto the reading list.
kjopc June 3, 2008 at 10:04 p.m.
>.He needed a lot of correcting, and now he's getting it.
Nope, Conrad Black is incorrigible. He's only learning that he shouldn't get caught the next time.
Although prison won't deter Black personally, it does provide a certain protection to investors by keeping him out of circulation. There's also some general deterrence to likeminded thieves.
Still, I think he owes us at least a comment or two indicating that his life is pretty bad at the moment.
JONES June 3, 2008 at 10:55 p.m.
KJOPC
He owes us nothing and the quality of his life in that prison is nothing more than what it is and what he makes it. The fact that his personal freedoms are taken away from him is fine with me. C.B. remains an incarcerated man case closed. I don't steal I am free.
kjopc June 5, 2008 at 7:34 p.m.
Conrad Black is self-delusional. That's the only explanation for a guy who claims that he did nothing wrong but is the victim of prosecutorial zeal.
How many independent judges, jurors, and appeal courts do we need to dismiss his ridiculous assertion that "everything was approved".
As the appeal court judge said, the non-compete payments were a "sham". Accept the reality, CB. Reflect on your misdeeds like your fellow prisoners do and start compensating the victims.
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