Lee Greif served as chief of staff for Congressman Peter Peyser for five years. Serving during the Watergate period meant that he had to endure many challenges and support some unpopular positions which were set forth by his colleagues and the President Richard M. Nixon. Even so, there were many memorable events such as his dinner with the president, his private meetings with Secretaries Of State and Secretaries Of Defense, and most importantly, his first marriage to Randee whom he met while she was employed by Senator Thomas Eagleton of Missouri. He was always a dedicated worker and impressed his superiors and colleagues on a regular basis.
Even though he truly had the time of his life while acting as chief of staff for republican congressman Peter Peyser, it had always been his life’s ambition to become a lawyer. He had actually earned his law degree and was quite eager to put it into use. It was because of this that he left Washington and the political arena that he had become so used to and came back to his home state of Connecticut. It was here that he had planned to found his law practice and begin what would hopefully be a long and successful political career. His plans were interrupted when disaster struck him and his family. His father in law had come down with a powerful heart illness which kept him from running the family business. His father in law required heart surgery and without him to run the clothing business, his family feared the worst.
With his father in law’s consent, Greif become CEO of the family clothing business on a temporary basis and just until his father in law was healthy enough to once again take up the reins. His father in law’s business was a fairly large chain of women’s clothing stores which had gained notoriety in the area as being wonderful places to shop. As a matter of fact, this chain of stores was originally established in 1881 and had reaped prosperity throughout its entire life.
It was never sufficient enough for Lee Greif to take up any task with a lack of entrepreneurship, dedication, and follow through. Therefore he put his entire heart and soul into the business. His father in law took some time to recover from the heart surgery which gave Lee Grief ample time to put his genius into work. Putting to work all his accumulated knowledge and know how, Greif put so much effort into keeping the business alive and successful that he actually increased the chain from having five stores to a total of 11 stores by the time he stepped down as CEO. Altogether, he ran the
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Lee Greif - Chief Of Staff
Watergate and the Vietnam war -- Greif wasn't always well liked by everyone, and sometimes he had to tout controversial ideas and policies. He remembers at least twice having to stand up for administration proposals that didn't have a lot of public support. It was through his job at the White House that Lee Greif was first introduced to his first wife, Randee. At the time, the early 1970s, he was chief of staff for Peter Peyser and she was chief of staff for Missouri senator Thomas Eagleton. The couple actually became quite close to the senator, spent a lot of time with him and spoke of him fondly. This relationship turned out to be quite beneficial to Greif. Eagleton was known for his dedication to the community and his constituents, and his reputation...
Lee Greif - Chief Of Staff For Peter Peyser
... dinner at the Whitehouse with the President, Richard M. Nixon. Besides this event were the many meetings that were held with Secretaries Of Defense and Secretaries Of State which were always an interesting and educating experience. Working in Washington during this difficult period however, meant that he had to work with a Democrat during the war in Vietnam and a Republican during the Watergate debacle. As a result, he was often put at odds with Lee Greif , Chief of Staff for Peter Peyser his fellow politicians and would have to support positions that were unpopular with the public as well. Many of these policies came from the president himself who was disliked by many people at the time. One of the brighter times of his five year political career in Washington was meeting his first wife, Randee. When they met, Randee was a member of US Senator Thomas Eagleton’s staff. Eagleton and Greif hit things off well and Eagleton became a major supporter of his throughout...
Lee Greif, Peter Peyers And Politics
Grief as his chief of staff because he ran two successful campaigns for reelection. Throughout this period, despite the high tension of the era, Grief was extremely grateful to be involved in the political arena as he found it very interesting. Peter Peyser had an interesting political career of his own. A Republican congressman representing the suburbs of Westchester County, New York, Peyser became a close friend and partner of Nelson Rockefeller. The two of them would often meet to discuss various policy matters and ways to accomplish their public policy goals. Grief had the opportunity to work on many projects because of Peyser's association with Rockefeller, and did a good job on most of them. These difficult but successfully accomplished assignments earned Grief the attention and support of his superiors. Grief's position as a chief of Lee Greif , Chief of Staff for Peter Peyser staff during the early 1970s was ideal for Grief to build on-the-job experience. One event he remembers particularly fondly is a dinner party, held by President Nixon at the White House, he attended with three...
Lee Greif Chosen as Chief of Staff in 1971
... many different careers throughout his life, none of which he recalls more fondly than his five year stint in politics. Although they were tumultuous and filled with some heavy tension, the early 1970s were an amazing time to be in the political arena and Greif is extremely appreciative that he could be a part of it. He was first hired in 1971 by Peter Peyser. Peyser was a congressman of New York who had recently won the election in New York’s congress race. Peyser chose Greif to be his chief of staff. This was a decision that he would not go on to regret as Grief would later go on to run two successful campaigns for his reelection. Peter Peyser was an interesting Lee Greif , Chief of Staff for Peter Peyser and successful politician in his own right. Peyser was...
Lee Greif began his political career in 1971
... of his own. A Republican congressman representing the suburbs of Westchester County, New York, Peyser became a close friend and partner of Nelson Rockefeller. The two of them would often meet to discuss various policy matters and ways to Lee Greif , Chief of Staff for Peter Peyser accomplish their public policy goals. Grief had the opportunity to work on many projects because of Peyser's association with Rockefeller, and did a good job on most of them. These difficult but successfully accomplished assignments earned Grief the attention and support of his superiors. Serving as chief of staff during the early 1970s meant there was a lot going on at the time that Lee Greif could be a part of. One such event that he is particularly proud of was the dinner party held at the Whitehouse with President Nixon that he and three other congressman and their chiefs of staff took part in. Besides this were...
Lee Greif - Chief Of Staff In The Early 1970s
... two of them would often meet to discuss various Lee Greif , Chief of Staff for Peter Peyser policy matters and ways to accomplish their public policy goals. Grief had the opportunity to work on many projects because of Peyser's association with Rockefeller, and did a good job on most of them. These difficult but successfully accomplished assignments earned Grief the attention and support of his superiors. Serving as chief of staff during the early 1970s meant there was a lot going on at the time that Lee Greif could be a part of. One such event that he is particularly proud of was the dinner party held at the Whitehouse with President Nixon that he and three other congressman and their chiefs of staff took part in. Besides this were the many political briefings with Secretaries Of State and Secretaries Of Defense. Having worked during such a period of political conflict, he often had to defend some unpopular policies, especially since he served a Democrat during the war in Vietnam and a Republican during the Watergate scandal. There were two times specifically where...
Lee Greif - Political Career
... often helped him. He had connections. Among them was Peter Peyser, a notable political player as well. The Republican congressman, who served Westchester County, a suburb of New York, had strong ties to Nelson Rockefeller, both professionally and personally. They were friends, but they also combined forces to craft some important public policies. Through his relationship with Peyser, Grief used the Rockefeller connection to open some doors. During the early 1970s, there were very few events that demanded the attention or skills of Cheif of Staff Greif. However, one such occurrence that he did participate in, and is particularly Lee Greif , Chief of Staff for Peter Peyser proud of, was a Whitehouse dinner party hosted by President Nixon, and included three additional congressman and their chiefs of staff. Along with this dinner, Greif was also present at many political briefings with the Secretaries of State and Defense. And, due to his service for both political parties...
Lee Greif - Different Careers In Life
... city of Chicago. Peysers had become a strong political advocate of Nelson Rockefeller, at one point they were actually very close friends. The two often consulted on potential policy decisions. Peysers' connection to Rockefeller eventually gave Grief the opportunity to work with special and famous projects. Peysers' gained much attention from the other senators because of his influential work on an array of projects. The projects were often difficult, but it was nothing Peyser could not accomplish. During the early 1970s, Lee Greif , Chief of Staff for Peter Peyser there were very few events that demanded the attention or skills of Cheif of Staff Greif. However, one such occurrence that he did participate in, and is particularly proud of, was a Whitehouse dinner party hosted by President Nixon, and included three additional congressman and their chiefs of staff. Along with this dinner, Greif was also present at many political briefings with the Secretaries of State and Defense. And, due to his service for both political parties -- as a...
Lee Greif - Role In Politics
... policies put forth by his bosses and thepresident. Lee Greif was acting as a chief of state in Washington in the early 1970's. It was here where he met Randee, the woman who would be his first wife. Randee was working in Washington as a chief of staff for Missouri senator Thomas Eagleton. Greif and Randee became good friends with Eagleton. He was considered an upstanding gentleman and spent much time with Greif and Randee. Greif's friendship with Eagleton was also a huge asset, as Eagleton was a dedicated public servant. Greif began to see him as a sort of role model and source of inspiration. Eagleton would eventually go on the ballot as Vice President for McGovern. The five years Grief was in Washington as chief of state for Peter Peyser served as an important and joyful time. He would...
Lee Greif - Lee Greif hired as Chief of Staff by Peter Peyser.
... difficult times wasn’t all positive though. Because he worked for a Democrat during the Vietnam conflict and worked for a Republican during the Watergate scandal he was naturally forced to support some unpopular policies from time to time. While he got by okay most of the time, there were two times in particular when he was forced to defend some very unpopular polices that were put in place by his bosses and the President at the time, Richard M. Nixon. Perhaps the best thing that came into his life during his time in Washington was meeting his first wife, Randee. Randee was working for United States Senator Thomas Eagleton at the time as a member of his staff. Eagleton took quite a liking to Lee Grief Lee Greif , Chief of Staff for Peter Peyser and they become good friends. Eagleton would become a role model to...
Lee Greif Served in Washington DC
... office and the respect he had for his superiors kept his eye always on the goal and he always accomplished his tasks with honor and within the bounds of satisfaction. Serving under Peyser when he did meant that he was in office during the tumultuous times of the early 1970s during the Watergate scandal. This was an exciting time to serve however. One of the most fascinating events to occur when he served under Peyser was when the two of them and some fellow congressmen had dinner at the Whitehouse with President Richard Nixon. Also of interest were the many briefings he had with Secretaries Of State and Defense which were confidential and always enlightening. Lee Greif worked for a democrat Lee Greif , Chief of Staff for Peter Peyser during the Vietnam War and for a Republican during the Watergate scandal so this meant he had to...
Lee Grief first met Randee
... player as well. The Republican congressman, who served Westchester County, a suburb of New York, had strong ties to Nelson Rockefeller, both professionally and personally. They were friends, but they also combined forces to craft some important public policies. Through his relationship with Peyser, Grief used the Rockefeller connection to open some doors. During the early 1970s, there were very few events that demanded the attention or skills of Cheif of Staff Greif. However, one such occurrence that he did participate in, and is particularly proud of, was a Whitehouse dinner party hosted by President Nixon, and included three additional congressman and their chiefs of staff. Along with this dinner, Greif was Lee Greif , Chief of Staff for Peter Peyser also present at many political briefings with the Secretaries of State and Defense. And, due to his service for both political parties -- as a Democrat during the Vietnam War...
Lee Greif - Chief of Staff in Washington
... 1970s. At the Lee Greif , Chief of Staff for Peter Peyser time, she was also working as a chief of staff, for Missouri senator Thomas Eagleton. Lee, Randee, and Senator Eagleton all became very good friends; the couple thought he was a wonderful person and often spent time with him. Further, since Eagleton was a hard-working public figure, his political support was invaluable to Lee's career. He came to be a role model and enormous inspirational force in Lee's life. Eagleton even, later in his career, ran for Vice President under George McGovern. Grief's five years working for Peter Peyser in Washington would prove to be a time crucial to his career, and one he remembered very happily later in life. The experience he gained in that time proved to be invaluable as his career progressed. Tags: Lee Greif, LeeGreif ...
Lee Greif has had an interesting and dynamic life
... in this position, and took a lot of knowledge and experience away from it. Even though being in Lee Greif , Chief of Staff for Peter Peyser office curing the Watergate scandal provided its fair share of challengers, he took from this period many fond memories such as having dinner with the President in the Whitehouse. He decided to leave politics and pursue his law practice which had been a dream of his for some time. After a brief stint helping his Father in Law run his business, Greif began his career as a Real Estate developer. He went on to develop over 1 million square feet of Industrial Real Estate, own 4 Commercial nationally franchised hotels and build and own over 1,000 residential apartments. He found and purchased Field Force Media Services in 2003. The business deals in electronic media transfer and distribution, and interesting concept that immediately intrigued Greif. The business has a huge customer base that includes...
Lee Greif Graduated with Honors from University
... from which he learned some important life lessons. He carried away some fond memories such as having dinner with President Nixon. It was also during this time that he married his first wife, Randee. He left the political arena in 1974 having planned to begin his law practice. Instead, he chose to become CEO of his father in law’s clothing business after he suddenly became ill and needed heart surgery. Having Lee Greif , Chief of Staff for Peter Peyser served as CEO for four years, he was finally able to step down and pursue other career fields. Instead of pursuing law, he instead decided that he had been so successful running his father in law’s business that he should invest in some business ventures of his own. He sold some extra property that he had and invested it in other commercial ventures. Altogether he invested in a total of four business ventures. The first business venture that he invested...