Merrie Spaeth: Difference between revisions
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{{ | {{Short description|American consultant and actress (born 1948)}} | ||
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}} | |||
{{Use American English|date=October 2025}} | |||
{{infobox officeholder | {{infobox officeholder | ||
| name = Merrie Spaeth | | name = Merrie Spaeth | ||
| image = Merrie Spaeth 1984.jpg | | image = Merrie Spaeth 1984.jpg | ||
| caption = Spaeth while working | | caption = Spaeth while working at the [[White House]] in 1984 | ||
| birth_name = Merrie Marcia Spaeth | | birth_name = Merrie Marcia Spaeth | ||
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|8|23}} | | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|8|23}} | ||
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| termend = 1985 | | termend = 1985 | ||
| party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | | party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | ||
| spouse = {{ | | spouse = {{marriage|S. Thanhauser Jr.|1973|end=div}}<br />{{marriage|Tex Lezar|1984|2004|end=d.}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Merrie Marcia Spaeth''' (born August 23, 1948) is an American [[public relations]] and | '''Merrie Marcia Spaeth''' (born August 23, 1948) is an American [[public relations]] and political consultant. | ||
== Early life and education == | == Early life and education == | ||
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=== Work with Ken Starr === | === Work with Ken Starr === | ||
Spaeth was hired as a communications consultant to [[Ken Starr]], an attorney who served as [[Solicitor General of the United States]] under [[George H. W. Bush]] and [[Special prosecutor]] for the [[Whitewater controversy]] during the [[Clinton Administration]]. Starr was then serving as President of [[Baylor University]] during the [[Baylor University sexual assault scandal]]. As president, Starr had received email messages from a female student who claimed that she had been raped, though he later denied receiving the messages. In a television interview with [[KWTX-TV]], Spaeth was present and periodically stopped the interview to coach Starr on his answers about the controversy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/state/texas-news/ken-starr-interview-halted-after-question-about-alleged-rape-victims-email/287-230384403|title=Ken Starr interview halted after question about alleged rape victim's email|website=WFAA|date=3 June 2016 |access-date=2020-01-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1397524|title=Candid camera: PR vet interrupts TV interview with former Baylor University president|last=Czarnecki|first=Sean|website=www.prweek.com|access-date=2020-01-18}}</ref> | Spaeth was hired as a communications consultant to [[Ken Starr]], an attorney who served as [[Solicitor General of the United States]] under [[George H. W. Bush]] and [[Special prosecutor]] for the [[Whitewater controversy]] during the [[Clinton Administration]]. Starr was then serving as President of [[Baylor University]] during the [[Baylor University sexual assault scandal]]. As president, Starr had received email messages from a female student who claimed that she had been raped, though he later denied receiving the messages. In a television interview with [[KWTX-TV]], Spaeth was present and periodically stopped the interview to coach Starr on his answers about the controversy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/state/texas-news/ken-starr-interview-halted-after-question-about-alleged-rape-victims-email/287-230384403|title=Ken Starr interview halted after question about alleged rape victim's email|website=WFAA|date=3 June 2016 |access-date=2020-01-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1397524|title=Candid camera: PR vet interrupts TV interview with former Baylor University president|last=Czarnecki|first=Sean|website=www.prweek.com|access-date=2020-01-18}}</ref> | ||
=== Work for Jeffrey Epstein === | |||
In 2008, Spaeth helped [[Jeffrey Epstein]] pen a letter of apology, as he was under investigation for sex trafficking minors.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2025 |title=The Network: Jeffrey Epstein’s private emails show the support and advice the disgraced financier got in his “hour of terror.” |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2025-jeffrey-epstein-emails-the-network/ |work=Bloomberg News}}</ref> Epstein and Spaeth communicated over the span of a few weeks in relation to the apology letter.<ref name=":0" /> When asked in 2025 about the nature of her work for Epstein, Spaeth said, "I ultimately terminated the engagement because of my discomfort with it."<ref name=":0" /> | |||
== Publications == | == Publications == | ||
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== Personal life == | == Personal life == | ||
Spaeth was previously married to Robert S. Thanhauser Jr.<ref>{{cite news|title=Merrie Spaeth, Ex-Actress, Is a Bride|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/05/14/archives/merrie-spaeth-exactress-is-a-bride.html|work=The New York Times|date=May 14, 1973|accessdate=May 12, 2020|page=25}}</ref> In 1984, she married "Tex" Lezar, who served as a counselor to [[William French Smith]] and later as [[United States Assistant Attorney General]] for the [[Office of Legal Policy]]. They have three children. Lezar died on January 5, 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utlaw/00023/law-00023.html|title=Guide to the Papers of Harold J. "Tex" Lezar, 1961-1998|last=Lezar|first=Harold Joseph|website=legacy.lib.utexas.edu|language=en|access-date=2020-01-18}}</ref> Spaeth is a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/a-star-is-born-lost-and-found|title=A Star is Born, Lost, and Found|last=Colapinto|first=John|magazine=The New Yorker|author-link=John Colapinto|date=2012-04-03|access-date=2020-01-19|language=en|issn=0028-792X}}</ref> | Spaeth was previously married to Robert S. Thanhauser Jr.<ref>{{cite news|title=Merrie Spaeth, Ex-Actress, Is a Bride|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/05/14/archives/merrie-spaeth-exactress-is-a-bride.html|work=The New York Times|date=May 14, 1973|accessdate=May 12, 2020|page=25}}</ref> In 1984, she married "Tex" Lezar, who served as a counselor to [[William French Smith]] and later as [[United States Assistant Attorney General]] for the [[Office of Legal Policy]]. They have three children. Lezar died on January 5, 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utlaw/00023/law-00023.html|title=Guide to the Papers of Harold J. "Tex" Lezar, 1961-1998|last=Lezar|first=Harold Joseph|website=legacy.lib.utexas.edu|language=en|access-date=2020-01-18}}</ref> Spaeth resides in [[Dallas]], Texas and is a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/a-star-is-born-lost-and-found|title=A Star is Born, Lost, and Found|last=Colapinto|first=John|magazine=The New Yorker|author-link=John Colapinto|date=2012-04-03|access-date=2020-01-19|language=en|issn=0028-792X}}</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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[[Category:Germantown Friends School alumni]] | [[Category:Germantown Friends School alumni]] | ||
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]] | [[Category:20th-century American actresses]] | ||
[[Category:Reagan administration personnel]] | |||
[[Category:Texas Republicans]] | |||
Latest revision as of 17:52, 30 October 2025
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
Merrie Marcia Spaeth (born August 23, 1948) is an American public relations and political consultant.
Early life and education
Spaeth is the daughter of Dr. Philip G. Spaeth and Marcia Ryan Spaeth. She attended Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia. In 1970, Spaeth graduated with honors from Smith College and later earned an MBA from Columbia Business School, where she graduated cum laude.
Career
At the age of 15 in 1964, Spaeth was cast to play Marian "Gil" Gilbert in The World of Henry Orient.
Between 1970 and 1978, Spaeth wrote for numerous print publications and was a reporter for several local television stations. Additionally, Spaeth was a speechwriter for William S. Paley, founder and chairman of CBS. In 1978 Spaeth hosted and produced a nightly television show in Columbus, Ohio, for Warner-Amex Cable. In 1979, Spaeth was a producer for 20/20, where she produced segments on Liberace, gifted children and motorcycle gangs.
In the early 1980s, Spaeth was accepted to the White House Fellows program where she was assigned to work under FBI Director William Webster as his special assistant, after which she worked for two years as director of public affairs for the Federal Trade Commission. In 1983, she became White House Director of Media Relations in the administration of Ronald Reagan, serving until 1985.[1]
After moving to Dallas with her husband, Spaeth founded Spaeth Communications in 1987. Starting in the 1990s, Spaeth currently teaches BLC (business leadership center) seminar classes at the Cox School of Business at SMU.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Swift Boat Veterans for Truth
During the 2004 presidential campaign, Spaeth advised the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a group that questioned the Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry’s Vietnam War record. Since the 2004 election, the term "Swift Boating" (or "swiftboating") has become a common expression for a campaign attacking opponents by questioning their credibility and patriotism in a dishonest manner. The term is most often used with the pejorative meaning of a smear campaign.[2]Template:Circular reference Spaeth has referred to her involvement in this campaign as her “biggest regret.”[3]
Work with Ken Starr
Spaeth was hired as a communications consultant to Ken Starr, an attorney who served as Solicitor General of the United States under George H. W. Bush and Special prosecutor for the Whitewater controversy during the Clinton Administration. Starr was then serving as President of Baylor University during the Baylor University sexual assault scandal. As president, Starr had received email messages from a female student who claimed that she had been raped, though he later denied receiving the messages. In a television interview with KWTX-TV, Spaeth was present and periodically stopped the interview to coach Starr on his answers about the controversy.[4][5]
Work for Jeffrey Epstein
In 2008, Spaeth helped Jeffrey Epstein pen a letter of apology, as he was under investigation for sex trafficking minors.[6] Epstein and Spaeth communicated over the span of a few weeks in relation to the apology letter.[6] When asked in 2025 about the nature of her work for Epstein, Spaeth said, "I ultimately terminated the engagement because of my discomfort with it."[6]
Publications
Spaeth contributed to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity from 2006 to 2010 writing columns on executive communication. Additionally, Spaeth has written for HR Executive, PRWeek, Bank Marketing, Public Diplomacy, Modern Healthcare, PRSA Strategist, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. She has written three books: Marketplace Communication, Words Matter, and You Don’t Say!
Personal life
Spaeth was previously married to Robert S. Thanhauser Jr.[7] In 1984, she married "Tex" Lezar, who served as a counselor to William French Smith and later as United States Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy. They have three children. Lezar died on January 5, 2004.[8] Spaeth resides in Dallas, Texas and is a Republican.[9]
References
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ John Kerry military service controversy
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- https://www.nytimes.com/1984/05/18/style/merrie-spaeth-is-married-to-tex-lezar.html
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrCZyAsrJNc
- http://www.spaethcom.com/article/suddenly-a-star-in-the-house
External links
- Mike Hofman, "In a Former Life: Merrie Spaeth", Inc. magazine, March 2000.
- Executive bio
- Template:Trim/ Merrie Spaeth at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pages with script errors
- 1948 births
- Living people
- Columbia Business School alumni
- Smith College alumni
- Actresses from Philadelphia
- American child actresses
- American film actresses
- American public relations people
- Germantown Friends School alumni
- 20th-century American actresses
- Reagan administration personnel
- Texas Republicans