Rev. Leon Sullivan Helps U.S. Write Anticorruption Code For Businesses

Jet, March 8, 1999

Rev. Leon Sullivan, whose "Sullivan Principles" are credited with persuading big companies to change their polices toward South Africa because of its apartheid policy in the 1970s and '80s, is now helping U.S. officials set up a voluntary anticorruption code for firms that conduct international business.

Sullivan is working with the U.S. State Dept. to form a set of principles designed to fight bribery, kickbacks and other bad business activities, Undersecretary of State Stuart Eizenstat told the Wall Street Journal.

The code, called "Sullivan II" by Eizenstat, renews the U.S. push against such corruption outside its borders.

"There are really very few things that are more threatening to the spread of democracy and free-market reform and to the restoration of confidence in the financial system" than failing to deal with corruption, Eizenstat told the Journal.

Sullivan also is founder of Opportunities Industrialization Centers.