George Steinbrenner Dies; Yankee Boss Gave to Nixon, Other Pols From Both Parties

George Steinbrenner, the larger-than-life New York Yankees owner who died Tuesday, was a frequent contributor to politicians from both political parties. To his annoyance he got the most notoriety for his donations to President Nixon.

In 1988, Steinbrenner was pardoned by President Reagan for his conviction on charges of obstruction of justice and conspiring to make illegal contributions to Nixon's 1972 reelection campaign. Steinbrenner's guilty plea brought a $15,000 fine and a ban from baseball that lasted nine months. But according to Salon, the "Boss" favored Democrats when it came to congressional races, giving $133,850 to individual candidates and party committees between 1980 and 2010. Among the beneficiaries: Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), former Sen. George Mitchell of Maine (a Red Sox fan), and Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign.

Steinbrenner also contributed to former President George H.W. Bush's campaigns, the 2000 Bush-Cheney Florida recount fund, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign.

A native of Rocky River, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb, Steinbrenner made part of his fortune as head of the American Shipbuilding Co. in Lorain, Ohio. He was often lampooned affectionately on the television series "Seinfeld," where he was played by a gruff-talking actor, always pictured from behind and fond of firing employees at the drop of a hat. Steinbrenner celebrated his 80th birthday on the Fourth of July.