Fursten Affair Appears Closed

Fursten, the pampered pooch who became the bane of defense contracting giant General Dynamics, has found a new home and hopefully a new life in California.

The dog unwittingly became a national symbol of defense industry waste and abuse recently when it was disclosed that General Dynamics executive Alan M. Lovelace, Fursten’s owner and best friend, boarded him at Silver Maple Farm kennel in St. Louis at taxpayer expense.

While Fursten lounged at Silver Maple Farm, Lovelace headed for a South Carolina resort--also at taxpayers’ expense, part of a General Dynamics retreat that cost the government $100,000, according to congressional sources.

Fursten took up his new home in San Diego just recently, according the investigators on House oversight and investigations subcommittee. He accompanied Lovelace, who was promoted to general manager of the newly created General Dynamics space systems division in San Diego, which was split off from the firm’s existing Convair division.

The $155 in kennel fees were just one example of what Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger angrily branded as “improper expenses.” The St. Louis firm also billed the Pentagon for country clubs, golf outings and entertaining military officials.

Unlike several other members of the General Dynamics family who have been caught enjoying the good life on taxpayer generosity, Fursten is not facing any criminal charges or further federal probing, according to subcommittee investigators, who uncovered the Fursten affair.

And now that Fursten has taken up a laid-back California life style, what will be his next adventure? General Dynamics isn’t saying. The company had no comment when asked about Fursten, and declined to provide a picture of the dog, whose breed remains uncertain.