Disney Link to Assailed Movie Spurs Dole’s Wife to Sell Stock

Elizabeth Hanford Dole said Friday she would immediately sell more than $15,000 in Walt Disney Co. stock after being told that a Disney subsidiary made one of the movies that her husband, Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.), a presidential candidate, has criticized in recent attacks on Hollywood values.

“Priest,” a controversial film portraying sexual misconduct by Roman Catholic clergy, was produced by Miramax, which Disney acquired in 1993.

Disney also owns Hollywood Records, whose performers have included rapper Prince Akeem, who in a 1991 song blamed black poverty on a “white conspiracy.”

Bob Dole’s 1993 Senate disclosure form, which lists investments and their values in broad ranges, showed that he owned between $1,001 and $15,000 in Disney common stock. Elizabeth Dole reported a similar Disney investment.

Bob Dole, the Senate majority leader, is required to file a 1994 form next week. A campaign aide said that the form would show that the senator sold his Disney stock last July 5, when he sold all his common stock holdings.

Elizabeth Dole, president of the American Red Cross, still has her Disney stock, and the new form will show its value has increased to the $15,001-$50,000 range, the aide said.

Less than an hour after being asked about the investments Friday, Elizabeth Dole said through a campaign official that she would sell her Disney shares.

“Walt Disney has a long tradition of making high-quality family movies,” said Dole campaign manager Scott Reed. “Mrs. Dole was surprised to learn that Disney owned Miramax and Hollywood Records and has decided to sell her stock.”

Disney’s ownership of Miramax surfaced in reports about the controversial movie earlier this year.

The Knights of Columbus has said it was selling $3 million of Disney stock because of the company’s link to Miramax and “Priest.”