I've bumped into this tidbit now in close to a dozen locations, so Tim Cook's public relations team has been busy... Apparently, Tim likes to name drop about who gives him advice, and one of those names today, is Bill Clinton. Given how much we've learned this year about paying to play, this led me to wonder what sort of cash has changed hands.

From Washington Post 8/13/2016

Tim Cook, the interview: Running Apple ‘is sort of a lonely job’

Question: There are few jobs in corporate America that have the same scope, breadth and size as yours. Geopolitics. National security. Consumer retail. Global supply chains. The entertainment industry. It’s mind-boggling. Where do you turn to for advice?

Answer (portion): For the hearing [before the U.S. Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations about Apple’s tax practices in 2013], I’ve never testified in front of Congress before... I called up President Clinton. He knows a lot about the politics. I’d not met him through a political connection. I’d met him through the foundation.

First thing I learned about Cook's benevolence is that he'll be hosting a Hillary Victory Fund fundraiser on August 24th

From The Advocate 7/30/16
Tim Cook Is Hosting a Fundraiser for Hillary Clinton

Tim Cook is hosting a fundraising event for Hillary Clinton.

The gay Apple CEO will raise money for the Hillary Victory Fund next month, alongside Lisa Jackson, the company’s vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives.

The fund supports Clinton’s presidential campaign, the Democratic National Committee, and the Democratic Party in 38 states.

An invitation obtained by BuzzFeed lists donation options of $2,700, $10,000, and $50,000. An address for the event, which will be held August 24, is not listed, but will be provided to attending guests.

Apple does not donate money to political candidates. However, Cook, as a private citizen, previously raised funds for Paul Ryan, the Republican House Speaker, at a June breakfast at his residence in Menlo Park, Calif.

I had to wonder if he has also given to the Clinton Foundation given the mention of a foundation in the WaPo piece above

There is a Timothy D. Cook listed on the Clinton Foundation donations page of those gifts between $25,000 and $50,000 Link

And yes, his middle name begins with D wikipedia

Going forward, Cook seems to think a new Clinton Administration might be more helpful on taxes:

From The Hill 8/15/16 Apple CEO consulted Bill Clinton before testimony

Cook supports a reform of the corporate tax code and said that he thought action on the issue was possible in 2017 — when a new presidential administration will be in office.

“I think there’s wide agreement to that in both parties, by the way,” he said. “There’s a difference of view with different people about how to fix it, but I think everybody agrees the current system isn’t working. So I’m optimistic that, in 2017, there will be some sort of corporate tax reform.”

Keep it up, folks - keep publicizing that one's paying for access... Sure nice to be able to have a chat with the future president's husband.