User:Auric/Philip Guarino

Father Philip A. Guarino (1920-2006) was a Sicilian Italian Roman Catholic Priest, born in 1920. He lived in Italy until he moved to Washington D.C. in 1945. He was long time friends with Alfred Zappelli, Michele Sindona, Paul Rao, and Frank Stella.

When Philip Guarino moved to Washington D.C., he became very active in politics. In all, he knew, and served four Presidents in various capacities: Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, and George H. W. Bush. It was said that he was hard working and committed to his causes, pursuing them with unthinkable energy.

With the permission of then Grand Master, General Antoine Zdrojewski, and then Swiss Prior Alfred Zappelli, Father Philip A. Guarino founded the U.S. Priory of the Knights Templar (Ordre Souverain et Militaire du Temple de Jérusalem or O.S.M.T.J.) in 1973. Philip called this new U.S. Grand Priory, "The Supreme Military Order of the Jerusalem Temple," and it can be found at www.TheKnightsTemplar.org

Father Guarino passed away in 2006. His Obituary read: October 27, 2006 – Philip A. Guarino, 86, the former owner of Phil’s Italian Restaurant (303 Georgia Ave, NW in Washington DC) in Washington and a local Republican Party activist, died of cardiac arrest Nov 10 at Sibley Memorial Hospital. Mr. Guarino opened his restaurant here in 1945 shortly after moving to Washington, and he operated the business until 1970. From 1970 until 1973, he was a partner in the Villa Rosa Restaurant in Silver Spring. (Rosa Dellenoci Location: Olney, MD).

Appointments

 * Served as a Vice Chairman of the Ethnic Outreach Committee for the George H.W. Bush Campaign Panel


 * Appointed as “Member-At-Large” for the United States Commission for UNESCO.


 * He was the Director of the Senior Citizens Division of the National Republican Committee.


 * He was appointed to John Connally’s Committee on the Defense of the Mediterranean.


 * From 1968 until September 1981 Philip served as the Director of the National Republicans of Italian Descent.


 * Selected as a Republican National Committee Advisor.


 * Philip was chosen as a Delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1956, 1960 (alternate), 1964, 1968, 1972 (alternate), and 1976.
 * Starting in 1968 and for many years after, Father Guarino was active on the DC Republican Committee. He was later chosen to serve on the DC Republican Central Committee


 * Finished Theology School in Italy and was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest.


 * He was the Co-Founder and a Director of the District of Columbia National Bank, which now is called “NationsBank”.


 * He was the Co-Founder and former President of the D.C. Restaurant Beverage Association.


 * Philip was the Treasurer of the National Licensed Beverage Association.


 * Chairman of the Washington DC Italian Historical Society.


 * Served on the Board of Directors of the National Italian-American Foundation


 * Served as President of the National Republican Committee of Italian Descent.


 * He was a member of the Washington DC Board of Trade


 * Elected to the Vice Chairmanship of the Republican Heritage groups from 1971-1975


 * Deputy Directory of the Speaker’s Bureau, Washington DC.


 * Established and ran two restaurants, The Villa Rosa, and Phil’s Italian Restaurant.

Controversy
There were many things written about Philip by his political detractors including that he was a member of Licio Gelli 's infamous P2 Masonic Lodge. Philip was open about knowing Liciio Gelli from his days in Italy, but he emphatically denied ever being part of the P2 Lodge. One claim is that the Swedish Prime Minister, Olof Palme, was murdered on Gelli's orders because he'd refused to provide Swedish cover for the covert transfer of money and arms. In her book, October Surprise, Barbara Honegger writes that a P2 informant claimed to her that before Palme's death, Gelli sent a message to former Republican National Committee Advisor (and also alleged "honorary" P2 member) Philip Guarino, assuring him that "the Swedish tree will be felled," and to "tell our good friend Bush." These allegations were brought up while Philip was serving on George H. W. Bush's Campaign. Not wanting to be a distraction, Philip resigned his position in September 1988