Bud's Jump into Private Practice

In 1969, Bud made his jump into private law practice. He would continue until his death in 1991.

Initially, Bud and two other former Long staffers from Missouri, Bill Ohlhausen and Bob Bevin, formed a partnership to practice law in the District of Columbia. As a start up, Fensterwald, Ohlhausen and Bevin took routine cases to build up a practice and earn some money. However, prospects were not what either Ohlhausen or Bevin had hoped for; Bevin soon left to take a job with the American Bankers Association, while Ohlhausen moved back to his hometown of St. Louis to practice law.

Thereafter, Bud entered into an association with Robert C. McCandless, an Oklahoma Democrat, protege of Oklahoma Senator Robert Kerr and former husband of Sue Hennings, daughter of the late Senator, Thomas Hennings, for whom Bud had worked in the 1950’s. Additionally, McCandless was a legal advisor to John W. Dean, III of Watergate fame. He and Dean were ex-brothers-in-law, Dean having been married to Tom Hennings other daughter. 

Eventually, Bud and McCandless parted ways and Bud reformulated his firm as, first, Fensterwald & Associates in 1976 and, second, Fensterwald & Alcorn in 1984. This firm remained active following Bud’s death in 1991. 

Without question, Bud maintained a very diverse and interesting practice. Some notable clients include:

- James McCord, convicted Watergate burglar who is responsible for bringing the scandal right to the door of the White House and the Oval Office, resulting in Richard Nixon’s 1974 resignation. 

- James Earl Ray, convicted, without trial, assassin of civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

- Louis Wolfson, an American financier who was convicted in 1967 on charges related to illegal stocks sales and was involved in matters culminating in the resignation of Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas in 1969. 

- Southern Pacific Railroad, which retained Bud for many years on matters related to the railroad in Washington D.C.

- Friends of Animals/Committee for Humane Legislation, a New York based environmental group. In this role as a lobbyist for the group, Bud is remembered as the father of the Marine Mammals Protection Act. 

- Lyndon LaRouche (and associates), perennial Democratic candidate for President, who was convicted of loan fraud in 1989.

- Maryanne Paisley, wife a former CIA operative who drowned mysteriously while boating in the Chesapeake Bay. 

- National Nutritional Foods Association. Bud acted as Legislative Counsel for this California based organization representing purveyors of health foods. 

Bud had so many interesting clients that many other attorneys could only dream about.