The first one is of dubious origin, supposedly something he said in 1991, but not written down, showing up
only in conspiracy literature in 1993. I suspect it is at best a slanted paraphrasing, and at worst an outright fabrication.
The second is real, from his 2002 memoirs, I think here his meaning is that he
is trying to "
build a more integrated global political and economic structure--one world, if you will", and he freely admits to that. But he's also gently mocking that some people characterize that as "a secret cabal" and "a conspiracy", which it is only in the loosest sense.
Rockefeller is an internationalist, he makes no secret of it. Many people have similar political views.
I agree that the first one could be a "slanted paraphrasing" or even an "outright fabrication," but it could also be an exact quote. There is no way to know, unless we were to have a time machine to examine the event in question. Downplaying its authenticity has no basis except the lack of a reputable paper trail. I would posit that a lack of paper could never make an event disappear.
The meaning of the first putative quote is compatible with that of the second. The first speaks directly of a secret "cabal" whose aims were too easily misunderstood in earlier times, so in the second quote Rockefeller could be "coming out of the closet," now that the world is "more sophisticated" (first quote).
The first quote's talk of "a world government," a "[supranational] sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers" and "preferable to the national autodetermination practiced in past centuries" are compatible with the second quote's statement, "a more integrated global political and economic structure--one world." They both have similar meanings. (The first misquotes the putative quote by misspelling "supranational.")
Is it a bald assertion that "he's also gently mocking that some people characterize that as 'a secret cabal' and 'a conspiracy', which it is only in the loosest sense"? I don't see him gently mocking. Instead of mocking, he seems to be admitting the validity of those earlier claims.
Rockefeller makes a statement about the views of others. Then he says, "If that's the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it." How is this mocking? It seems to me that he is saying, "You accuse me of this; yes, I did it and I'm proud of it."
Could something be a secret and later not a secret? This would seem to be one of those cases. As the first (questionable) quote indicates, there was a time when keeping such things a secret would prove essential. If Rockefeller said this (first quote), he was being consistent in that the timing was not right to admit his earlier secrecy. Later, when he wrote his memoirs, it was the proper time to admit to his earlier conspiracies.
Why say, "'a conspiracy', which it is only in the loosest sense?" Why loose? A conspiracy means simply the act of two or more people talking about doing something unethical or illegal. Whether or not they carry out those actions, it's still a conspiracy (
com +
spirare—to breathe together). There is nothing loose about it; it is either a conspiracy or it isn't.
Clearly, Rockefeller has talked to others about his plans. He admits to "conspiring" and he is proud of it. But were those talks really conspiracies? We have only two direct clues in what he said—"working against the best interests of the United States." Also, he said "one world." Taken in the context of "a more integrated global political and economic structure," this can mean that he wants to eliminate the United States. Without such action, there is little meaning to his phrase "one world." As such, this constitutes treason—a very specific crime. So, "conspiracy" seems to fit. Not only did he admit to it and stated that he was proud of it, but the details of his memoir statement confirm this fact.