McLean,B. Elkind,P. The Smartest Guys in the Room. 2004
McLean, Bethany and Elkind, Peter. The Smartest Guys in the Room:
The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron. New York: Portfolio
(Penguin Group), 2004. 440 pages.
In early 2001, Bethany McLean, a writer for Fortune magazine, wrote
"Is Enron Overpriced?" It was the first time Enron had been publicly
questioned. Jeffrey Skilling called her unethical for failing to do more
research, and Kenneth Lay complained to Fortune's managing editor. They
need not have bothered -- Fortune published it anyway, and the story had
little effect. No one could understand those complex Enron financial
statements. Her article, McLean says, "barely scratched the surface."
Eleven months later McLean was a hero, with a pensive photograph
stretching across four columns on page A11 of the New York Times. Today
this book is already a movie. What happened? To make a long story short,
Enron collapsed spectacularly, followed by other huge corporations that had
been enjoying a deregulated bubble economy. The execs at Enron, who used to
hang out with important politicians, were now taking perp walks into court,
escorted by the FBI. It wasn't entirely McLean's doing -- Peter Eavis from
TheStreet.com turned up the heat on Enron with negative stories after McLean
lost interest. But McLean and her coauthor, Fortune writer Peter Elkind,
deserve a lot of credit, because this book is excellent. In addition,
McLean, who was just 31 years old in 2002, photographs very well.
ISBN 1-59184-053-8
- ABIB OSMAR (163-4, 371)
- ADLONG SHANNON (382-3)
- ALEXANDER JIM (ENRON) (95)
- ALKHAYAT HAMD (121, 124)
- ALLARIO JOHN (122)
- ALLISON HERBERT M JR (235)
- AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE (87)
- ANTIOCO JOHN (291-2)
- ARNOLD JOHN (ENRON) (219, 224, 283, 304, 397, 410-1)
- ARTHUR ANDERSEN COMPANY
- ASTIN RONALD (166, 374)
- BADUM JIM (176)
- BAKER JAMES A III (xx)
- BALLENTINE JAMES (341)
- BARONE RONALD J (85, 292, 325, 348)
- BARONE RONALD M (238)
- BARRINGTON BRIAN (124)
- BARTON JOE (R-TX) (173)
- BASS CARL (295, 297, 316-8, 363)
- BAUCH BILLY (294)
- BAUER TOM (169)
- BAXTER JOHN CLIFFORD (ENRON) (xvii, xviii, xix, 38, 64-6, 105, 109, 152, 207, 213-4, 228, 333-4, 356, 409)
- BAYLY DANIEL H (208-9)
- BEARD JOHN (ENRON) (18-9)
- BELDEN TIMOTHY N (264, 268-9, 271-6, 278-9, 282, 300, 410, 412)
- BELFER ARTHUR BEJER (13)
- BELFER ROBERT A (13, 199)
- BERARDINO JOSEPH F (317, 407)
- BERGSTROM STEVE (391-2, 395)
- BERMINGHAM DAVID (194-6)
- BIENENSTOCK MARTIN J (390-1)
- BLACHMAN JEREMY (169, 359)
- BLACK DON (ENRON) (304)
- BLODGET HENRY (231, 234)
- BORGET LOUIS (16-24)
- BOWEN RAY (ENRON) (394, 398)
- BOWEN W.J. (JACK) (6-10)
- BOYLE DAN (412)
- BRYAN LOWELL (66-7)
- BURNS RON (69, 97, 100)
- BUTLER BILL (ENRON) (217)
- BUY RICHARD B (115-8, 130, 192-3, 328, 362)
- CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM (67)
- CAMBRIDGE PAUL (388)
- CAMPBELL DAVID (DALLAS) (239-40)
- CARPENTER MICHAEL A (CITIGROUP) (395)
- CARTER REBECCA (124, 310, 345, 350, 358, 419)
- CASH DEBRA (362)
- CASTLEMAN KENT (203)
- CAUSEY RICHARD A (127-8, 140-2, 205-7, 299-300, 307, 316, 324, 328, 362, 369, 415-6)
- CAVUTO NEIL (253)
- CECONI MARGARET (180-1, 303-4, 345-6, 358-9)
- CHANOS JAMES S (319-21, 326, 331, 348-9)
- CHASE MANHATTAN BANK (159-60, 162, 200-2)
- CHENEY LYNNE V (87)
- CHENEY RICHARD BRUCE (87)
- CITIGROUP INC (159-60, 162, 408)
- COALE CAROL (102, 244, 348, 359)
- COALITION JOBS GROWTH COMPETITIVENESS (87)
- COLWELL WESLEY H (414)
- COOPER STEPHEN F (155)
- COX DAVID (ENRON) (290-3)
- CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON (159, 194)
- CROWLEY LARRY (175)
- CURRY WANDA (ENRON) (299-301, 304)
- CUTLER STEPHEN M (408)
- DARBY GILES (194-6)
- DE MAURO DAVID (183)
- DE VILLE MIKE (195)
- DEAR LEIGH ANNE (146)
- DEFFNER JOE (161)
- DELAINEY DAVID W (218, 276, 302-4, 359, 404, 414)
- DERRICK JAMES V JR (344, 357, 366, 409)
- DICKSON GLENN (184)
- DIETART JEFF (233)
- DILG JOSEPH (357, 360-1, 366)
- DODSON WILLIAM D (153, 167, 169, 197, 384)
- DOTY ROB (DYNEGY) (395, 398)
- DRISCOLL MICHAEL (270)
- DUNCAN DAVID (ARTHUR ANDERSEN) (146-8, 190, 295, 317, 324, 362, 368-9, 381-3, 406-7)
- DUNCAN JOHN H (HOUSTON NATURAL GAS) (9-10, 13, 408-9)
- DYNEGY INC (395-403, 411)
- EASSEY DONATO (235, 244, 313)
- EAVIS PETER (331)
- ELLISON LAWRENCE JOSEPH (293)
- EMSHWILLER JOHN R (364, 370)
- ENRON CORPORATION
- EXPORT-IMPORT BANK (88-9)
- FALLON JIM (334-5)
- FASTOW ANDREW S
- FASTOW LEA WEINGARTEN (134-5, 137, 139, 166-7, 170, 365, 377, 412, 415-6)
- FERGUS GARY (275-6)
- FEYGIN ANATOL (341)
- FLEISCHER DAVID (GOLDMAN SACHS) (179, 229, 243, 314, 323, 325, 375)
- FLUCKIGER KELLAN (278)
- FORTUNE MAGAZINE (239)
- FOSTER JOE (NEWFIELD EXPLORATION) (402-3)
- FREEMAN CHARLES (BANKER) (388)
- FREVERT MARK (359, 361-2)
- FURST ROBERT S (200, 207, 381)
- GARCIA KIM (180)
- GARTEN JEFFREY E (83)
- GATHMANN BILL (152)
- GERSTNER LOUIS V JR (31-2)
- GIESELMAN SCOTT (378-9, 387)
- GLISAN BEN F JR (152-4, 168-9, 196-7, 211, 260, 304-8, 394, 412, 414)
- GORBACHEV MIKHAIL S (240)
- GORDON RICK (234-5, 313)
- GRAMM WENDY LEE (96)
- GRAY ROD (ENRON) (95, 250, 253, 255)
- GREENSPAN ALAN J (240)
- GROSS RICHARD (LEHMAN) (353)
- GRUBMAN JACK B (231, 234)
- GRUBMAN RICHARD (325-6, 374)
- GRUTZMACHER PATRICIA (148)
- HAEDICKE MARK (275-7, 309, 405)
- HAIN MARY (273-5)
- HALL STEPHEN (STOEL RIVES) (276-7)
- HAMEL GARY (226, 239)
- HANNON KEVIN (57, 288, 296, 412)
- HARDING JOHN (ENRON) (18)
- HARRISON WILLIAM B JR (395)
- HECKER JAMES A (148-9, 362)
- HECKMANN RICHARD (248-9)
- HENDRICK MAX III (357, 360-1)
- HERMANN BOB (ENRON) (128)
- HERRING JOANNE (10)
- HERRING ROBERT (HOUSTON NATURAL GAS) (10)
- HINDS MICHAEL (196, 311)
- HIRKO JOE (185-6, 243, 287-8, 412)
- HOGIN DAVID RALPH (17)
- HOGLUND FORREST E (101, 108-9, 245)
- HOLMAN HUGH (244)
- HOPLEY JOHN (117)
- HORTON STAN (ENRON) (391)
- HOUSTON NATURAL GAS (10-1)
- HOWARD KEVIN (294-6, 412)
- HULME RON (239-40)
- HUMPHREY GENE (ENRON) (60, 137-8, 202)
- HURT HARRY III (94)
- J.P. MORGAN CHASE COMPANY (159-60, 408)
- J.P. MORGAN COMPANY (159)
- JACKSON JESSE L (REV) (409)
- JACOBS IRWIN L (11, 13)
- JAEDICKE ROBERT K (20-1)
- JANUS MUTUAL FUNDS (DENVER) (232)
- JONES LINCOLN (GEN) (51)
- JORDAN CARL (358)
- JOYCE MARY (373)
- JUSBASCHE MICHAEL (253)
- KAMINSKI VINCENT (192-3, 228, 305-6, 363, 373)
- KAPLAN JANA (365)
- KEAN STEVE (346)
- KELLY BOB (ENRON) (51, 73, 75, 103)
- KELSEY ROBERT (194)
- KINDER RICHARD D (18, 20-1, 24-7, 78-9, 88, 91-2, 97-9, 103-4)
- KISSINGER HENRY A (xx, 367)
- KITCHEN LOUISE (222, 398)
- KOENIG MARK (322-3)
- KOMANSKY DAVID H (313)
- KOPPER MICHAEL J (152-3, 167-70, 192, 195-7, 210, 305, 311, 328, 330, 384, 412)
- KRAUTZ MICHAEL (289, 294, 296, 412)
- KRISTOL WILLIAM (240)
- KRUGMAN PAUL R (240)
- KUHN THOMAS R (230)
- LAUNER CURT (179, 232, 348, 353, 371, 407)
- LAVORATO JOHN (215-6, 276, 282, 304, 398, 410)
- LAWYER LAWRENCE M (289)
- LAY KENNETH LEE
- LAY LINDA P (386)
- LAY MARK K (ENRON) (59, 90, 343-4, 385)
- LAY SHARON (90)
- LE MAISTRE CHARLES A (MICKEY) (96, 345, 370, 373, 376, 404)
- LEE JIMMY (CHASE MANHATTAN) (200-1, 389, 393, 395)
- LEFF DAN (179)
- LERACH WILLIAM S (411)
- LEVITT ARTHUR JR (146)
- LOCHIANO ROCCO (11)
- LOCKYER WILLIAM (281-2)
- LOWTHER MIKE (317)
- LUNTZ FRANK (372)
- LYNN KATHY (152, 196-7, 204, 311, 355)
- MACK TONI (72, 94)
- MACLIN TODD (200-1)
- MANDELA NELSON (240)
- MARK THOMAS (73)
- MARK-JUSBASCHE REBECCA P (44, 52, 70-84, 101, 110-3, 246-63, 315, 410)
- MARTIN AMANDA (38, 61, 118, 121-4, 213, 250, 252-3, 260, 337)
- MASTROENI TOM (17-24)
- MATTHEWS M.D. (HOUSTON NATURAL GAS) (10)
- MAXEY R DAVIS (128-9, 163)
- MCCONVILLE J KEVIN (130-1, 305)
- MCCULLOUGH ROBERT (277)
- MCGLONE DENISE (140)
- MCKINSEY COMPANY (31-3, 239-40)
- MCLEAN BETHANY (320-3)
- MCLUCAS WILLIAM R (390, 399)
- MCMAHON JEFFREY (152, 155, 209-11, 355-6, 377-80, 398-9, 405)
- MCNEALY SCOTT G (243-4)
- MCNEIL NANCY (86, 97-8)
- MEADE ANDRE (235, 321, 326)
- MEEKER MARY (231)
- MELCHER PATTY (166)
- MERINGOLO PETER (275-6)
- MERRILL LYNCH COMPANY (206-9, 408)
- MERTENSOTTO BOB (160)
- MEYER JERRY (ENRON) (198)
- MILLETT DOUG (320-1)
- MINTZ JORDAN (327-9, 401)
- MORDAUNT KRISTINA (152, 196-7, 297, 355, 394)
- MORGAN BILL (KINDER MORGAN COMPANY) (98)
- MORTON ROGERS C.B. (6)
- MOSBACHER ROBERT ADAM (96)
- MUCKLEROY MIKE (21-3)
- MULGREW GARY (194-6)
- MULVA JAMES (104)
- NEUHAUSEN BENJAMIN (190)
- NILES RAY (244, 259)
- ODOM MICHAEL (ARTHUR ANDERSEN) (317, 381-2)
- OLSON CINDY (242, 356, 358, 360)
- OLSON JOHN E (180, 234-5, 375)
- OVERSEAS PRIVATE INVESTMENT CORPORATION (88-9)
- PAI LOU LUNG (57-60, 62-3, 101, 105, 171, 175, 181, 300-2, 333-4)
- PALMER MARK (ENRON) (322-3, 346-7, 416)
- PARLA STEVEN (244)
- PATEL TRUSHAR (197)
- PELLECCHIA RALPH G (238, 323)
- PETROCELLI DANIEL (418)
- POWELL COLIN LUTHER (240)
- POWERS WILLIAM C JR (390)
- REED RALPH E JR (174)
- REYNOLDS GLENN (CREDIT SIGHTS) (238)
- RICE KENNETH DUANE (61, 105, 123-4, 171, 186-7, 213, 289, 298-9, 333-5, 412)
- RICHARDSON BILL B (D-NM) (278)
- RILEY JOHN (ARTHUR ANDERSEN) (383)
- ROBERTS MARK (330-1)
- ROBINSON ED (AZURIX) (255)
- ROGERS JIM (ENRON) (35)
- ROY ARUNDHATI (79)
- RUBIN ROBERT EDWARD (82, 96)
- RUDDEN KYLE (230)
- RUSS MARK (51)
- RYSER DAN (68)
- SANDERS RICHARD (ENRON) (274-8, 335, 405)
- SAWHILL JOHN C (9, 12)
- SCHILIT HOWARD (231)
- SCHORR BOB (119)
- SCHWARZ ANGELA (359)
- SEGNAR SAM (10-2)
- SEIDL MICK (19-22, 24-5)
- SERA SHERRI (329, 347)
- SHANKMAN JEFF (241)
- SHAPIRO MARC (162, 341, 404-5)
- SHERRIFF JOHN (216)
- SHIPMAN TODD (116, 323)
- SIUREK RYAN (323-4)
- SKILLING JEFFREY K
- SMITH REBECCA (364, 370)
- SMITH TRACY (186-7)
- SPACEK LEONARD (144)
- STEAD EDWARD (292)
- STRAM BRUCE (14)
- STRAUSS BILL (INTERNORTH) (11-3)
- STULB DAVID L (383)
- SULENTIC STEVE (18-9)
- SUTTON JOSEPH W (111-2, 247, 262)
- SWARTZ MIMI (358)
- TEMPLE NANCY (368, 381-2, 406)
- THOMAS BROWNLEE (244)
- THORN TERRY (55)
- TILNEY BETH (360, 408, 416)
- TILNEY SCHUYLER M (190, 200, 207, 234-5, 370, 381)
- TIRELLO EDWARD (229)
- TRANEN JEFFREY (267)
- UBS WARBURG COMPANY (410)
- URQUHART JOHN (53, 96)
- VANCE SETH (380)
- VINSON ELKINS (LAW FIRM) (94, 123, 199, 357-8, 411)
- WAKEHAM JOHN (48, 50, 96)
- WALKER CHARLS EDWARD (13, 87, 96)
- WALKER PINKNEY (5-6, 13)
- WALKER RICK (CHASE MANHATTAN) (165, 200-2, 310)
- WALLS ROB (409)
- WASAFF GEORGE (119)
- WASDEN CHRIS (251, 254, 256)
- WASTE MANAGEMENT INC (145, 381)
- WATKINS SHERRON (131, 354-8, 362, 366, 384-5)
- WATSON CHARLES L (221, 241, 381-2, 395-7, 399-403, 411)
- WEIL JONATHAN (319)
- WEINGARTEN JACK (364-5)
- WEINGARTEN LILLIANNE (365)
- WETMORE KATHY (166)
- WHALLEY GREG (214-7, 222, 225, 228, 269, 283, 333, 359-60, 377, 410-1)
- WHITE THOMAS E (51, 175, 178)
- WING JOHN R (8, 11, 44-54, 75-6, 99)
- WINOKUR HERBERT S JR (PUG) (13, 199, 366)
- WOODHEAD MICHAEL (136)
- WORLD BANK (81, 88)
- WOYCHIK ERIC (266)
- WOYTEK DAVID (17-9)
- WRIGHT MICHAEL (EXXON) (5)
- WYATT MARY (119-20)
- YAEGER ANNE (196-7, 204, 311)
- YERGIN DANIEL H (83)
- YODER CHRISTIAN (276-7)
- ZISMAN STUART (308-9)
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