KEY PLAYERS
FINANCIAL PLAYERS | POLITICAL PLAYERS

George W. Bush
Longtime friend of Enron CEO Kenneth L. Lay, a top contributor to Bush's presidential and gubernatorial campaigns. Bush said he saw Lay twice last year, but "never discussed with Mr. Lay the financial problems of the company."

Richard B. Cheney
Enron officials met with Cheney or his energy task force at least six times to discuss energy policy before the release of the administration's energy plan last year. A Cheney spokeswoman said the vice president last spoke with Lay in June, and they never discussed Enron's financial status.

Karl Rove, Senior Adviser
Bush's senior political adviser owned more than $100,000 worth of Enron stock before Bush took office. He later sold the stock to comply with federal ethics rules.

Lawrence B. Lindsey, Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council
The National Economic Council chief received $100,000 as an Enron consultant. From the White House he assigned staffs to monitor energy markets, but he said Enron's situation never affected markets enough to warrant a response.

John D. Ashcroft, Attorney General
The attorney general recused himself from the criminal investigation into Enron's conduct because Enron had contributed to his failed 2000 Senate campaign. Ashcroft's political committees received $57,499 from Enron executives in the last election cycle.

Patrick H. Wood III, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Then-governor, Bush appointed Wood as chairman of the Texas Public Utility Commission, an appointment Lay had recommended. President Bush later named Wood to chair the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, also at Lay's recommendation. He supported the imposition last year of electricity price restraints in California, which Enron opposed.

Harvey L. Pitt, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission
Pitt was the private lawyer to the five major accounting firms, including Enron auditor Arthur Andersen, before Bush named him to head the Securities and Exchange Commission in August.

Thomas E. White, Secretary of the Army
Before Bush named him secretary of the Army in April, White served as a senior Enron executive for more than a decade and owned more than $25 million in company stock. He said he sold his stock before taking the Army job.

Spencer Abraham, Secretary of Energy
While a senator, Abraham received campaign contributions from Enron. As energy secretary, he called Lay to discuss the company's financial problems and their effect on energy markets.

Marc F. Racicot, Chairman of the Republican National Committee
Bush's choice to chair the Republican Party, Racicot recently announced he would no longer lobby on behalf of Enron and other major corporations.

FINANCIAL PLAYERS | POLITICAL PLAYERS