Skilling, Day Eight: Cast of Characters
Scorecards! Get yer scorecards! You can't tell the characters in the character-witness lineup without a scorecard!
On Thursday afternoon after former Enron chief executive Jeffrey K. Skilling wrapped up nearly nine days on the stand, his defense team brought forth a parade of testimonials designed to persuade the jury Skilling was: a) honest b) law-abiding and c) not greedy. The defense lawyers made each of the witnesses repeat these points, verbatim, just to make sure the jury got the message.
Some of the witnesses spent a few minutes on the stand, others longer. Here's a look at the heart of the order, as they came to the plate:
Character: Carol Baxter
Who she is: Widow of Cliff Baxter, former Enron executive and Skilling's best friend, who committed suicide in early 2002.
Likely reason for appearance: To generate sympathy for Skilling and to act as a proxy for her late husband.
Best quote: "Cliff said it was like drinking from a firehose for 10 years," referring to working at Enron.
Second-best quote: "Jeff does a really good Mr. Bill."
Character: William Monteleone Jr.
Who he is: Millionaire developer, New Orleans innkeeper whose family hotel was a favorite of William Faulkner.
Likely reason for appearance: Unclear. Oh, wait. Used to excercise with Skilling. Took some hikes, too.
Best quote: None memorable.
Character: Steven Keith Williams
Who he is: Owner of Houston-based Gamma Construction Co., notable for building Outback Steakhouses around the country.
Likely reason for appearance: Drawl and honest-looking face imparts downhome bona fides. Also worked alongside Skilling one summer vacation building houses for the poor.
Best quote: "We did nothing for Enron."
Character: Susan Long
Who she is: Skilling's first wife. Divorced in 1997.
Likely reason for appearance: To show support for father of her children, despite the fact that his second, younger wife was also in the courtroom. Also testified that Skilling had nothing to do with her selling $14 million worth of Enron stock at its peak value.
Best quote: "That's what I've been told. I don't really remember that," referring to the amount of the $14 million stock cash-in.
Second-best quote: "I never mentioned that. Should I?" on her lack of telling Skilling about the $14 million stock cash-in.
Character: Lynda Ruth Clemmons
Who she is: Eight-year Enron employee, Skilling protege, made veep by 30. Blond Texas beauty-queen looks with brains to match and a taste for motorcycles. Headed trading division that sold weather hedges. No, really.
Likely reason for appearance: Unclear. Also unclear why she was the only character witness asked by the defense if she'd ever been "intimate" with Skilling. (She hadn't. Maybe that was the reason for her appearance.)
Best quote: "Jeff was upset that I left [Enron]. He came to my home and sat down for several hours with me telling me what a serious mistake it was."
Character: Robert Clayton (And yes, he is. A character, that is.)
Who he is: Chief of Houston fire department, 1985-1992.
Likely reason for appearance: Before Skilling went to Enron, Clayton was the McKinsey consultant who did a study of the fire department's management structure, and suggested measures that resulted in saving lives. Clayton is so authentically Texan, he could probably extinguish a well fire with his bare hands, a moist towel and a few words he wouldn't repeat to the Sunday school class he doubtlessly teaches.
Best quote: "It was like a filet of a fish," on Skilling's appraisal of Clayton's performance as fire chief, after Skilling finished his study.
Character: Cindy Olson.
Who she is: Former Enron human resources executive under Skilling. Prototypical blonde PR woman. Could be played in the movie version by Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, as seen in "Fletch."
Likely reason for appearance: Enthusiasm, company rah-rah attitude, loyalty to Skilling and co-defendant Kenneth L. Lay.
Reason she likely wishes she hadn't appeared: Grilled by prosecution for role in Enron corporate video of employees' meeting where she enthusiastically replied "Absolutely!" to employee who asked if they should load up their retirement accounts with Enron stock.
Best quote: "The employees did not take that statement seriously." Actually, they did.
By Frank Ahrens |
April 21, 2006; 7:40 AM ET
| Category:
Dispatches
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Posted by: Mary Holm | April 21, 2006 09:20 AM
This blog is the best coverage of the trial that I've been able to find. As someone else had posted earlier, if this were on Court TV I'd never leave the house!
The legal experts seem to think Skilling held up reasonably well while on the stand. Skilling's contention that the whole problem is that no one really understands how Enron was run and that, really, no laws were broken is arrogant and condescending. He ran a public company that he insists the public didn't understand. Huh? Has anyone called him on this nonsense during the trial?
Posted by: Julia Silverman | April 21, 2006 09:28 AM
The saddest thing is that once convicted, these two criminals probably will not receive the sentences they truly deserve. I view these two individuals with the same contempt as I do Sadaam. They may not have physically killed thousands of people, but their actions virtually destroyed the futures and dreams of as many honest, hard working Americans and their families.
Posted by: Phil Fish | April 21, 2006 11:15 AM
Regarding Lynda Ruth Clemmons, you write "Blond Texas beauty-queen looks with brains to match."
Does that mean she's smart or stupid or midling!?
Posted by: Tom Armstrong | April 23, 2006 05:29 PM
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A big thank you to the Washington Post for their terrific coverage of the Enron Trial; to Frank Ahrens for his funny and brilliant report here and to Carrie Johnson for her excellent reports.
Mary Holm,
Fairfield, Iowa