Was it a personality clash between Paul ONeill and President Bush or just differences in leadership styles?
A. I think it is largely a matter of leadership style. I mean, obviously there are distinctions in terms of the things that have guided each man to this point in their lives. Paul, growing up as a very poor kid, really had to work with incredible ferocity to get everything he has earned. I think the president may have come to some of those insights later in his life. Having said that, I think in large measure the most pointed distinction between the two men is in how each of them attacks the world and deals with complex problems. Paul has a view of leadership, which is one of great rigor and accountability. Q. Is the spin factor concerning politicians spinning out of control? A. I feel that Americans have much more sophistication than they are generally accorded. They sit there in front of their television sets, and they know they are being lied to. For some reason there seems to be very little these days in the way of penalty for willfully misleading people in your statements. That’s
