Perspective on Ken Lay

In a speech titled, ‘Deconstructing Ken Lay,’ Mr. Bradley examined the personality of Enron founder and chairman Ken Lay to resolve what he considered paradoxes. He asked how a man considered intelligent, well-educated, experienced, religious, moral, law abiding, kind, civic-minded, philanthropic, and with long training as a top corporate manager could have presided over the greatest business fraud and debacle in the history of capitalism. He used terms such as “philosophical fraud.” After his presentation he answered audience members' questions.

Rob Bradley, an Enron employee for 16 years, was Ken Lay’s former speechwriter, and author of several books on energy and public policy. Mr. Bradley is writing a book about Enron. close