NY Times: The Talented Mr. Madoff

[marmar]

The Talented Mr. Madoff
By JULIE CRESWELL and LANDON THOMAS Jr.

Published: January 24, 2009


TO some, Bernard L. Madoff was an affable, charismatic man who moved comfortably among power brokers on Wall Street and in Washington, a winning financier who had all the toys: the penthouse apartment in Manhattan, the shares in two private jets, the yacht moored off the French Riviera.

Although hardly a household name, he secured a longstanding role as an elder statesman on Wall Street, allowing him to land on important boards and commissions where his opinions helped shape securities regulations. Along the way, he snared a coveted spot as the chairman of a major stock exchange, Nasdaq.

And his employees say he treated them like family.

There was, of course, another side to Mr. Madoff, who is 70. Reclusive, at times standoffish and aloof, this Bernie rarely rubbed elbows in Manhattan’s cocktail circuit or at Palm Beach balls. This Bernie was quiet, controlled and closely attuned to his image, down to the most minute details.

He was, for instance, an avid collector of vintage watches and took time each morning to match his wedding ring — he owned at least two — to the platinum or gold watch band he was wearing that day. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/business/25bernie.html?_r=1&hp

[George_Bailey]

1. Mr. Madoff made the grade

Assclowns of the Year #75: Diamond Jubilee/Inauguration Edition is up. The mother of all Assclowns edition, this is a year-long retrospective of the top 50 Assclowns of 2008. Persecuted for posterity:

Bernie Madoff, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, John McCain, Sarah Palin, William Kristol, Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Michelle Malkin, Israel including some shocking surprising entries. And you won’t believe who #1 is (Now don’t go scrolling straight down to the bottom, read the whole list. You’ll be glad you did.)

GB
http://welcomebacktopottersville.blogspot.com/2009/01/assclowns-of-week-year-75-diamond.html