Lawrence Lindsey

Lawrence B. Lindsey served as the Director of the National Economic Council until December 13, 2002, when President George Walker Bush appointed Stephen Friedman as his replacement.

According to the December 17, 2002 Christian Science Monitor, "Before he was forced to resign, former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill broke the code that limits criticism to inside the White House only. He publicly voiced doubts about broad tax cuts and warned about looming deficits. Top economic adviser Larry Lindsey strayed when he told a newspaper that an Iraq war could cost $200 billion. These were not the main reasons for their ousters, but the White House certainly was displeased with their comments."

Lindsey's resignation was announced on December 6, 2002: Secretary of the Treasury Paul O'Neill, who also resigned on the same date, "was asked to leave by the White House, according to Bush Administration sources cited in wire-service reports. For his part, Lindsey seemed to be at loggerheads with O'Neill on further fiscal stimulus and tax policy, so it appears that an inability to agree on an effective policy approach led the Administration to show both men the door." - Bush's top economic adviser led Enron study by James Toedtman, NewsDay, January 17, 2002: "White House economic adviser Lawrence Lindsey, a one-time $50,000-a-year consultant to Enron Corp. and member of the company's advisory board, led a White House study last fall of the possible economic consequences of an Enron failure ...

"The Lindsey sessions, which went on for several weeks, coupled with several other Cabinet-level discussions of Enron's plight late last year, highlight again the array of connections Enron had with the Bush administration. They also suggest that concern for the company and the consequences of its collapse were more widely discussed than the White House has been willing to acknowledge.

"There is no evidence that the administration took any action that benefited the Houston-based energy trading company, despite a number of overtures from Enron chief executive Kenneth L. Lay, a longtime friend of President George W. Bush's and one of the biggest contributors to his political campaigns.

"Lindsey said he received $50,000 from Enron in 2000 for providing 'macroeconomic advice' as a member of the company's advisory council. ..."

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Lindsey also reported receiving "$50,000.00 in consulting fees from Crow Family Holdings, a Dallas real estate concern" run by longtime Bush benefactor Harlan Crow

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