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Financial pathology libraries all over the world are clearing their shelves for the surge in Bear Stearns autopsy reports. With contributions from The Wall Street Journal and Portfolio already in, Fortune joined the fray this month in an issue that — with an Olympian outbreak of unintentional irony — featured a cover story on Oppenheimer financials axette Meredith Whitney.
The unique aspect of the Fortune autopsy came from Cayne himself, delivering his first substantive comments since the collapse. He should have kept his self-serving trap shut.
No wonder people don't like him much: he comes across really badly even here. After reading the piece, you get the impression of Cayne as a vindictive, ungrateful, out-of-touch executive who’s more willing to lay the blame for Bear's demise at the feet of Goldman Sachs than he is to fly commercial, even in an emergency.
Jimmy Cayne's Latest Own-Goal
by Felix Salmon
Market Movers (Portfolio) Aug. 4 2008
Or, for that matter, accept the slightest taint of responsibility.
Links, $10 apiece, on the other side.
The rise and fall of Jimmy Cayne
by William D. Cohan
Fortune (via CNN Money) Aug. 4 2008
Jimmy Cayne: In his own words
The cases against Bear Stearns
by William D. Cohan
Fortune (via CNN Money) Aug. 4 2008
Cayne was at a loss (video)
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