Iacocca holds back nothing in new book, Slams Bush, Daimler-Chrysler merger
Lee Iacocca has been an automotive icon for so long, it's hard to remember a time when he wasn't in the picture. He was at the apex of the Ford Mustang project, saved Chrysler from ruin, and lead the charge for the minivan. Those credentials have helped Iacocca sell some books over the years, and his new book, "Where have all the leaders gone" takes some big cuts at the leadership in the White House, and a few auto executives, too. We haven't gotten our hands on a copy of the new book yet, but after reading the book's opening lines as quoted by the Free Press, we'll have to give those pages a turn. "We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car." Ouch.
The book also points out some things that Iacocca has done that he now probably regrets. According to the Free Press, he criticizes former Chrysler CEO Bob Eaton for not fighting for a true merger, but he also points out that he chose Eaton to be his successor in 1992. Iacocca also touches on what he thinks would happen if Chrysler was sold, saying that the company would become "a shell" of its former self.
When you've done as many great things as Lee Iacocca, you get to say just about anything you want. From what we've seen already from his new book, Iacocca is freely exercising that right.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
5678 9:45AM (4/12/2007)
Lee, now you tell us! We miss leaders like you - any chance for a comeback? Chrysler, Ford and the country could use someone as innovative, courageous and straight talking as you are right now...
Reply
Mike 9:45AM (4/12/2007)
That's right, blame Bush for the incompetent leadership across the board.
I heard there was a volcanic eruption on jupitor...BLAME BUSH!!!!! right?
Reply
Bill 10:02AM (4/12/2007)
I re-read Iaccoca's first autobiographical book from the 80's about a year ago, and I was surprised that a lot of the stuff he was talking about then is not much different than now.
Reply
Doc Lucas 10:18AM (4/12/2007)
Mike, maybe you should read what the man has to say instead of basing your conclusion on 3rd hand information. BTW, rhetoric and straw man arguments don't prove anything, they only make you look like a fool.
Of course, I do agree with the "clueless bozos" statement, which also applies to the Clinton legacy of selling our country out from under us. So no, we can't "blame Bush" for everything.
Reply
Chris 10:38AM (4/12/2007)
Why is Iaccoca's face jutting out of the grille of that LeBaron? Is that a limited-edition LeBaron that was greenlighted for the carney market or did Iaccoca accidentally merge himself with a LeBaron in a scientific experiment?
Reply
schlomo 3:15PM (4/12/2007)
I totally agree with the little quips posted here from the book, but the headline changes government-bashing comments to bush-bashing comments, and we all know that's not the same.
His comments about the Chrysler being a shell of itself if it were to sell are true, though I think it might be a shell in a good way. As soon as Iacocca left, Chrysler turned to churning out some of the worst excuses for automobiles I've ever seen in my life. They're only recently starting to redeem themselves with the LX platform, but also need a new subcompact to stay competitive (and, no, a licensed Chery doesn't count). Either way, I don't hold any hope for Chrysler in the long run with the momentum that Honda and Toyota are gaining on the big 3, especially with Chrysler (IMO) being the worst of the big 3 for the past 15 years.
Reply
Puffy C 10:44AM (4/12/2007)
Well, Bush hand picked most of the "clueless bozos" steering our ship of state right over a cliff so yes, it's probably fair to blame him for the mess we're in. There's plenty of blame to go around though.
Reply
Tool 10:47AM (4/12/2007)
Lee Iacocca was a hero of mine. I still remember reading 'Iacocca' when I was a young boy and it made a big impact on me.
However . . . Lee Iacocca is more than a little hypocritical since he was so egotistical in his last years at the helm of Chrysler.
I also think he hurt Chrysler more than he helped in in those last years--he was the one who chose Bob Eaton, passing over Bob Lutz because of a personal vendetta. While Iacocca has acknowledge that was a big mistake, I find it interesting that he has become such a critic.
Reply
Mike 10:57AM (4/12/2007)
"Well, Bush hand picked most of the "clueless bozos" steering our ship of state right over a cliff"
riiiiiight. Like this hasn't happened with Carter, Ford, Reagan (well, not so much), Bush Sr., Clinton.... And I'm sure the world will be daisy's when bush is out of office.
Hatred for one man has made so many people utterly clueless because they refuse to allow facts to penetrate their hatred.
Here is a clue. Bush is not responsible for the rattle in the dashboard of your Chrysler. Bush is not responsible for the sunroof of your Scion. Bush is not responsible for the sludge or balljoints on your toyota. Bush is not responsible for the mole on your back, your wife cheating on you, Al Queda, Amadinnerjacket, Assad, Hammas, Hezballah, your honda's transmission, the leak in your roof, your high cell phone bill, your daughters tounge ring, autoblog's high server load and crappy advertisements, etc.
So many sheep. I know blaming Bush makes you feel better and is really the stylish thing to do, but come on. Step back to reality.
Reply
Yayaja 11:02AM (4/12/2007)
"Slams Bush,"
AHAHAAHHHHAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAHAHAHHAH!!!!!
Reply
rolando 11:13AM (4/12/2007)
Mike,
People blame Bush because he is so an easy target to blame. Stop apologizing for the man. Look at all the problems we have because of him.
Reply
Mr. Oak 11:19AM (4/12/2007)
You're right Mike, Bush is not responsible for anything. He proves it everyday.
Not responsible for Busted budget, Record High Defecit, Dumb ass War, Exposing the Identy of a Sercet Agent (Itself a threat to our National Security) Piss poor response to Hurricaine Katrina, Mismanaging the "war on Terror", allowing Haliburton to rob tax-payers blind then move the company out of the country to avoid inquiry,the dismissial of the Attorney's because they investigated republicans,Hiring of that idiot Brown and a host of other stupid, unlawful and immoral transgressions.
No Mike, he is not responsible for anything.
Reply
Mike 11:19AM (4/12/2007)
"Look at all the problems we have because of him."
I bet you blame your lack of a love life on him as well.
BDS is rampant, as is ignorance. Problems were here before him, problems will be here after him. Dynamics have changed, focus has shifted, but he is not the cause of your warts.
I do not apologize for the man, I place responsibility where it belongs... I am simply pointing out that things have gotten absurd, and you just proved my point.
Reply
Mike 11:21AM (4/12/2007)
oak, you are a partisan hack and prove my point as well. Try a few more talking points without any form of research... wait... that requires not being a sheep.
Reply
Brad 11:22AM (4/12/2007)
After being a Chrysler dealer for the last 23 years, I went through the Iacocca era. True, he was a great leader and spokesman for the company but it seemed he was very bull headed. It didn't seem he was ready to take Chrysler to the next level in the early 90's and adjust the company's focus away from boxey designs and into more modern design themes. He wanted more Dynasty, New Yorker type cars. From what I heard it was a very hard thing to convince him to green light the first LH cars.
Oddly enough it's this same attitude that is plaguing Chrysler now.
Reply
rolando 3:08PM (4/12/2007)
Mike,
I guess having a war in Irak, the Alberto Gonzales fiasco and on and on in your partisan world can be called absurd. Case closed let debate someone else.
Reply
Mike 11:35AM (4/12/2007)
"Not responsible for Busted budget"
it's broke? I thought it was still functioning?
"Record High Defecit"
and record high revenues.
"Dumb ass War"
But it was smart when the Democrats were promoting it from 1994 through 2003 when the polls turned?
"Exposing the Identy of a Sercet Agent (Itself a threat to our National Security)"
Um, there was no crime here, admitted by all except the strongest of hacks.... unlike Sandy Berger and the stolen national security documents. I'm glad he's being prosecuted...wait.
Piss poor response to Hurricaine Katrina,
http://hotair.com/archives/2006/08/29/the-buses-of-new-orleans/
Mismanaging the "war on Terror"
And the dems get it right? 911 was the eighth attack by al queda on the US, the other 7 occurred on clintons watch. But Bush is to blame.
"allowing Haliburton to rob tax-payers blind then move the company out of the country to avoid inquiry,"
I haven't really followed the "HALIBUTON!!!!!" talking point, sorry.
"the dismissial of the Attorney's because they investigated republicans"
"Hiring of that idiot Brown and a host of other stupid, unlawful and immoral transgressions"
unlawful??? name it. Logan Act what??? Cash in the freezer? DiFi and hunderds of millions in contracts to her husband? DUI's? Blame bush?
Reply
jamie 11:40AM (4/12/2007)
I agree with Iaccoca's statement. We are headed down the wrong road, and furthermore the dead end is only about two years away.
Lee Iaccoca is one of the last great business leaders of our century. Yeah, in retrospect, he should have reconsidered Bob Lutz to head up Chrysler. But everybody makes mistakes. So does Lee.
However I would like to throw in my nickel for Rick Wagoner. He masterminded one of the biggest, best and quickest turnarounds in history. Ford is even copying his gameplan, and so is Chrysler to some extent.
With Rick Wagoner heading up the corporate side and Bob Lutz on the product side, the pair are simply unbeatable! Ricky is the next Lee Iaccoca.
Reply
Mike 11:36AM (4/12/2007)
forgot the link about the attorney 'scandal'
http://hotair.com/archives/2007/03/14/why-i-dont-care-about-the-ag-prosecutor-firings-yet/
Reply
Frank 11:50AM (4/12/2007)
"Exposing the Identy of a Sercet Agent (Itself a threat to our National Security)..."
Uh, you mean like when she appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair? You mean like when she appeared on all the talk shows? You mean like when she wrote a book? Yea thats undercover for ya. If you think she was anything CLOSE to covert I got a bridge to well ya.
You mean like when she told a congressional panel that the idea to send her husband to Niger came not from her but from a "passing co-worker" walking by a her desk?!? You mean like now that it's revealed that Richard Armitage fo the State Dept (who last time I checked was not the president of US) "leaked" her name to the press (which trust me, they already knew who whe was) is not being prosecuted (he's a darling of the press and the elites and does not agree with White House policies) but Libby who did not leak her name is prosecuted for a "process crime"? (No wonder the standard answer of politicians these days is "I don't remember", because if you think you remember but you get it wrong they will charge you with lying.) I think I just entered a another reality.
By the way Lee, who I now consider to be something like the quack salesman who used to travel around to small towns in a wagon pushing miracle hair tonic and other such nonsense, would bitch about whoever was in the White House at the time to fill pages in his book. It just happens that the book release is in 2007 instead of 2008.
Reply