The Chairman’s P.O.V.: Iacocca’s ‘07 Talk with Rose

By Gunnar Heinrich | Google Interview @ 05:00-30:50

WOW, what calm time hath wrought.

We consider Lee Iacocca, former chairman of Chrysler in his professional hey day.

Mr. Iacocca was the penultimate firecracker. Sporting block aviator-framed glasses that seemed as sharp as ChryCo’s pentagon, Mr. Iacocca was the sure footed, smooth talking, fast acting, spare-me-the-bull, pin-up executive whose admirers would say he shot from the hip and never missed.

His detractors would say that Mr. Iacocca’s brand of capitalism was a symptom of 1980s corporate hubris that’s resurfaced in a new generation of sharks who’ve copied and amplified his cut-throat apogee.

Such is business. But in 2007, a retiree, ChryCo champion, and author of Where Have All The Leaders Gone? the octogenarian sat down in that dark studio somewhere in the bowls of Thirteen with Charlie Rose and spoke his mind with disarming humility and measure.

The contrast entre Mr. Iacocca circa 1984 and Mr. Iacocca circa 2007 couldn’t be more vivid.

It seems Mr. Iacocca was thinking of his grandkids when he told the PBS interviewer that he subscribed to Al Gore’s theory on Global Warming.

Or that despite his admiration for President Reagan’s sunny optimism, he worried about the Reagan trend for running up deficits costing future generations. And, of course, that old 900 pound Gorilla that America’s role as leader of the free world will burn out in favor a global axis that tilts east.

In his time, the threat came from Japan. Now, it’s China.

The interview, nearly three years old, is a fascinating time capsule and profile of an altered man; once so seemingly set in his ways during his time in power.

Mr. Iacocca speaks encouragingly of -gulp- Cerberus; postulates that they “won’t flip” Chrysler. Of course, they did, as Cerberus does. The old lion then slams his appointee, Robert Eden, who as succeeding Chrysler Chairman invited ze Germans in to buy Chrysler in the late 90s, then “the lowest cost producer in the world,” he said.

The last point’s funny considering how on his watch, Chrysler unrepentantly copied from Mercedes-Benz in an attempt to Europeanize the company. Mr. Iacocca found fault in placing mainstream Chrysler with Mercedes; a “good car company,” in his view, that just made luxury cars.

He must have forgot millions taxis, too.

In covering leadership profiles, Mr. Rose asks Mr. Iacocca what he thought of then presidential candidate Barack Obama. Calling him a “phenomenon”, though lacking in experience, Mr. Iacocca preferred then New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson or – wince – then Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

Perhaps, Mr. Iacocca could see presidential qualities in these men that many others didn’t. Regardless of his dubious political backings and applauding his foundation for Diabetes research, the former Chrysler chairman’s interview is enlightening if only for an honest take on the strengths and frailties of one of the automotive world’s grandest figures.

“I’m an optimist, really.” He told Mr. Rose, his tone both warm and sure. “I’m on a new century.”