Lay's daughter's optimism was unfounded, of course. Enron's stock price kept plummeting, eventually hitting 60 cents per share. As the Enron scandal worsened, Lay family members began worrying about the Enron CEO -- and about themselves. Four days after Lay's daughter wrote her upbeat message, Linda Lay exchanged e-mails with an Aspen-based biochemical nutritionist who had ideas for helping Enron's CEO.

To: Linda Lay
From: Phyllis Bronson
Date: Oct. 29, 2001
Subject: RE: Biochemical Research Foundation

Dear Linda,

So much for your quieter time of life.

After seeing the NY Times article yesterday, I am glad for Enron that Ken is back at the helm; I trust he will persevere and be more than successful in whatever he does. I am concerned about his level of stress, and would highly recommend that he keep up that anxiety control formula, taking two after meals 3x a day. I have stronger things in my arsenal if needed.

Also, perhaps when he is here sometime, I could check his blood chemistry for stress factors and optimal brain function.

Warmest Regards,

Phyllis

To: Phyllis Bronson
From: Linda Lay
Date: Oct. 30, 2001
Subject: RE: Biochemical Research Foundation

Dear Phyllis,

Bless you for your care and concern. I have forwarded on to Ken's office and will get him to Aspen as soon as the smoke clears. He is burning the candle day and night with very little sleep. I am praying hard for him and Enron and know that he has the strength, wisdom, skills and courage to persevere and succeed.

I will stay in touch.

Love, Linda

To: Ken Lay
From: Linda Lay
Date: Oct. 30, 2001
Subject: FW: Biochemical Research Foundation

Dear Ken,

I am packaging up extra anxiety control pills to go down to your office. Please have Earl pick them up at the front door.

I love you,

Linda

To: Ken Lay
From: Elizabeth Vittor
Date: Nov. 6, 2001

Dad,

I just wanted to let you know that I love you and I am here if you need ANYTHING! I am in Boston until late Wednesday (I am visiting Christina, Tad, and baby Jack). They all send their love and support to you as well. Jack is adorable!

We are all praying for you and all the people at Enron.

I love you!

Elizabeth

To: Liz Safly, Library Technician, Harry S. Truman Library
From: Linda Lay
Date: Nov. 12, 2001
Subject: Harry S. Truman Quote

I need to verify a quote that is attributed to President Truman, which is as follows:

"At least people should get their facts straight before they mess them up."

I would appreciate any help that you can give me regarding this quote. Thank you.

The Truman library never found the quotation Linda Lay wanted. By the end of November 2001, the end was near for Enron. On Nov. 28, the company's bonds were downgraded to "junk" status and Enron announced that it was suspending all nonessential payments.

To: All Enron Employees United States Group
From: Ken Lay
Date: Nov. 30, 2001
Subject: Update -- Reporting to Work Next Week

Many of you have asked whether you should come into the office next week, especially if there is no guarantee of being paid for time worked after today. We want to encourage you to come to work. We continue to consider every option available to us as a company; and unfortunately, restructuring through bankruptcy is one of those options. Your continued efforts during these trying times are critical to the company as we go through this decision making process...

To: Ken Lay, et al.
From: Another One -- exenron@hotmail.com
Date: Nov. 30, 2001
Subject: Thank you all very much for your support -- NOT!

I genuinely believed in Enron and the Values of the company. You demonstrated that that trust was misplaced and worth nothing.

I particularly like your adherence to the core values -- you "respected" us, you "communicated" brilliantly with us, your fucking us over was "excellent," your "integrity" was without question.

You load of bastards -- you screwed us all and got on the profits of our sweat. I hope that the board and upper management rot in jail and never see the light of day again -- apart from when you are exercising in the open prison yard in your shackles.

-- Just Another Fucked-Over Ex-Employee

To: Members of the Lay family
From: Linda Lay
Date: Jan. 17, 2002
Subject: Re: Ken Lay's SEC Testimony

Dear Fam,

Sally informed me today that John Brindle, a former head of Enron security, is now involved and will be handling all airline reservations (through Gordon Bethune at Continental Airlines), ground transportation and hotel reservations (Four Seasons or Park Hyatt) for us. He has suggested that we use "assumed" names for all reservations being made. John feels strongly that there could be a risk and a small unit will attract less attention and be easier to maneuver, also it will allow for less media coverage which is a good thing...

I talked with Ken about it tonight and as much as we would love to have you there for moral support we do not want to do anything that would put you in harm's way or create a media spectacle for him. So, unfortunately, the prudent thing to do is have you stay in Houston and pray for him in your safe environments.

For your information, our plan is to go up to DC on Thursday, January 31 and back on Tuesday morning, February 5. Ken gives his testimony at the SEC hearings on Monday morning, February 4, and I am told that it will go on until late in the day...

The following is also from Sally:

John has asked if the kids would have an interest in meeting with him for 20-30 minutes to hear his suggestion for ways in which to best help the situation, and ideas on keeping their families safe on a daily basis... He did express concerns that due to KLL's high profile, kidnapping is not out of the realm of possibility, but he has numerous suggestions for circumventing this. Let us know your thoughts.

Love, Mom/Linda.

Shortly after Linda Lay sent her e-mail, Elizabeth Vittor responded with a message telling family members they could watch some of Ken Lay's testimony on C-SPAN. If they failed to tune in, they didn't miss much: When he finally appeared before the Senate Commerce Committee in February 2002, he offered a brief statement and then refused to testify further on the grounds that doing so might incriminate him.

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