The Bush administration has acknowledged that Enron Chairman Kenneth Lay, who has since resigned, contacted two Cabinet secretaries before the company filed for bankruptcy, but it maintains the phone calls did not result in any favorable treatment.

CNN: Democrats cite Enron to push campaign reform

But FASB went ahead -- thereby drying up options as an incentive for people to take the risk of joining a young company and guaranteeing that the legendary millionaire secretaries would never be seen again.

WSJ: Washington Is Killing Silicon Valley

It began in December 1967 when five secretaries at a ventilation and heating company volunteered to work an extra half hour each day without pay to do their bit for the flagging economy.

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In 1982, she launched The R Company, a temporary personnel agency supplying corporate clients with interpreters and secretaries.

CNN: LEADERS FOR THE MILLENNIUM