The Honorable Richard Gephardt is President and Chief Executive Officer of Gephardt Group
Before Gephardt Group, Congressman Gephardt served as Majority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and has been one of the nation's most respected politicians for much of the last two decades.
GEPHARDT LABOR ADVISORY HELPS RESOLVE LAS VEGAS DISPUTE
Press Release
July 28, 2009
In 2008, Freeman, the leading provider of integrated services for trade shows, conventions, and meetings in U.S., made the decision to construct a new office and warehouse complex in order to consolidate operations in its largest market, Las Vegas. However, during the construction process, a dispute with the IBEW local union threatened to unsettle the project and negatively affect a long standing business relationship. After six months of unsatisfactory negotiations, Freeman called on Gephardt Group to facilitate discussions and seek a resolution that would satisfy all parties.
Within three weeks, Gephardt Group’s mediation work with Freeman and the local IBEW leadership, as well as IBEW President Ed Hill and Executive Assistant Liz Shuler, resulted in a solution that not only kept the project on track for completion but also worked to strengthen the relationship between all parties.
“Gephardt Group was able to take a difficult and sensitive situation and bring creative ideas that worked for all of us,” said Hill. “We trust Congressman Gephardt and his team for their labor relations expertise and objectivity.”
According to John F. O’Connell, Jr., President of Freeman, Gephardt Group’s “guidance, counsel and candidness were key drivers in finding a successful resolution that worked for both parties.”
Gephardt Group Labor Advisory Services specializes in labor-related services such as collective bargaining support, labor cost restructuring, mediation, and employee relations consulting.
Growing Gephardt Inc.
Roll Call
April 27, 2009
By Katie Kindelan
Roll Call Staff
The old adage "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog" falls short for Richard Gephardt. For the House Democratic leader-turned-lobbyist, a more fitting adaptation is, "If you want a friend in Washington, work hard and play nice."
The same values and work ethic that propelled the 14-term Congressman from St. Louis to the highest ranks of Congress are now serving him well on K Street, where his eponymous lobbying shop has seen triple-digit growth despite the economic downturn.
Gephardt's firm, Gephardt Group Government Affairs, reported lobbying revenue of $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2009.
That is triple the amount that it received in the same time period last year and already comes close to the $1.8 million in lobbying revenue that it received in all of 2008, according to Senate disclosure records.
"It's just a natural cycle," Gephardt said during an interview last week in his firm's sleek K Street office, a space that reflects his recent success more than his Midwestern roots. "You pick up work, do a good job and bring in good people who do more good work."
That good work has resulted in a growth of clients from four when the firm was founded in June 2007 to 26 today, including its four original clients and recent additions such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Visa and Delphi Corp., a struggling U.S. auto parts giant.
Much as he did as a leader in Congress, Gephardt has a hand in almost all of the firm's hottest issues. It was part of the team that helped secure $1 billion in stimulus funding earlier this year to build the FutureGen clean-coal project in Illinois and also represents St. Louis-based Peabody Energy, the world's largest private-sector coal company, in the climate debate.
In addition to the 19 clients for which firm employees are registered lobbyists, Gephardt's team also provides separate strategy and communications services to companies such as UnitedHealth Group and FTI Consulting. These services bring the firm's total revenue to $3.7 million in 2008 and $2.9 million in the first quarter of this year, when combined with the lobbying numbers.
"We don't want to grow too fast," Gephardt said of the firm's future plans. "It's important that we stay nimble and have people who do good, honest work and treat people well — all the things I care about."
In a crowded field on K Street, clients and competitors alike say Gephardt's reputation and hands-on management combined with the smart, devoted staff that he attracts have quickly placed the firm among the top boutique lobbying shops in the city.
"What we have found invaluable is his experience," said Rick Cotton, general counsel for NBC Universal, a client of the firm. "He brings credibility and highly relevant strategic experience that make him stand out."
The 68-year-old Gephardt was known for keeping a frenetic pace in Congress, and he hasn't slowed down much since he retired from his seat in 2004 to pursue a short-lived presidential bid, ending a 28-year political career that included seven years as House Majority Leader, eight years as House Minority Leader and an earlier presidential run in 1988.
Gephardt also serves on five corporate boards — he was appointed to the board of Ford Motor Co. last month — is an adviser at the law firm DLA Piper, consults for Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs, is involved in various nonprofit endeavors and oversees a public service institute named for him at Washington University in St. Louis.
The work that he has undertaken post-Congress shows where his priorities, and real passions, lie. In 2005, he negotiated a deal with the machinists union on behalf of Boeing Co. that allowed the purchase of a Boeing subsidiary by a Canadian firm to move forward and resulted in a big bonus for the workers when the company went public, an instance he points to as one of his proudest accomplishments.
More recently, he has assumed the role of elder statesmen in the debate over health care reform, cautioning not to move too far too fast and risk failure.
Still a man of routine and Congress, Gephardt flies to Washington, D.C., on Monday night and leaves Friday. In between, he is on the road tending to his corporate work and advising companies on labor issues at the Gephardt Group, the Atlanta-based consulting firm that he founded in 2005 with his children, Matthew and Christine.
"He was almost to the point of mechanical in the sense of how hard he worked," said Moses Mercado, a lobbyist with Ogilvy Government Relations who served as Gephardt's chief of staff and traveled with the Congressman each weekend as he campaigned for fellow Democrats. "That work ethic translates well to the shoe-leather, retail work of lobbying."
Clients uniformly paint Gephardt as a hands-on strategist who is willing to work all angles for his clients, from joining meetings and planning sessions to enthusiastically going to the Hill to lobby, a rarity for former Members of Congress on K Street.
Much of the day-to-day management of the lobby shop lands in the lap of Tom O'Donnell, the firm's co-founder and managing partner and Gephardt's right-hand man in Congress for almost 10 years. Prior to rejoining Gephardt in 2007, O'Donnell was a partner at a political media consulting firm and also served an earlier stint at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
That history means the two men either worked with or helped elect most of the Democrats who now make up the majority in Congress.
"Given their background helping Members get elected, there's a level of trust," said a former colleague and firm client who now works at a competitor firm. "They can feel they're never going to bring an issue that's not in the Member's best interest."
Joining Gephardt and O'Donnell at the all-Democratic firm are former Gephardt aides Sharon Daniels, Andie King and Michael Messmer. Catherine Goode, Janice O'Connell and Joel Freedman joined the firm this year as the client base expanded.
Gephardt's nearly three decades in politics and good-guy reputation also built a vast network of former aides who now operate at Washington's highest levels, an asset that undoubtedly helps the former Member stand out on K Street.
Former aides say they don't have a formal alumni network, but Washington is a small town and their paths cross often, including at a gathering held a few years ago to celebrate the boss to whom they owe so much.
For a former politician not known to stray off message or show emotion, the memory was obviously touching.
"It brought a tear to my eye," Gephardt recounted. "To see everyone gathered and think back to what we had done and where they are now, and the impact they're having."
Gephardt, Earley Join Ford's Board Of Directors
Ford Motor Company Press Release
March 25, 2009
DEARBORN, Mich., March 25, 2009 – Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) announced today the election of Richard A. Gephardt and Anthony F. Earley, Jr. to the company’s Board of Directors, effective immediately.
Gephardt, 68, is the former Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives and served 14 terms in Congress. He is currently president and CEO of the Gephardt Group, a multi-disciplined consulting firm that helps companies compete in the global marketplace, and senior counsel and strategic advisor for DLA Piper Rudnick, one of the world’s largest legal services providers.
Earley, 59, is Chairman and CEO of DTE Energy, a position he has held since 1998. DTE Energy owns Detroit Edison, an electric utility, and Michigan Consolidated Gas Company, a natural gas utility, which serve a combined 3.5 million customers. DTE Energy also owns several non-utility companies that provide energy services to large industrial customers, provide transportation and storage of fuels, such as natural gas and coal, engage in energy trading and undertake the development of unconventional gas resources.
“I have known and respected Dick Gephardt and Tony Earley for a long time, and Ford is very fortunate to have these two seasoned leaders join our Board at an important time in our company’s history,” said Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford.
“Dick’s distinguished record of public service and his recent experience helping companies and labor organizations find better ways to compete in the global economy make him an invaluable addition to Ford’s Board,” Bill Ford added. “Tony is one of the most successful leaders in the utility industry and joins our Board at a time when automakers and utilities are working together to find ways to cooperate on the electrification of automobiles. He will also help us immeasurably as we deal with the serious issues of energy independence, energy security and sustainability.”
Gephardt served for 28 years in the United States House of Representatives from 1976 to 2004, representing Missouri’s Third Congressional District, home to his birthplace, St. Louis. He was elected to serve as House Democratic Leader for more than 14 years, as House Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995 and Minority Leader from 1995 to 2003.
Gephardt also is a member of the board of directors of United States Steel Corporation, Spirit Aerosystems Holding, Inc., Dana Corporation, Centene Corporation and Embarq Corporation.
He earned a bachelor of science from Northwestern University in 1962 and a juris doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School in 1965.
Earley also is a member of the board of directors of DTE Energy and MASCO Corporation. He serves on the board of directors of numerous educational and civic organizations, including the
Nuclear Energy Institute, Edison Electric Institute, Detroit Renaissance, the Detroit Zoological Society, United Way for Southeastern Michigan and Cornerstone Schools.
Earley earned a bachelor of science degree in physics, a master of science degree in engineering and a law degree, all from the University of Notre Dame. He served as an officer in the United States Navy nuclear submarine program, where he was qualified as a chief engineering officer.
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Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 213,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s wholly owned brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.
Gephardt Group Labor Advisory Services Provides Balanced Perspective in Labor Agreement
PRNewsire
March 10, 2009
ATLANTA, March 10 /PRNewswire/-- On February 3, 2009, four years after filing for Chapter 11 protection, Interstate Bakeries Corporation (IBC) emerged from bankruptcy with new owners, a financial reorganization plan and over 22,000 employees. Ripplewood Holdings, a New York based private equity fund and the primary investor in IBC, realized that an essential element to its success would be negotiations with the more than 10,000 Teamsters and 7,000 Bakery and Confectionary workers employed by the company. In early 2008 Ripplewood called on Gephardt Group Labor Advisory Services to provide the expertise and objectivity to help structure a fair labor agreement that would meet the need for improved financial performance while retaining union jobs.
“The Gephardt Group involvement gave the unions confidence that the process would be fair and all issues would be carefully considered,” said Greg Murphy, Industrial Partner for Ripplewood and an IBC Board Member. Importantly, their past experience with agreements that featured equity participation was very helpful. Congressman Gephardt radiates fairness, honesty and decency. His presence set the tone for our negotiations.”
From February through November of 2008, Gephardt Group, in collaboration Mike Mathis and Chuck Harple of The Mathis Group, worked with Ripplewood and the IBC unions to structure a deal that reduced labor and benefits costs in exchange for the right to equity participation in the post-bankruptcy company. Rich Volpe, director of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ Bakery and Laundry Conference, said of the arrangement, “We were pleased to have Dick Gephardt and his team bring their integrity and experience to the process. While the past four and a half years have been difficult for our workers, we are satisfied that the resulting agreement preserved Teamster jobs and will allow our members to participate in the equity value they bring to IBC. We care about the long-term success of our members and their employing companies.”
Dick Gephardt, CEO of Gephardt Group Labor Advisory Services, is a long-time proponent of providing equity ownership to employees. “When employees begin to think and act like owners, they realize how every decision they make influences the company’s success,” said Gephardt. “In these difficult economic times we are grateful that we were able to play a role in retaining thousands of jobs and helping IBC move forward towards once again becoming a great American company.”
About Gephardt Group Labor Advisory Services:
The Gephardt Group Labor Advisory Services team works with business executives to help manage the complex relationships between companies, employees and union leaders. Gephardt Group is able to assess the labor-management situation and develop a labor relations strategy that complements the business objectives. Gephardt Group also provides labor mediation services and can help prepare companies for the collective bargaining process. www.gephardtgroup.com
Contact: Matt Gephardt – COO and Managing Partner (877) 437-4770 x703
There is Life After Bankruptcy for Some Companies
Wall Street Journal
February 23, 2009
By Jeffrey McCracken and Peter Lattman
It was a near-death experience for the Twinkie.
Against the odds, Interstate Bakeries Corp., which makes Twinkies, Ho Ho's and Wonder Bread, emerged this month from bankruptcy-court protection in the worst financing environment in 75 years. It joins chemicals maker Wellman Inc. as a rare recent survivor of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process.
A year ago, investors were willing to pile into virtually any restructuring. Today, they're far more picky, leaving the likes of Circuit City Stores Inc. and ethanol giant VeraSun Energy Corp. to liquidate.
Interstate Bakeries emerged from bankruptcy protection as a smaller, leaner company -- which still makes Twinkies, above, in Schiller Park, Ill.
The lesson of Interstate and Wellman is that there is funding for companies that have fanatically focused their operations and taken out costs. And that's a hopeful sign for scores of other companies trying to avoid liquidation.
"I think in this era you need to shrink down to just your very best businesses," said Jonathan Henes, a Kirkland & Ellis attorney who oversaw the Wellman case. "You need to just focus on your core strength and make the painful, hard decisions."
The new companies are far leaner than when they first sought court protection from creditors. For instance, Wellman, a South-Carolina based maker of products used in plastic soda bottles, has let go of 80% of its employees, shed 80% of its debt and reduced revenues by nearly 60%.
Interstate fell into bankruptcy back in 2004, after consumers rejected its bread and pastries amid the low-carb diet fad. It emerged from court protection in February with nearly $600 million of new equity and debt financing, no small feat in this environment. Private-equity firm Ripplewood Holdings gained control of Interstate, investing $130 million in a combination of equity and convertible debt for a 50% stake. It also received warrants to buy an additional 15% of the company.
Interstate's existing secured creditors own the balance of the equity. Led by Silver Point Finance and Monarch Alternative Capital, the creditors committed to a new secured loan of roughly $350 million, for which they received equity and warrants in the company. General Electric Co.'s finance arm also extended a $105 million credit facility.
Chief Executive Craig Jung, a longtime food and beverage-industry executive hired in 2007, said at several junctions he thought Interstate wouldn't make it out of bankruptcy because of financial-market gyrations and fierce labor negotiations with unions.
The Kansas City, Mo., company employs 22,000 people across 41 bakeries, roughly a third of whom are in the Teamsters union. Interstate locked horns over a new labor deal, even enlisting former Missouri Democratic Sen. Richard Gephardt to broker an agreement.
As part of the deal, Interstate's 19,000 union employees took an equity stake in the company and a profit-sharing plan. In exchange, workers agreed to concessions including wage cuts and health-insurance increases, saving Interstate more than $50 million annually.
Wellman, which filed for bankruptcy in February 2008, looked on several occasions like it might have to liquidate and fire all of its 1,000 employees. It entered bankruptcy with sales of about $1.2 billion, debt of $575 million and earnings of $27.1 million -- meaning it was levered at 20 times.
For several months it shopped around its entire three-plant operation, each of which made specialty chemicals but with little overlap and few of the same customers. But two different plans fell apart due to fights with or among debt holders over valuations and other issues. Each time, liquidation seemed likely.
In October, financial adviser Lazard Ltd. hatched a strategy to shut or sell two plants, equal to 60% of the company, and find a buyer for the rest, which made a resin used in the production of plastic bottles for companies like PepsiCo Inc. This plan was designed to focus on what Wellman did best -- and what it made the most money on.
The company sold its engineering-resin plant in Johnsonville, S.C., for about $6 million, saving about 250 jobs. It closed a second plant in Palmetto, S.C., which eliminated about 500 jobs, many of them former co-workers of new CEO Mark Ruday.
"That was one of my hardest days. I started there 20 years ago as a plant controller," said Mr. Ruday, 42 years old, who took over in May. "I knew a lot of the people, saw them shopping in the grocery store in town. But I did it because I thought it would save the rest of Wellman. Those plants were unprofitable and a drag on the rest of the company."
A leaner and more profitable Wellman emerged in early February after BlackRock Financial Management Inc. and Solus Alternative Asset Management invested $35 million in new capital in return for a second-lien convertible note that can be exchanged for a 50% stake. The structure of the investment protects the two hedge funds; if Wellman ever gets back into Chapter 11, they should either be paid back first or their debt would make them its owner.
Wellman now has annual sales around $500 million and about 200 employees. It projects annual earnings of $40 million to $50 million with $125 million of debt.
Six degrees of ... Dick Gephardt?
Politico
July 24, 2008
By Patrick O'Connor
Kevin Bacon has nothing on Dick Gephardt.
Everyone, it seems, has worked for the Missouri Democrat at some point in his or her career.
And while the former majority leader may never make it to the White House himself, many of his old aides are now poised to get there without him.
Gephardt alumni are all over the Barack Obama campaign. Former Gephardt aide David Plouffe is Obama's campaign chief. Bill Burton is Obama's spokesman. Jeff Berman oversaw delegate strategy for Obama, and Matt Rodriguez is now the candidate's western regional director. Erik Smith, John DelCecato and Cassandra Butts are all outside advisers for the Obama campaign.
Gephardt has plenty to smile about
Former Rep. Gephardt redefines himself
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch
October 28, 2007
By Deirdre Shesgreen
The former House Democratic leader and two-time presidential contender is in demand as a lobbyist and political wise-man, playing a quiet but key role in some of the hottest issues of the day.
For Gephardt, a New Career in Lobbying—and a Lot More
Richard A. Gephardt used to be the Democratic leader in the House and a presidential candidate. Now he's Gephardt Inc.
The Washington Post
July 31, 2007
By Jeffrey H. Birnbaum
The 14-term congressman from St. Louis retired from Congress in 2005 and went off to do what senior lawmakers do these days—lobby. Or that's what it looked like at the time. In fact, he has done a lot more than that.
Gephardt works for DLA Piper, one of the world's largest law firms; Goldman Sachs, one of Wall Street's richest investment banks; FTI, a leading corporate turnaround adviser; and Gephardt Group, a consultancy he started with his two children.
Hillary Chooses Gephardt as Economic Advisor
Richard Gephardt Appears on CNBC
July 20, 2007
Candidates are scrambling for CEO endorsements and Hillary Clinton looks to be Wall Street's sweetheart. Richard Gephardt, Gephardt Group CEO sits down with CNBC's Maria Bartiromo.
...Labor's Ideal Deal
New Labor Strikes Deals With 'Private Equity Guys'
The Washington Post
June 10, 2007
By Dale Russakoff and David Cho
A model deal in the eyes of the labor movement was a buyout of three faltering Boeing factories by Onex Corp. of Toronto. Onex managing director Nigel S. Wright said his team told workers exactly what it wanted from them: a reduction of 1,700 of 10,300 jobs, elimination of long-standing work rules and a 10 percent pay cut. The Machinists and United Auto Workers unions named their price: "skin in the game," or a share of the profits when the company went public. Both sides signed off in June 2005.
The rebound came far sooner than anticipated. Revenue soared as the new company, Spirit AeroSystems, won contracts for the new Boeing 787 and also from Sikorsky Aircraft and Airbus. When Spirit went public in November 2006, workers who took the pay cuts each got checks averaging $30,000 plus 1,000 shares of Spirit stock, now worth $34,000. Another beneficiary was the Machinists' pension fund, which was an investor in Onex all along.
Political Strategies Thomas J. O'Donnell Joins Gephardt Group as Executive Vice President
Former Chief of Staff Once Again Teams Up with Gephardt
For immediate release
Washington DC–June 4, 2007–Thomas J. O'Donnell has joined Gephardt Group, LLC as Executive Vice President, it was announced today by Richard A. "Dick" Gephardt, President and CEO of Gephardt Group.
This move reunites Gephardt with his former chief of staff and one of his closest political advisors. For nearly a decade, Gephardt and O'Donnell worked side-by-side on many of the major political and legislative battles of the 1990s.
In announcing the appointment, Gephardt said, "I'm delighted to be working once again with Tom, whose political talents and experience will be invaluable to our growth and development. Tom has a deep understanding of the political and legislative landscape in and outside of Washington and he brings the credentials and skills to help lead the Gephardt Group for years to come."
O'Donnell formerly worked as a partner for Doak, Carrier, O'Donnell and Goldman (DCO). At DCO, O'Donnell served as a key strategist in some of the most hard fought races in recent memory, most notably: Sherrod Brown's Senate race in 2006, Antonio Villaraigosa's L.A. mayoral race in 2005, Gray Davis' California Gubernatorial races in 1998 and 2002, and Congressman Chris Van Hollen's Maryland congressional race in 2002. Prior to DCO, O'Donnell served as Richard A. Gephardt's chief of staff from 1989 through 1997 while Gephardt was the Democratic Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives. A Brooklyn native, O'Donnell worked on key House committees while earning a PhD from American University. He taught at American and at Georgetown University before moving full time to Capitol Hill.
Former Majority Leader Gephardt Joins FTI as Consultant on Government, Business Strategy, Public Policy and Labor Relations
To Consult With FTI Clients on a Broad Range of Business, Governmental, Labor, International, Advocacy, and Communications Issues
For immediate release
Baltimore, MD–January 18, 2007–FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN), the leading global consulting firm to organizations confronting the critical legal, financial and reputational issues that shape their futures, announced today that former Democratic Majority Leader, Dick Gephardt, would become a consultant for and advisor to the company through an exclusive agreement with his firm, Gephardt Group, LLC. In addition, he will serve on the advisory board of Financial Dynamics, FTI’s strategic and financial communications services subsidiary.
With the addition of Representative Gephardt, FTI significantly enhances its ability to serve clients in the critical areas of government, public policy, employee and labor relations and international affairs. Resolution of issues in these areas, and the strategic communication of such resolutions to a broad range of constituencies, has the potential to impact each client throughout all of FTI’s business practices. The perspective that Representative Gephardt brings as a result of his extensive experience and deep relationships throughout the U.S. and around the globe provides FTI clients with a unique resource through which to analyze their businesses, issues and strategies and then communicate them to the marketplace.
Commenting on this move, Jack Dunn, FTI's president and chief executive officer, said, "With the addition of Dick Gephardt, we continue to execute on two key aspects of our strategy. First, we continue our commitment to provide our clients with the very best in intellectual capital to support their critical business needs, particularly those in labor intensive sectors such as automotive and healthcare. Second, on a very real-time basis, we are adding highly valuable capabilities in the areas of change management and innovative labor relations, as clients strive to optimize their human capital in this era of mobile labor sourcing and a changing political environment. For this company and these times, I can’t think of a better person than Dick Gephardt to help forge our direction in these areas."
Dick Gephardt added, "I am excited to team with FTI and draw on the expertise, experience and reach of such a respected global market leader. FTI has a strong record of achieving results for its clients. We're extremely proud of the prospects of integrating Gephardt Group's capabilities with such a highly regarded firm."
How Gephardt Brokered Ford Management Change
How Dick Gephardt convinced Boeing's Mulally to take Ford's top job.
Newsweek
Web Exclusive
September 8, 2006
By Keith Naughton
In mid-July, Boeing executive Alan Mulally received an unexpected phone call from someone who had recently become a trusted adviser: former House Democratic leader Dick Gephardt. The career pol asked the career Boeing man: would you be interested in running Ford Motor Co.? Mulally was shocked and more than slightly skeptical. He is, after all, no car guy. Mulally spent 37 years at Boeing, rising to the top of its commercial airline division. Besides, Bill Ford Jr., great-grandson of Henry, already held the CEO job at the automaker, which was still firmly controlled by its founding family. But Gephardt—who'd also recently become a confidant of Bill Ford—insisted. "This is not just about you or Ford, it's about the country" Gephardt told Mulally. "It won't hurt you to go talk to them."
So began a whirlwind courtship that culminated Sept. 5 with Mulally and Bill Ford walking onto a stage in Dearborn, Mich., to announce that the fly guy was to become Ford's new driver. That dramatic handover never would have happened if Gephardt hadn't played matchmaker, a role he described publicly for the first time in an interview with NEWSWEEK. It is the story of how a labor-friendly politician grew close enough to two of America's top manufacturing executives to convince them of just how much they needed each other. "Having worked so much with Alan, I felt confident he was the kind of person Ford needed," says Gephardt. "I described in detail to Bill Ford what Alan did at Boeing."