Harvey Pitt
FameRank: 4

"Harvey Pitt" was the 26th chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), serving from 2001-2003.

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Investor confidence is the bedrock of our markets.

Investors were looking to President Bush to throw them a life-raft in a sea of accounting fraud and abuse. Instead, the president threw them a pair of cement shoes.

Since I have taken on the leadership of the commission, we have been working hard to fix the problems that have created the current crisis of confidence, and we have been making enormous strides to correct the mistakes and abuses of the past.

This has nothing to do with the chairman.... He wants the agency to be stronger and better than ever when he leaves.

And American investors have lost a great advocate, the legacy that he has left behind will continue to serve them well.

[One senior administration source said it became clear] within the past 72 hours or so ... while I wouldn't say he was pushed, there was no one here encouraging him to hang in there, either.

We investigate when we find there may be indications that a problem occurred, ... And if we do investigate, no one, no matter what their position or status is, no one gets a pass.

The meetings that I engaged in were proper. They were for the benefit of investors.

We've identified those companies whose filings we think will require further review.