Conflict of Interest

Re “Army Boss Vows No Conflict in Enron Ties,” June 20:

I see that Army Secretary Thomas E. White Jr., holder of $25 million worth of stock in the Enron energy company, is seeking advice from Army lawyers about whether to recuse himself from any role in Army decisions on Enron contracts. This is the same man who vowed in his confirmation hearing: “I will personally commit to you to avoid even any appearance of a conflict in terms of any future relationships that Enron may choose to have with the department or attempt to have with the department.”

Would somebody please tell Secretary White that no decent, honest person needs a lawyer to tell him that he does, indeed, have a very serious conflict of interest.

Bill Sharp

Huntington Beach