it turns out his death was premeditated.” The vice chairman shook his
head sadly. “I just never thought I would live to see the day.”
“How about anyone in this country who might like to see the chairman
dead?” Sawyer asked again.
“As long as the Fed has existed there have been conspiracy theories
painted so vividly about the institution that I’m quite sure there are
more than a handful of people in this country who take them, however
nonsensical they are, quite seriously.”
Sawyer’s eyes narrowed. “Conspiracy theories?”
Burns coughed and then loudly cleared his throat. “There are those who
believe that the Fed is actually a tool for wealthy families around the
globe to keep the poor in their place. Or that we take our marching
orders from a small group of international bankers. I’ve even heard one
theory that has us being the pawns of alien beings who have infiltrated
all the highest positions of government. My birth certificate says
Boston, Massachusetts, by the way.”
Sawyer shook his head. “Christ, that’s pretty wacko.”
“Exactly. As if a seven-trillion-dollar economy employing well over a
hundred million people could be secretly run by a handful of waistcoated
tycoons.”
“So one of these conspiracy groups could have plotted to kill the
chairman in retaliation for perceived corruption or injustice?”
“Well, few governmental institutions are more misunderstood and feared
out of ignorance than the Federal Reserve Board. When you first
mentioned the possibility, I said it was far-fetched. Having thought
about it for a few minutes, I have to say my initial reaction was
probably not correct. But blowing up a plane…” Burns shook his head
wearily.
Sawyer jotted down some notes. “I’d like to know more about Lieberman’s
background.”
“Arthur Lieberman was an immensely popular man in the major financial
circles. For years he was one of the top moneymakers on Wall Street,
before turning to public service. Arthur called things as he saw them
and he was usually right in his judgment. With a series of masterful
maneuvers, he shook up the financial markets almost from the moment he
became chairman. He showed them who was boss.” Burns stopped to put
another piece of wood on the fire.
“In fact, he led the Fed in a way that I would like to think I would if
ever given the opportunity.”
“Any idea who might succeed Lieberman?”
Burns shook his head. “No.”
“Around the time he left for Los Angeles, had anything unusual occurred
at the Fed?”
Burns shrugged. “We had our FOME meeting on the fifteenth of November,
but that was a regularly scheduled event.”
Sawyer looked puzzled. “FOME?”
“Federal Open Market Committee. It’s our policymaking board.”
“What goes on at those meetings?”
“Well, in a shorthand version, the seven members of the Board of
Governors and the presidents of five of the twelve Federal Reserve Banks
look at all pertinent financial data on the economy and decide whether
any actions are required with respect to money supply and interest
rates.”
Sawyer nodded. “When the Fed raises or lowers interest rates, for
instance, then that affects the entire economy. Contracts or expands
it.”
“At least we think so,” Burns replied sardonically. “Although our
actions have not always had the results we intended.”
“So was there anything unusual at this FOME meeting?”
“No.”
“Nevertheless, could you give me a rundown of exactly what was said and
by whom? It might seem irrelevant, but getting a motive could really
help us track down whoever did this.”
Burns’s voice went up an octave. “Impossible. The actual deliberations
of FOME meetings are absolutely confidential and cannot be divulged to
you or anyone else.”
“Walter, I won’t push it now, but with all due respect, if any
information discussed at these meetings is relevant to the FBI’s
investigation, rest assured that we will have access to it.” Sawyer
stared at him until Burns dropped his gaze.
“A brief report detailing the minutes of the meeting is released six to
eight weeks after the meeting is held,” Burns said slowly, “but only
after the occurrence of the next meeting. The actual results of the
meetings, whether any action was taken or not, are released to the news