Last night at the opening-night gala for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York reporter Jada Yuan came face to leathery face with Sandy Weill, the former Citigroup chairman who built the company into a struggling monster now supported by the U.S. government and then walked away with a billion-plus dollars and an absurdly generous package of perks he only recently gave up. Of course, it being a civilized event, she didn’t want to inquire as to how guilty he felt about all of that, exactly, or to bring up the dirty business of politics, though Weill did reveal, in their brief but pleasant conversation, that he thinks Tim Geithner needs to “relax.”
What do you want for the holidays?
Health and happiness for my family.
Anything else?
I’m not really wanting of objects.
I would think you’d be impossible to shop for.
I don’t know. I’m a little difficult.
Anything you’d get for Geithner?
I think he needs to relax. He should relax a little bit.
You’d give him a vacation?
Yeah. He’s a very smart guy and I think he’s done a lot before this administration and through it, but I think he has to be less tense.
Massage?
Maybe both [massage and vacation]. I think we’re lucky to have him.
