The Man Who Knew: The Life and Times of Alan Greenspan — Fourteen: WITHOUT THE CIGAR

1. 1. Greenspan began dating NBC White House correspondent Andrea Mitchell in December 1984, bonding over politics and music.
2. 2. Andrea Mitchell humiliated White House Chief of Staff Don Regan on live TV by asking him to define 'throw weight' after he claimed women wouldn't understand nuclear arms.
3. 3. Mitchell exposed Regan's contradictory statements on Iran-Contra, leading to his firing three months later.
4. 4. In March 1987, James Baker and Howard Baker offered Greenspan the Fed chairmanship, contingent on Paul Volcker stepping down.
5. 5. Volcker lost a monetary policy vote in February 1986, as Reagan-appointed governors forced a rate cut, and he drafted a resignation letter.
6. 6. J.P. Morgan pushed to repeal Glass-Steagall, arguing that securities affiliates did not cause bank failures in the Depression and that U.S. banks were becoming uncompetitive globally.
7. 7. Volcker lost a second vote on banking regulation in May 1987, allowing four more banks limited securities powers, and he resigned the next day.
8. 8. President Reagan called Greenspan on June 1, 1987, while Greenspan was at his orthopedist's office, to offer him the Fed chairmanship.
9. 9. At his confirmation hearing, Senator Proxmire challenged Greenspan's forecasting record, noting his CEA forecasts were the most inaccurate in a decade.
10. 10. Greenspan was confirmed as Fed chairman by a Senate vote of 91 to 2.