If you go look at the just-released updated list of administration appointees who owned Enron, you’ll notice that George Argyros’ name is at the top of the list.
Now, I’ll grant you, that’s mainly because his name starts with ‘A’. Even so, let’s talk for a moment about George Argyros, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Spain and Andorra.
It’s not just that Argyros owned between $100,000 and $250,000 of Enron stock, which in itself isn’t a bad thing. Nor that he bought his ambassadorship for $130,000. Not even that he’s considered a notorious slumlord in his haunts in Southern California.
No, what’s really bad about George Argyros is that he’s apparently an incorrigible egomaniac and pitiful self-promoter who’s probably making us look bad to most Spaniards.
If you look at Argyros’ biography on the US Embassy in Madrid website, you’ll see a “Partial List of Awards Received” numbering twenty-five in all. These include, and I quote, such honors as …
“Heart Award”, presented by the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce, in recognition of all his years of community service and philanthropic contributions. (1987)
“Paul Harris Fellow Award”, presented by the Orange Rotary Club on behalf of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations between peoples of the world. (1990)
Inducted into the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, perhaps the single most coveted award given in American (sic) to non-military, non-show business individuals. (1993)
Recipient of the American Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award, honoring him as a representative of the many who excel in his chosen profession. (1996)
Inducted as Chairman of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. (1998)
Recipient of Manager of the Year Award presented by Society for Advancement of Management, California Chapter. (2001)
Glad he didn’t have to scrape the bottom of the barrel or anything.
What American can hold his or her head high in Spain if this goofball is our Ambassador?
