Given that the taxpayers bailed out Chrysler when he was Chair, the foul-mouth Lee Iacocca took the news well.
The gov loaned Chrysler and NY City money at roughly the same time. Iacocca bet Ed Koch that Chrysler would repay their loan first. Which they did.
Iacocca also worked for a $1 that first year. His appearance in the ad campaign was both a cost savings measure and a major ego stoke. He forced through the restart of the 10 year 100K mile warranty at a time when everyone thought it would sink the company. I think most of the 70's Chryslers fell apart before hitting either of those milestones.
Sure he's got a huge ego. You'd have to have one to tackle that kind of challenge. And yeah he was out to show Ford what a mistake they'd made in not making him president or CEO or whatever. But you can't deny that almost through sheer will he pulled Chrysler back from the bring.
And what was the outcome?