A story in yesterday's editions incorrectly reported that Enron Chairman Kenneth L. Lay as a campaign contributor stayed in the Lincoln Bedroom of the White House during the Clinton years. The information was first reported by the Chicago Tribune, which acknowledged yesterday through a spokesman that it was incorrect, although the newspaper has not printed a retraction. (The ChiTrib printed a retraction on Feb. 24.)
The correct information:
Lay apparently golfed with Clinton, and stayed at the White House during the George H.W. Bush administration.
Enron didn't come into being until 1991. so it couldn't have been HW Bush's white house.
"It was then that Representative Tom DeLay, Republican of Texas, told the group — a participant well schooled in the ways of partisan combat said — that he had seen the name of Kenneth L. Lay, the former chairman of Enron, in the guest book of his cabin. The entry, he said, dated from the Clinton administration."
(Julia Payne, Mr. Clinton's spokeswoman, said yesterday that she had no reason to dispute any visit of Mr. Lay to Camp David. But Ms. Payne said she had no access to the Clinton archives or Mr. Clinton, who was on a plane to Seattle. Mr. Clinton has said that he played golf with Mr. Lay.)
But he didn't stay at the Bush I White House because he "rented" the room. They were simply friends.