I can open any door I want as chairman of a $6 billion company,

There's something about me that wants to grow a big company. I don't deny that. I enjoy the game, and the only way to really enjoy it is to win. I like to win. It's more fun.

The new company will have different products and a presence in more markets. Demand for products turns on and off: Sometimes fixed products are hot and sometimes variable ones are. With a broader product portfolio, the company will have something to sell no matter what the environment is.

Can we ever really know anyone well? Let's just say we often found ourselves in each other's company and neither of us minded.

As far as the political contributions issue is concerned, this comes under the heading ... of no good deed goes unpunished, ... I don't think there's anything here for me to be concerned about.

Not at all, ... I've been a Democrat all my life, and I've been a contributor to candidates of Democratic persuasion -- sometimes Republican -- all my life. I'm a political activist. I consider it a responsibility and, frankly, I consider it a privilege to be a part of it.