The two chairmen defended the agreement yesterday.

A21 The Federal Reserve's chairman defended the need for secrecy.

But Storage Technology's chairman and chief executive, Patrick J. Martin, defended his company's tape business and said its new products were growing strongly.

The chairman of British American Tobacco, Martin Broughton, defended the acquisition to analysts and in the company's earnings release.

Yesterday, the chairman of the Federal Election Commission defended the group's right to advertise.

Viacom's chairman aggressively defended his purchases of Viacom stock as well as those made by a company in which he is the largest shareholder.

The chairman, who has been criticized by arts supporters for a lack of firmness in the face of congressional criticism, forcefully defended the choices.

In an interview, the Democratic chairman defended his strategy, saying he was making "factual allegations."

The authority's chairman, Peter Ellef, who is also Mr. Rowland's co-chief of staff, has defended the deal as legal and proper, however.

The chairman of the Stratford Town Council, Clement Naples, defended the town's decision to end the leases.