For as long as boards have been under scrutiny, executives, investors and experts have struggled with what makes a good director.

Throughout September 2001, Enron's top executives, including Mr. Lay, struggled to find a way to plug an earnings shortfall.

Many regulators, bank examiners and executives are struggling to keep up with the wave of refinancings without incurring greater risks.

This situation is playing out at American Airlines, where executives struggled over the last couple weeks to obtain $1.8 billion in annual labor concessions.

And yesterday, AT&T's executives struggled to give their announcement a momentous tone.

"Our highest executives are just struggling to keep the company alive, that is their most important objective at this point."

Another bright spot was the consumer products division, which executives have been struggling to turn around.

While several executives struggled to close the window, Arthur quipped nervously, "I hope that's not an evaluation of my fitness to be publisher."

But newly released documents show that, inside, executives were struggling to contain a mounting crisis.

With neither executive ready to concede turf to the other, the two executives have struggled to get along.