There were about 20 guests, including Duf Sundheim, the influential chairman of the California Republican Party.

And it's also similar to what happened to one of his main allies, Michael A. Miles, the influential chairman of the investment bank's governance committee and the board's unofficial lead director.

Early in her campaign, Ms. Castro has adopted a double-barreled approach against Mr. Moynihan, the influential chairman of the Finance Committee.

'Yet the topmost ministers, the business world's most influential chairmen acquiesce to its wishes.'

What turned them was the compromise by Representatives Dingell and Gonzalez that ended years of rivalry between the two influential chairman.

Nevertheless, banking experts predicted that some compromise would be struck between the two influential chairmen.

One of the Committee of 100's most influential chairmen was Charles David Grinnell.

Even as the Democrats were passing the strict new disclosure rules, however, at least one influential chairman suggested that he was less than fully committed to the full breadth of their application.

"He gave me something to think about," said Joseph N. Mondello, the influential chairman of the Nassau County Republican Party.

Among the legislators opposed to Xanadu's project is the board's influential chairman, Stephen P. Tenore, who represents New Rochelle.