Keating Takes the Fifth

But the last word is yet to be spoken about the thrift fiasco

Until last week financier Charles Keating had insisted on being the final witness at congressional hearings on the $2.5 billion disaster at Lincoln Savings & Loan, so that he could rebut the witnesses who had accused him of staving off a federal crackdown on his troubled thrift by lavishing money on influential politicians. But as the aggressive ex-fighter pilot, Olympic swimmer and pillar of the Phoenix business community was being sworn in before the House Banking Committee, his right hand trembled noticeably. His tanned face flushed, his 6-ft. 5-in. frame slumped, Keating, 66, demanded that television cameras be turned off. Then...

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