| "700 families. 700 families.
I can't say it without crying." As American buildings burned, the images of CEOs wearing their humanity and anguish were visible for all to see. Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, lost 700 employees on the company's four World Trade Center floors. The only employees that lived were the 300 who weren't in the company offices that day. Interviewed by ABC News correspondent Connie Chung, Lutnick wept unashamedly on camera for the lost families. "I have no idea why things happen," he said, tears streaming down his face. "But I know of not one of my people who got down . . . 700 families . . . 700 families. I can't say it without crying." Lutnick, whose brother died in the WTC attack, was late for work that day; he had taken his son to the first day of school. By the time he got to his offices, the World Trade Center was in flames. At one point, Lutnick posted his personal phone number on the company's Web site. "I had women calling me saying they didn't know what to do. How were they going to pay the mortgage? How were they going to survive?" Cantor Fitzgerald has started a fund to help families of its employees
that includes a $1 million personal donation from Lutnick. You can donate
to the fund at cantorusa.com.
You can see a part of Chung's interview at:
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