Greenspan, through a spokeswoman, disputed claims that he did not have an open-door policy with the legislative branch.
Greenspan said, “I do not recall ever turning down a meeting request from a member of Congress.”
While many members compared Greenspan to Bernanke, some of them pointed out that Bernanke is in the early stages of his reign. Most members of Congress were not in Washington when Greenspan’s first term started in 1987.
The topics tackled during the high-powered meetings with Bernanke varied, lawmakers say, but it isn’t always about the financial markets, inflation and interest rates.
Capuano said he and Bernanke talked about their mutual love for the Red Sox last fall as Boston was on its way to winning the World Series.
McHenry said he discussed some Southern history with Bernanke, who was raised in South Carolina.
While Federal Reserve chairmen have to choose their public words carefully — the world’s markets are hanging on every one of them — lawmakers say that Bernanke is not as guarded behind closed doors.
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the ranking member on the Budget Committee who met with Bernanke in February, said the chairman is “very direct.” Likewise, Campbell characterized Bernanke’s style as “remarkably direct” when the microphones are off.
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) said Bernanke “listened intently” to his views on the economy, though Bernanke was careful not to endorse Meeks’s contention that the nation is in a recession.
In January, Bernanke had a photo-op with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Reid. Months later, Bernanke held a photo-op with Republican leaders.
Other members who have met or had private conversations with Bernanke include Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Reps. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), John Spratt (D-S.C.), Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) and Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.).
Bernanke has met with groups representing both the left and right of the political spectrum, as well as powerful industry associations and consumer groups.
Ed Yingling, head of the American Bankers Association, got together with Bernanke last year and found him to be very inquisitive.
“He gives you the impression he loves to absorb information,” Yingling said, adding that Bernanke asked many questions seeking to gather data about the state of the economy.
Other groups Bernanke met with include Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow/PUSH coalition, the National Center for Policy Analysis, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Citigroup, the National Association of Home Builders, AARP, the World Bank, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and the National Consumer Law Center.
Over the past year, Bernanke has had lunch with Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Greenspan. Many foreign leaders also have sought Bernanke’s time. For example, he had breakfast with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in April.
By far, the person Bernanke has consulted with the most is Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, the man who — like Bernanke — has faced some of the toughest decisions to remedy the economic difficulties facing the United States.
Bernanke’s schedule showed he did not come into the office on the federal holiday of Martin Luther King Jr. Day but was working during the weekends following the collapse of Bear Stearns.
A week after the Bear Stearns news became public, Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), who had clinched the GOP presidential nomination a few weeks earlier, called Bernanke and had a 15-minute discussion with him, according to the chairman’s schedule.
A Board spokesman said, “Chairman Bernanke seeks the views of a wide variety of people and groups, including members of Congress from both sides of the aisle and representatives of business and consumer organizations.”
The entire list of Bernanke’s meetings is available here and here .
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