Creative Capital

TWELVE

HOW THE WEST WON

(1972–1980)

ARD’S MERGER WITH TEXTRON “was a mess from day one,” says James F. Morgan, then a vice president of the firm. “A total mess.” Even before the two companies sealed the deal, Textron’s management reckoned their acquisition of ARD was not going to be a harmonious affair. A short time before the merger vote, a dinner was arranged at 12 Lime Street at which G. William Miller and his top lieutenants tried to “make love to the ARD staff,” according to Morgan. But instead of a love-fest, the dinner devolved into a food fight.

ARD staffers were already unhappy that their beloved baby had been sold out from underneath them. Now, as they watched Miller blow smoke about the merger, their anger only intensified. He promised ...