because i spend a lot of time with jim milstein. was the restructuring executive who was handling this for the u.s. treasury. and i spend a lot of time with sarah dahlgren, who was also handling it for the new york fed. they told me about the financials. i questioned them about the financials. and my assumption was that they did their due diligence. >> when they briefed you on what was going on at aig and what they knew, were they better or worse than you thought? >> the world thought they were worse than they were. >> you did not? >> i didn't think it was that bad. but it is a question of, if the outside world thinks it is that bad, i have to get you to stop talking about how bad it is. >> and bad it was. aig was expected to be broken up and it's best parts sold off. in 2009, then secretary tim geithner said he wanted aig just successful enough so the taxpayer can get out. benmosche had different plans. he was going to revive the company and pay the taxpayer back. did you ever think you might not? >> no, i did not think i could not