''The worst thing we could do is to gloss over the split on the board, make some superficial changes in governance, and see the whole scenario repeated three or four years from now," the Medtronic Inc. executive wrote.
''I do not think the board can continue kidding itself that it wants a strong leader and then not giving that person the authority to lead," he said. Four years later, the group's next CEO, Marsha Evans, would resign in the aftermath of Katrina, citing board friction.
Senator Charles Grassley, Republican of Iowa, calling for immediate changes, warned the Red Cross board yesterday that ''business as usual cannot continue." He said the documents raise questions about the Red Cross's ability to keep close watch on billions of dollars in donations.
''This type of culture, a culture that discourages people from coming forward, management that does not want to hear the bad news, and is more concerned about good press than good results, is a theme that I am hearing too often," said Grassley, who as Finance Committee chairman oversees charitable organizations.
His committee released the documents yesterday.
In a statement, the Red Cross said it would fully cooperate with the committee's review. The charity has said it responded to Katrina the best it could in circumstances almost unimaginable, while acknowledging that it stumbled in ''technology, logistics, and coordination."
''The American Red Cross is committed to learning from our prior challenges and making the necessary changes," the charity said yesterday, noting it had recently launched an independent audit to review operations.
A House report earlier this month on the Katrina response found the Red Cross was overwhelmed by shortages of water, food, and other supplies and by a disorganized shelter process. Some lawmakers have called for a change to the national response plan that now gives the Red Cross the primary role and the dollars that flow with it.
