Report Details Small's Large Smithsonian Abuses

The Smithsonian Institution is the largest museum system in the world. Its former president, Lawrence M. Small, may be one of the largest pricks in the world. He resigned in disgrace this March after revelations he wasted or stole over $2 million in taxpayer money. Details of the inspector general's report indicate a staggering level of arrogance and abuse during his six-year tenure.

In one example, Small spent over $160,000 redecorating his offices while employees of the museums were told to limit their use of lighting to save money for the strapped budget. Between 2000 and 2005 Small spent a total of over $840,000 in office expenses.

Small also received a $1.2 million housing allowance in exchange for allowing his Woodley Park home to be used for Smithsonian functions. Among other things, Small submitted receipts for housekeeping ($273,000) and maintenance ($203,000) including chandelier cleaning ($2,535), a new lap pool heater ($4,000), replacement french doors ($15,000) and a skylight ($5,000).

Debra S. Ritt, the former inspector general, received a call from Small asking her to stop an audit of his expenses after she widened it to include his over $915,000 compensation package. This creep was absent from work 550 days in seven years while earning over $5.7 million on outside work.

Small also shafted taxpayers and the institution by charging $90,000 in unauthorized expenditures, including a trip to Cambodia for his wife, chartered jet travel, hotel rooms and limosine service.

The report concluded that Small's "...attitude and disposition were ill-suited to public service and to an institution that relies so heavily, as the Smithsonian does, on federal government support."