April 20, 1997: Jobs on Ellison: He’s my Best Buddy

Oracle founder Larry Ellison was rattling public sabers about taking over Apple Computer and installing Steve Jobs as CEO, which is interesting because, generally speaking, you want to keep corporate takeovers as quiet as possible lest investors drive the price of the stock up needlessly.

While many scoffed at the overly public takeover talks, there might have been a seed of truth in the public swaggering. Ellison was then touting internet appliances that eschewed Microsoft Windows and stated that he believed Apple would be the perfect manufacturer for such devices.

The takeover talks were damaging to then Apple president Gil Amelio, who luckily had the full support of Steve Jobs. Jobs said (of Ellison):

"He's my best buddy, but there are some things you don't know about your best buddy. I have made it clear to Gil that Gil doesn't have to be afraid that I'm trying to help someone else take over the company."

Turns out Steve was telling the truth; he had no interest in helping someone else take over the company. His interest lay in taking over Apple himself.

The public posturing and defensive maneuvers reached a fever pitch this week in 1997.

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