W. House surveying aides on Enron contacts

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- The White House launched an effort Monday to find out what links senior Bush administration aides might have had with Enron before its collapse.

The White House sent a survey to an array of senior administration aides asking whether they were contacted by Enron or had an any communications with major federal Cabinet-level and regulatory agencies relating to Enron last year.

The survey was created in response to questions from the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs that is exploring the Enron debacle and the company's contacts with the Bush administration during its financial struggles, said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

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A memo to senior administration aides was sent by White House counsel Alberto Gonzales.

In the attached survey, administration aides were first asked to answer whether Enron in 2001 asked for "any help of any kind in connection with the company's financial difficulties?"

Those surveyed are given the option of answering, "Yes," "No," or, "I'd like to discuss [with White House lawyers]."

The second question asked administration aides if they had any contact with Enron that related to these major departments and agencies:

All of those departments and agencies had dealings with Enron over financing and projects and/or had government oversight over some of its programs, including its retirement plans and government contracts.

The third question listed those same agencies and asked the administration aides if they had contacted any official or employee at the agencies relating to Enron in 2001.

The memo was sent to all assistants to the president, deputy assistants to the president and special assistants to the president. Nearly 100 people are designated as such.

It also went to "designated additional personnel in four other government offices:

Those receiving the survey were told they can check their records if they have any questions about their contacts. The administration previously had promised Congress and the Justice Department it would make sure all records of Enron contacts would be preserved.

Administration officials have repeatedly said there was no evidence of inappropriate contacts with the energy trading company and have predicted any inquiries would reach the same conclusion.

The memo asked that the surveys be returned no later than May 10.