The chairman and chief executive of Phelps Dodge , J. Steven Whisler , said yesterday that the two companies have talked about a possible merger for about a decade .
J. Steven Whisler /business/person/company Phelps Dodge
DT NN CC JJ NN IN NNP NNP , NNP NNP NNP , VBD NN IN DT CD NNS VBP VBN IN DT JJ NN IN IN DT NN .
J. Steven Whisler
PERSON
Phelps Dodge
ORGANIZATION
/business/person/company