The last living grandson of Standard Oil's John D. Rockafeller died in his sleep due to congestive heart failure at his New York home in Pantico Hills Monday. Along with being the leader behind JP Morgan Chase, David Rockafeller's many accomplishments span the globe. "No individual has contributed more to the commercial and civic life of New York City over a long period than David Rockafeller," says former mayor Michael Bloomberg.
In honor of the newly deceased, we shall take a look at the achievements obtained in the life of David Rockafeller and how the times with him impacted the nation as well as the world as a whole.
Born in 1915 New York City to the legendary John D. Rockafeller, Jr. and his wife Abigail Green Aldrich Rockafeller, David became an intricate part of the ExxonMobil success as well as a loyal guardian of his family's fame and fortune for over a century.
A destined financial success for America
Graduating from Harvard University in 1936 and then receiving his doctorate in economics from the University of Chicago in 1940, the Honorable David Rockafeller served in the U.S. military during World War II before becoming senior management at Chase Bank. He merged the bank with The Manhattan Company in 1955, making him president of the company in 1961 then chairman and CEO nearly a decade later.
After establishing such a remarkable feat, David became the voice of capitalism and lived for bringing prosperity to the Third World by creating consumers for American products.
He is one of the prominent co-founders that formed the Council of the Americas. In 1992, he brought forth the "Western Hemisphere free trade area" which later converted into the Free Trade Area of the Americas later on in 1994. Forbes has listed him as the 581st billionaire with a net worth estimated at $3.3 billion.
A determined contribution to the world
David Rockafeller has achieved much overseas in other countries that most don't even care to believe. He opened the first American bank in both China and Moscow. He was also the main operation behind Chase Manhattan's exponential growth in Japan, the Middle East, and Latin America.
He strongly supported live action on climate change and even served as executive committee chair to his mother's Museum of Modern Art.
Rockafeller Foundation president Rajiv Shah said that "David was one of the world's foremost advocates for the power of partnership and collaboration."
The political ties
Rockafeller has had himself and his family his name closely affiliated with every U.S. president since Eisenhower. He has even advised them on some of their major business ventures as an unofficial emissary. A lifelong Republican and contributor to the Republican Party, he has also reportedly had ties to the CIA and the interests of Saddam Hussein and Fidel Castro.
One of his most notable political influences was when he convinced President Jimmy Carter to let the shah of Iran into the U.S. for his cancer treatments back in 1979-a movement that resulted in the Iranian Revolution.
Well rounded in the U.S. and foreign countries, Rockafeller observed hundreds of heads of state while being known as a vibrant advocate for American capitalism.
Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush acknowledges David's "keen aptitude for issues" as his support for the humanity of America gave a lot of people everywhere the opportunity to become a part of America's great heritage.
An asset to Foreign Relations
The Clintons define Mr. Rockafeller as a "kind, good man" who reminded us that popularity and fortune could be put to good use in the America as well as the rest of the world. A notable scholar and businessman, this great humanitarian had a permanent connection as the director of the Council of Foreign Relations since 1949. He continued as a member of the Rockafeller Foundation to be concrete evidence of their mission statement by "promoting the well-being of humanity throughout the world."
