born May 11, 1891, New York, N.Y., U.S.
died Feb. 6, 1967, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
U.S. public official.
He was editor of American Agriculturist (192233) and a close friend of Franklin D. Roosevelt . As secretary of the treasury in Roosevelt's cabinet (193445), he was responsible for financing the programs of the New Deal and the enormous military expenditures of World War II. Over $370 billion was spent during the period, three times more money than was spent by the 50 previous secretaries of the treasury. He resigned after Roosevelt's death and retired to his farm.