John K. Winkler

John Winkler, the son of a Baptist divine who was an eye-witness to the Gates-Rockefeller era [174], chronicled the career of John D. Rockefeller, the world's first billionaire, in an entertaining style described by the New York Times as a "rattlety-bang" expose.
The "story" is more complex, but it is this in simple: John D. cheated his way to great wealth, and made so many enemies that even his children and grandchildren, innocent of his malevolence, were hated by the entire country. "Grappling with this, the most serious problem of his life, John D.'s keen, cool mind worked out a solution. Benevolence." [172] Rockefeller did not originate the Benevolent Trust concept, however. [173] The originator was Frederick Taylor Gates, a young Baptist minister John D. privately designates as "the most valuable individual with whom I have ever associated." [173-178]
Not only did he make undreamed of wealth, but his vehicle was a surprise even to himself: Of the oil discoveries, he said "We did not dream of the later expansion in the uses of our products".… (more)