In their graves

In 1933, FDR said: "Americans must forswear that conception of wealth which, through excessive profits, creates undue private power over private affairs and, to our misfortune, over public affairs as well." FDR then proceeded to exact revenge upon business.

In contrast, Andrew Mellon believed in the deliberate, long-term accumulation of capital whereby a company might grow and strengthen and, if necessary, wait out competitors and lean times. He was an undaunted capitalist.

FDR sought revenge against the "economic tyranny" of Titans of wealth like Mellon. He said "the American citizen could appeal only to the organized power of Government" (to combat) this "economy tyranny." In his presidential campaign of 1936 FDR, scapegoated the wealthy as never before in American history. His New Deal changed America indelibly, sounding the death knell for the unbridled capitalism and unregulated individualism of which Mellon had been a child, an instrument, a beneficiary, an icon, and, ... a scapegoat.

After the New Deal, our nation was "turning from the mere exploitation of wealth to its fairer distribution,"rewarding not pioneering capitalists, but engineers, economists and statesmen. On and on and on unto the Obama administration.

In their respective graves, FDR would be proud, Mellon would turn over.