Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-08-24
HEADLINE PERSONALITY
Rockefeller Wealthy,
But No Easy Touch
BY PAUL MARTIN

tune was eSJlmaCeQ IN lSDo ~
close to So billion. Mr.. Rookie
feller's Democratic opponent in
the November race. Gov. Az
erell Hartman, is said to have
q personal fortune Of at least
$50 million, much of it an in
heritance from the railroad en-
pire Of his father, Edward H.
Hartman.
Although Nelson Rockefeller
lists himself in the current
edition Of who's Who" as a
corporation executive" he has
made a name for himself as a
statesman, adviser to Presi-
dents, philanthropist and pa
tron Of the arts.
Known for Money
Most Of all, however, he Is
known for his money. "Rich
as Rockefeller" long ago re-
placed the classic phrase, rich
as Croesus."
Gle says he once asked the
chef at Antoine's restaurant in
New Orleans why the house
speciality was called "Oysters
Rockefeller" The chef replied,
Because the sauce is SO rich.")
Nelson Rockefeller was born
July 8, 1908, at the family sum-
mer home at Bar Harbor, Me.
The second son of John D.
Rockefeller, jr., he was named
after his maternal grandfather,
Senator Nelson w. Aldrich of
Rhode Island, who was known
as general manager of the
United States Senate" during
the early part Of the goth Gen.
fury.
His uncle is Winthrop AID
rich, former chairman Of the
board of the Chase Manhattan
National Bank and former AM
bassador to Britain.
In a wedding attended by
$500 guests, Nelson was mar
ried on June %, 1880. to Mary
Todmunter Clark, who comes
from a family of Philadelphia
Democrats. Her cousin is Dem
ocratic Senator Clark of Penn
sylvania.
No easy Touch"
Although Nelson Rockefeller
together with his father and
brothers has given away mil
lions for charity, he does not
like to be regarded as an easy
touch" He is price conscious,
waits for change when he buys
a newspaper or magazine (al-
though he often as not later
gives it back as a tip, will pick
up the tab for lunch or a round
of drinks, but expects the other
fellow to do the same when his
turn comes.
Nelson's first job after Dart
mouth College was as a clerk
in the Chase National Bank in
New York. He also served in
the London and Paris branches.
Later, taking out a real estate
brokerage license, he helped
rent Rockefeller Center, where
he has his own Office today. He
became president and board
chairman of the Mid-Manhat-
tan skyscraper city.
AS a director of Creole Petro-
leum Co. IA Standard Oil sub
sidiary in Venezuela), Nelson
travelled widely in South Amer
lea between 1887 and 1910. He
became alarmed over the Nazi
and Fascist influences in the
Latin countries and sent a
memo regarding them to Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
Given Office
Mr.. Roosevelt created the
office of Inter-American Affairs
in 1910 and named Mr.. Rookie
feller-then 80 years old-as
co-ordinator. The Office COM
piled a blacklist" of 1900 in
dividuals and firms regarded as
Nazi sympathizers and for
warded it to United States COM
panies doing business south of
the border.
That same year President
Roosevelt advised Nelson to dis
regard the military draft and
to remain in Washington, where
he could be of greater service.
Mr.. Rockefeller later served UNI
der Mr.. Roosevelt, and then
President Truman, as an As
sistant Secretary of State for
Latin American Affairs.
Throughout the New Deal"
and Fair Deal" administra-
tons, Mr.. Rockefeller retained
his Republican registration.
Just as Gov. Hartman has
been called ''the foremost
champion of Trumanism," Mel
son Rockefeller today could be
regarded as New York's out
standing example of "Eisen-
howeriSm." After World War
II he was among the big bust
nessmen who brought Eisen-
hover to New York as president
of Columbia University. He
was a prominent leader in the
1852 Eisenhower for President"
movement.
Heads Commission
After Mr.. Eisenhower was
elected, he named Mr.. Rookie
Teller to head a three-man COM
mission planning Government
reorganization. He was APP
pointed $17,50o-a-year under
secretary of the health, educa-
ton and welfare department
in 1858, after his planning
group recommended it.
In 1854 he became special as
siStant to the President on
foreign policy and in that
capacity accompanied Mr.. Eli
senhower to the 1855 summit"
conference in Geneva. Later
that wear. he returned to pri-