1001 People Who Made America - Alan Axelrod [15]
Brzezinski, Zbigniew (1928– ) Born in Poland, Brzezinski was the son of a diplomat, who, posted to Canada on the eve of World War II, was unable to return to Poland. Brzezinski left Canada to study at Harvard and became a U.S. citizen in 1958. He taught political science at Harvard and Columbia, served as an adviser to presidential candidates John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, and was named National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter. A strong anti-Communist, Brzezinski played key roles in the ongoing normalization of relations with the People’s Republic of China, the conclusion of the SALT II arms control treaty, the brokering of the Camp David Accords that brought peace between Israel and Egypt, the encouragement of democratic reform in Eastern Europe, and the elevation of human rights to prominence in U.S. foreign policy.
Buchanan, James (1791–1868) As U.S. president from 1857 to 1861, Buchanan drifted badly in a weak effort to find a compromise in the conflict between the North and the South. His failure of leadership helped make the Civil War inevitable. Most historians rate him as one of the worst American presidents, if not the worst. He also has the distinction of being the only bachelor to serve in the White House.
Buffett, Warren (1930– ) An extraordinary investor—founder of the Berkshire Hathaway investment firm—the Nebraska-based Buffett was long known as the “Oracle of Omaha” and amassed a personal fortune that made him the second wealthiest man in the world. In June 2006, Buffett became America’s foremost philanthropist by announcing his intention to contribute some 10 million Berkshire Hathaway shares (worth about $30.7 billion) to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This, the largest single charitable gift in history, makes the Gates Foundation history’s largest charitable organization.
Bunche, Ralph (1904–1971) After earning graduate degrees from Harvard University in 1928 and 1934, Bunche created the Howard University (Washington, D.C.) Department of Political Science. He served in the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) and Department of State during World War II, then was instrumental after the war in planning the United Nations, of which he eventually served as undersecretary general. In 1949, he mediated a truce in the first Arab-Israeli War, for which he was awarded the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize.
Burke, James (1925– ) As CEO of Johnson & Johnson from 1976 to 1989, Harvard-educated Burke presided over a major period in his company’s growth, but he entered into national prominence by his response to the Tylenol poisoning crisis of 1982. During September of that year, seven people in the Chicago area died after swallowing cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules. Instead of waiting for government authorities to take action, Burke ordered the removal of all Tylenol products from store shelves nationwide and even initiated a recall program to buy back Tylenol directly from consumers. Some 31 million bottles of medicine were thus recalled, representing about 100 million retail dollars. Burke’s bold and selfless action saved lives and enabled Johnson & Johnson to restore public confidence in the product after introducing the tamper-resistant packaging that is now industry standard.
Burnham, Daniel (1846–1912) Working in Chicago after the great fire of 1871, Burnham not only designed much of the city’s new commercial architecture, but pioneered the science of urban planning, providing for the city a comprehensive vision of development that had a profound impact on the American urban landscape well into the 20th century.
Burr, Aaron (1756–1836) Burr served on George Washington’s staff during the American Revolution, but