1920's Government and Politics | Mellon, Andrew W. 1855-1937

SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, 1921-1932

Millionaire Cabinet Secretary.

As President Warren Harding's secretary of the treasury, Andrew Mellon, a Pittsburgh multimillionaire, molded the relationship between government and business during the 1920s, a relationship that influenced politics throughout the decade. Before entering government service, Mellon had an exceptionally successful career as a financier in various businesses, including oil and aluminum. Harding appointed Mellon as treasury secretary on the advice of Philander Knox, a prominent Republican senator from Pennsylvania and a longtime friend of Mellon. Mellon's age, wealth, career banking experience, and conservative Republican connections suggested he would probably endorse traditional, old-line conservative policies, and he did.

Mellon's Economic Philosophy.

Committed to retrenchment and economy in government, Secretary of the Treasury Mellon...