Russell Cornell Leffingwell

Who was Russell Cornell Leffingwell?

Russell Cornell Leffingwell was a U.S. banker who led the Council on Foreign Relations from 1944 until 1953. From 1944 to 1946, he served as president of the Council, and from 1946 to 1953, he served as the organization's first chairman. He was also a trustee of Carnegie Corporation from 1923 to 1959. His banking career started when he joined JP Morgan in 1923, and he retired as chairman of the company in 1950.

In reference to the economic problems of the early 1930s he is reported to have said: "The remedy is for people to stop watching the ticker, listening to the radio, drinking bootleg gin, and dancing to jazz... and return to the old economics and prosperity based on saving and working".