In the 1940s, the name Henry J. Kaiser was magic. Based on the
success of his shipyards, Kaiser was hailed by the national media
as the force behind a 'can-do' production miracle and credited by
the American public with doing more to help President Roosevelt win
World War II than any other civilian. Kaiser also built an empire
in construction, cement, magnesium, steel, and aluminum--all based
on government contracts, government loans, and changes in
government regulations. In this book, Stephen Adams offers Kaiser's
story as the first detailed case study of 'government
entrepreneurship.' Taking a fresh look at the birth of modern
business-government relations, he explores the symbiotic connection
forged between FDR and Kaiser. Adams shows that while Kaiser
capitalized on opportunities provided by the growth of the federal
government, FDR found in Kaiser an industrial partner whose
enterprises embodied New Deal goals. The result of a confluence of
administration policy and entrepreneurial zeal, Kaiser's dramatic
rise illustrates the important role of governmental relations in
American entrepreneurial success.
Originally published in 1997.
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