Herbert Hoover
Herbert Hoover is lately remembered as the president who saw the Great Depression begin. But he was an engineer by training and became wealthy through his work for several mining firms around the world. In 1901 he became a partner with Bewick, Moreing & Co. and by the end of the decade would be an independent consultant with investments worldwide. He became known for humanitarian work during World War I and President Harding appointed him Secretary of Commerce. Hoover was a strong proponent of the idea that government and business were riddle with inefficiencies and could be made to run more smoothly.
