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Hey, what's up? It's Marl Lopez. Back to schools. An exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming and kids may feel isolated, a vulnerability that human traffickers can exploit. Human trafficking doesn't always look like what you expect.
Everyday moments can become opportunities for someone with bad intentions, whether you're a parent, teacher, coach, or neighbor. Check in. Ask questions. Stay connected. Blue Campaign is a national awareness initiative that provides resources to help recognize suspected instances of human trafficking.
Learn the signs and how to report at dhs.gov/slash blue campaign. This is Lee Habib, and this is Our American Stories, the show where America is the star. and the American people coming to you from the city where the West begins. Fort Worth, Texas. Out of all of the so-called robber barons, J.P.
Morgan ranks as one of the most maligned. He is widely credited with having saved the U. S. national economy in general. and the federal government in particular.
on two separate occasions. Let's take a listen to the story. It was the 1800s. And in just 35 short years, America had grown into one of the most powerful countries on the planet. fueled by a group of visionaries who were building a better future.
Cornelius Vanderbilt stopped at nothing to connect the nation via railroads. John D. Rockefeller lit homes from coast to coast. cheaply and safely with his standard oil. Under the strength of Andrew Carnegie's steel, Cities expanded to the sky.
and bridges tighten the nation. And because of J.P. Morgan's business sense and vision, Electricity began powering America. But what exactly did J.P. Morgan do?
And why is it that we all know this man's name? You look at J.P. Morgan, the way he controlled the banking system. Basically, there's one man who just literally dominated the banking industry and essentially dominated financing in the country. JP was a banker.
a very powerful one who pulled the financial strings of wealthy men, and was called on by presidents for what we now know. I'm not sure if I can do it. He was a man who brought order to chaos. a man who made a fortune consolidating broken industries. buying out failing companies and returning them to profitability.
Twice he was called on by American presidents to save the nation's economy. Both times he was criticized for wielding the power for the ability to do so. He was physically large, with massive shoulders. Piercing black eyes that seemed to look through people. He had an enormously disfigured purple nose because of a chronic skin condition called rosacea.
As a result, all of his professional portraits were retouched. Photographer Edward Steichen said. Meeting his blazing dark eyes was like confronting the headlights of a freight train bearing down on you. In 1837, the new steam engine was beginning to transform America. creating new and exciting opportunities.
It was into this world of possibility that John Pierpont Morgan was born. on April 17th in Hartford, Connecticut. The eldest son of Junius Spencer Morgan, the legendary founder of the world's first modern investment bank. and Juliet Pierpont Morgan. the daughter of a fiery preacher.
Young Pierpont was greatly influenced by both his grandfathers. Every Sunday, he accompanied his grandfather Joseph Morgan to the local Episcopal Church. Pierpont loved the services, especially when it came to singing the hymns. His other grandfather, the Reverend John Pierpont, was known for his passionate sermons on man's depravity and the love of Christ. Here's historian Ron Cherneau.
from his purepoint grandfather. Morgan got a streak of romanticism, a streak of morality, and even a certain crusading streak that would be very important in his life. From the time he could count, Pierpont was taught that there was only one way to do business. The Morgan Way. Simply put, invest wisely.
Avoid risk. Pierpont was a relatively solitary child. who preferred reviewing his father's account books outdoor sports. Bierpont's father noticed his son's abilities and over the years groomed him for a career in business. He raised his son Bierpont.
With a great deal of love, but also a great deal of discipline. Junius Bencett Morgan expected that his son would. follow in his footsteps and succeed in uh the business world. But illness plagued Pierpont and often kept him out of school. From the time that he was a boy, he really had two personalities.
One was this very jolly, animated, high-spirited, outgoing boy with tremendous energy and health. But then he would suddenly get these fainting spells, and that was accompanied by a personality that was more that. of a brooding loner. Forced by illness to spend time alone, Pierpont perfected the game of solitaire. a game he played to relax when he felt tense or nervous.
After his first year at college, Pierpont's father decided it was time for his 20-year-old son. to begin his career. and arranged for him to be given a job as a clerk in a Wall Street banking firm. He worked hard. was orderly and absolutely methodical.
and he could add numbers with lightning speed. Here's historian H.W. Brands. J.P. Morgan, understood the game, and at some point he realized that as successful as his father had been, he could become even more successful.
At this time, Pierpont was introduced to a young lady named Amelia Sturgis. or Mimi. and they began dating.
Soon Pierpont was sent to New Orleans, where he stumbled upon a business opportunity that he couldn't resist. A local sea captain was stuck with a shipload of coffee and no buyer. Immediate action was required or the coffee would spoil. Using the firm's money, Pierpont purchased the coffee. and managed to turn a tidy little profit in the process.
In New York, the partners at the bank weren't impressed. They were angry. and thought the venture was risky. But Morgan believed that fortune smiles on those who act fast. and he believed his instincts about people would always make him a winner.
He said the real risk was that he had misjudged the character. of the captain. and that the captain would have lied to him. And this is sort of the quintessential issue of Morgan. He was able to look at people and immediately make a judgment of their character and of their integrity.
and one of his greatest strengths. And you've been listening to the story of J.P. Morgan. And you may have ideas about who Morgan was. And you may indeed have ideas about the robber barons in general.
I mean, the tagline alone. is enough to make people hate these men. But there's also much to know and much to appreciate. And we're learning more about what JP Morgan did, his contribution. to the building of modern America.
When we return, More of the story of J.P. Morgan. on our American stories. Lee Habib here. As we approach our nation's 250th anniversary, I'd like to remind you that all the history stories you hear on this show are brought to you by the great folks at Hillsdale College.
And Hillsdale isn't just a great school for your kids or grandkids to attend, but for you as well. Go to hillsdale.edu to find out about their terrific free online courses. Their series on communism is one of the finest I've ever seen. Again, go to hillsdale.edu and sign up for their free and terrific online courses. Stop settling for weak sound.
It's time to level up your game and bring the boom. Hit the town with the ultra-durable LG X-Boom portable speaker and enjoy vibrant sound wherever you go. Elevate your listening experience to new heights because let's be real, your music deserves it. The future of sound is now with LG X Boom. And for a limited time, save 25% at lg.com with code FALL25.
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Check us out at Teevo.com. Hey, what's up? It's Mario Lopez. Back to schools, an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming and kids may feel isolated, a vulnerability that human traffickers can exploit. Human trafficking doesn't always look like what you expect.
Everyday moments can become opportunities for someone with bad intentions, whether you're a parent, teacher, coach, or neighbor. Check in. Ask questions. Stay connected. Blue Campaign is a national awareness initiative that provides resources to help recognize suspected instances of human trafficking.
Learn the signs and how to report at dhs.gov/slash blue campaign. America is changing. And so is the world. But what's happening in America isn't just a cause of global upheaval. It's also a symptom of disruption that's happening everywhere.
I'm a smakhalid in Washington, D.C. I'm Tristan Redman in London and this is the Global Story. Every weekday, we'll bring you a story from this intersection, where the world and America meet. Listen on bbc.com or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an iHeart podcast.
