Why Is John D Rockefeller Alive

Sherry Nyeo
Mrs. Binion
LA11, Period 7
October 2, 2017
If John D Rockefeller were alive today, he would have seen automobiles whiz past on crisscrossing highways, linking the modern world together. He would have witnessed planes cruise lazily up ahead, a small bright speck in the startling blue sky. He would have caught the tart whiff of exhaust as trucks labored to faithfully deliver products right to people’s doorsteps. If Rockefeller were alive today, he would have seen the energetic life of present-day transportation that his creation fueled. Known not just for a prosperous businessman but also for being a charitable giver to society, Rockefeller lives on in history as the founder of Standard Oil, the company that incorporated gasoline
Some adversaries claimed his acts of charity as merely a means to escape all the antagonism pointed towards Rockefeller, as his company, through dishonorable ways, grew prodigious enough to have considerable hold over the economy of America. But others insisted Rockefeller never did anything shifty or duplicitous. “We have abundant evidence that Rockefeller's consistent policy was to offer fair terms to competitors and to buy them out[...]his wealth was ‘the least tainted of all the great fortunes of his day.’” (Latham, Earl) Rockefeller himself despised people who only worked for gaining affluence and prosperity, declaring, “I know not nothing more despicable and pathetic than a man who devotes all the hours of the waking day to the making of money for money’s sake.”(Bearded Colonel) He believed that his company, by absorbing the weaker, less competitive opponents, was able to strengthen and stabilize the oil enterprise. Rockefeller believed he was doing good for the society by offering more efficient and higher quality fuel under one firm and dependable producer, and that he was the “savior of the industry”. (Segall,
He also held his minister’s advice,“Get money. Get it honestly and give it wisely.”, to heart, writing down the piece of guidance in his handbook and often reflecting upon it. Rockefeller believed the moment he received the preaching was the moment his life goal and responsibility was set: to obtain money, not for himself, but for giving to the unfortunate that do not have his ability to earn a living for themselves. He passed along his ideology to his descendants, frequently writing letters of correspondence with his son, John Jr. (Rockefeller, John, Dear Father, Dear Son: Correspondence of John D Rockefeller and Jr), and on his visits to his grandchildren, he bade them: “Do you know what would hurt grandfather a great deal? To know that any of you boys should become wasteful, extravagant, careless with his money […] Be careful, boys, and then you’ll always be able to help unfortunate people. That is your duty, and you must never forget it.” (Bailey, Joshua) It is evident that from the cautioning Rockefeller gave to his successors that he valued his “god-blessed gift” of making money as his way for contributing to