MY FIRST THANKS, needless to say, are due to my editor, Tim Duggan; his assistant, John Williams; and my agent, Katinka Matson.
Eleanor Mikucki did an excellent job of copyediting.
I must also express my sincere thanks to the editors and publishers of American Heritage who have given me the opportunity for the last fifteen years to write about the American economy in all its manifold aspects. This book could not have come into being otherwise.
I would also like to thank all those who have helped in many ways, especially: Marc Arkin, Ron Chernow, Walter Olson, Jean Strouse, and William L. Zeckendorf.