As he jockeyed aggressively through the torrential chaos of downtown Manhattan traffic, the man hunched over the wheel of the fire-engine red 1956 Continental appeared to be unburdening himself of a steady stream of curses. In fact, he was dictating to the secretary at his side a highly technical memorandum on the need for U.S. banks to give long-term loans to foreign importers so that they might buy more U.S. goods. 'T am convinced," he said softly [the Continental's engine roared as it took off toward the next traffic light], "that to generate this kind of credit in sufficient volume [a screech of brakes to avoid a swerving taxi], say on the order of a billion dollars a year [slow glide toward the light that had gone red], our great financial institutional investors such as the insurance companies, the pension funds and the savings banks must be induced to cooperate [another jackrabbit start toward the next light]." The self-possessed driver was David Rockefeller, 47, one of the world's richest men, grandson of Oil Baron John D.
Rockefeller and president of the nation's second biggest bank, New York's Chase Manhattan. On the strength of his name alone, David Rockefeller is entitled to sit with the powerful, but as head of the Chase he is much more—he is a prime mover in a profession that since the days of the Medici has heavily shaped the course of the world's economic affairs.
Rockefeller is one of that little group of men who sit at the financial hub of the world's wealthiest nation and by their nods give the stop or go sign to enterprises from Bonn to Bangkok. They wield vast powers—and yet must correctly size up situations around the world and reckon on economic and social changes bigger than their own power to control. They cannot sit still or their strength diminishes; but when they move, they must be nimble as well as sure.
It takes a peculiar blend of enterprise, prudence, knowledge and dedication, and husky (6 ft., 182 Ibs.) David Rockefeller has shown himself possessed of it. Born to millions, he has used the opportunity that was his by inheritance to apply himself to hard work and public service. Not for him the easy, casual, politically profitable familiarity of his older brother Nelson. ''I work because I enjoy work," says David, "and because it is my duty to use whatever talent I have for a worthwhile purpose." He does not question the worthwhileness of international banking.