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On almost every continent, Rockefeller has daringly encouraged Chase to invest in businesses that other banks often would not touch: bowling alleys in Europe, a bus line in the Virgin Islands, petrochemicals in Argentina, steel in Turkey, textiles in Nigeria. Currently, he is leading a determined drive to expand Chase activities in Latin America. This year he braved Brazil's rampant inflation to buy for Chase part-ownership of Rio's Banco Lar and laid out $6,500,000 for a 49% interest in Venezuela's third largest bank, the Banco Mercantily Agricola. But he is far from starry-eyed about the risks in underdeveloped countries, and has a stern conviction that a business venture that cannot be made profitable will not be viable or useful. He also sees to it that his travels show a profit for Chase in the U.S. A first-class economic reporter, he is frequently consulted by businessmen anxious to know whether a particular country is safe for U.S. investment. When he has given his answer, John D. Rockefeller's grandson is not above asking: "Don't you think it's about time to open an account at the Chase?"
Compulsive Overcommitment. Doing his job for the Chase and keeping up with all the Rockefeller outside interests keeps David going at a bone-tiring pace. One typical day recently, he followed up eight hours at the office by acting as host at a reception for 25 ambassadors from foreign countries, then went on to a late evening meeting of one of his charities, and wound up with a midnight session at the Rockefeller Institute. Somehow he manages to start all over again at the Chase at 9 the next morning. Says Wife Peggy; "He has a compulsion to be overcommitted. He shows less strain when he is under strain than anybody else I know." This summer, David's chief relaxation has been active weekends at Seal Harbor with Peggy and their six children.
(The children, four girls and two boys, are seldom photographed for fear of kidnapers.) At Seal Harbor, David swims, golfs (in the low 80s), and sails on one of his three boats (a 36-ft. sloop, a 40-ft. Bermuda yawl and a 40-ft. cabin cruiser).
In Manhattan he humors his wife's love for music by going to concerts with her, but, says a close friend, "concerts are David's sleeping time." On Sundays, at the Baptist Church near his Pocantico estate, he gives forth with a lusty off-key baritone that can be heard several pews away.