Episode 11 - The Rockefellers: From Oil to Politics

How does a family whose name was once synonymous with corporate evil transform itself into a symbol of public service and philanthropy? This episode follows the Rockefeller dynasty into the 20th century, focusing on John D. Rockefeller Jr., the son tasked with rehabilitating the family’s tarnished name. We explore how Junior shifted the family’s focus from profit to philanthropy, institutionalizing the giving his father began and creating a powerful public relations machine. The goal was to erase the image of the robber baron and replace it with that of the responsible civic leader.

The key to this transformation was a pivot from business to the corridors of power and influence. We investigate the family’s deep involvement in politics, culminating in Nelson Rockefeller’s rise to Governor of New York and Vice President of the United States. We also examine the creation of powerful, tax-exempt foundations that gave the family immense influence over public policy, medicine, and international affairs for decades. Their vast network, which included the Council on Foreign Relations and the Trilateral Commission, led many to believe they were the shadowy figures truly running the country.

This is the story of the ultimate reputation makeover, a masterclass in using wealth to buy not just assets, but legitimacy and political power. The Rockefellers pioneered a new model for dynastic influence, proving that the greatest power comes not from owning an industry, but from shaping the society that surrounds it. Their name was no longer just on oil barrels, but on university halls and government buildings.