01 - Random Reminiscences of Men and Events by John D. Rockefeller

Dive into the insightful reflections of a prominent figure from the oil revolution of the 20th century. This compelling book embodies the essence of experience, as it chronicles the life of the second highest taxpayer in the U.S. during the 1920s. Though not included in the text, enjoy a glimpse of his wisdom through a poignant poem I was early taught to work as well as play, My life has been one long, happy holiday; Full of work and full of play- I dropped the worry on the way- And God was good to me every day. (Summary by sidhu177)

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Preface of Random Reminiscences of Men and Events by John D. Rockefeller.
This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by William tom Cow Random

(00:23):
Reminiscences of Men and Events by John D. Rockefeller preface.
Probably in the life of every one there comes a
time when he is inclined to go over again the
events great and small which have made up the incidents
of his work and pleasure. And I am tempted to
become a garrulous old man and tell some stories of

(00:44):
men and things which have happened in an active life.
In some measure I have been associated with the most
interesting people our country has produced, especially in business, men
who have helped largely to build up the commerce of
the United States, and who have made known its products
all over the world. These incidents which come to my

(01:04):
mind to speak of, seemed vitally important to me when
they happened, and they still stand out distinctly in my memory.
Just how far any one is justified in keeping what
he regards as his own private affairs from the public,
or in defending himself from a tax is a mooted point.
If one talks about one's experiences, there is a natural

(01:25):
temptation to charge one with traveling the easy road to egotism.
If one keeps silence, the inference of wrong doing is
sometimes even more difficult to meet, as it would then
be said that there is no valid difference to be offered.
It has not been my custom to press my affairs
forward into public gaze. But I have come to see

(01:46):
that if my family and friends want some record of
things which might shed light on matters that have been
somewhat discussed, it is right that I should yield to
their advice, and, in this informal way, go over again
some of the events which have made life interesting to me.
There is still another reason for speaking now. If a

(02:07):
tenth of the things that have been said are true,
then these dozens of able and faithful men who have
been associated with me, many of whom have passed away,
must have been guilty of grave faults. For myself, I
had decided to say nothing, hoping that after my death
the truth would gradually come to the surface and posterity

(02:27):
would do strict justice. But while I live and can
testify to certain things. It seems fair that I should
refer to some points, which I hope will help to
set forth several much discussed happenings in a new light.
I am convinced that they have not been fully understood.
All these things affect the memories of men who are

(02:48):
dead and the lives of men who are living, and
it is only reasonable that the public should have some
first hand facts to draw from in making up its
final estimate. When these reminiscences were begun, there was of
course no thought that they should ever go so far
as to appear between the covers of a book. They
were not prepared with the idea of even an informal autobiography.

(03:12):
There was a little idea of order or sequence, and
no thought whatever of completeness. It would have been a pleasure,
as well as a satisfaction, to dwell with some fullness
upon the stories of daily and intimate companionship which existed
for so many years with my close partners and associates.
But I realize that while these experiences have always been

(03:34):
to me among the great pleasures of my life, along
account of them would not interest the reader. And thus
it happens that I have but mentioned the names of
only a few of the scores of partners who have
been so active in building up the business interests with
which I have been associated. J D R. March nineteen

(03:54):
o nine. End of preface record recording by William tom
Coe