The American History Association approved the nomination of David Rubenstein, Founder, Carlyle Group, as the recipient of the 2013 Roosevelt–Wilson Award. I find it odd that Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson took on Robber Barons of their day. Rubenstein certainly fits the modern day Robber Baron as a private equity underwriter (PEU).
An interest in the Declaration of Independence led Rubenstein in early 2013 to Monticello, home of the Declaration’s principal author, Thomas Jefferson. Inspired by his visit, Rubenstein donated $10 million to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation to support projects at the site that could better tell Jefferson’s story.Rubenstein and Jefferson shared early career idealism and a later obsession with money over those very ideals. The winners get to write history and that means our times will be PEU authored.
