Ben Bernanke-Time’s Person of the Year 2009

Ben Bernanke, the 56-year old chairman of the Federal Reserve,  has been chosen as Time Magazine’s Person of the Year 2009.  He is credited with saving the economy.  The Federal reserve is the central bank of the U.S.  It is perhaps the most important and least understood financial force shaping America, and thus, the world economy.

Richard Stengel, managing editor of Time, had the following to say:

The following 4 individuals were runners up:  General McCrystal, Nancy Pelosi, Usain Bolt, and the Chinese worker. 

People have different feelings about Bernanke.  What we all have to agree on is we have no clue what would have happened had another financial road been taken.

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Little Known Facts about Past Persons of the Year

 

 My apologies.  I embedded the wrong video.  12/17/09

Reminder, persons of the year are not always heroes.  Quite often, they have been villans.  The tradition started in 1927  and has featured people who have influenced the world, not necessarily in a good way.  Click  to see past selections.

Who is your favorite ‘person of the year?’  Who is your least favorite?  Do you have your own story to tell?  Who is the only person to be selected 3 times?  When did the selection switch from Man of the Year to Person of the Year?