American financier Pete Peterson will receive the John C. Whitehead Award from the American Museum of Finance for his achievement and leadership in the field of finance, as well as his distinct service in the public sector, including formidable terms as President Nixon’s Assistant for International Economic Affairs and Secretary of Commerce:
Peterson is the Founder and Chairman of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, which focuses on “undeniable, unsustainable and untouchable” threats to the nation’s fiscal and economic future and to future generations of Americans. He also serves as Chairman Emeritus and Co-founder of The Blackstone Group, a private investment banking firm, and is the Chairman Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is also founding Chairman of the Peterson Institute for International Economics and founding President of The Concord Coalition. Mr. Peterson was the Co-Chair of The Conference Board Commission on Public Trust and Private Enterprise. He was also Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York from 2000 to 2004.
Prior to founding Blackstone, Mr. Peterson was Chairman and CEO of Lehman Brothers (1973-1977) and later Chairman and CEO of Lehman Brothers, Kuhn, Loeb Inc. (1977-1984). He was Chairman and CEO of Bell and Howell Corporation from 1963 to 1971. In 1971, President Richard Nixon named Mr. Peterson Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs. He was named Secretary of Commerce by President Nixon in 1972. He has received a number of honorary PhD degrees and is the author of several books on the state of the American economy and its politics as well as his recently published memoir.