In Lew of Geithner

by Michael Hirsh

Washington is all aflutter about the dangers of too much federal debt. But the real danger to the American economy may lie elsewhere, and in an all-too-familiar place. Four years after Wall Street precipitated the worst crash since the Great Depression, the nation’s financial system is again becoming enshrouded in uncertainty and a lack of transparency. At a time when the biggest banks are getting even bigger, and more opaque in their operations, the Dodd-Frank financial regulation law is still not fully implemented, two and a half years after enactment. President Obama’s own attorney general, Eric Holder, even implicitly rebuked his former Cabinet colleague, ex-Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, for allowing the banks to get out of hand. The question now Does Geithner's replacement, Jacob Lew, have the right stuff to rein in Wall Street? In National Journal's first e-Book, In Lew of Geithner, Chief Correspondent Michael Hirsh concludes that it's far more likely that Lew will follow Geithner's path.

70 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2013

About the author

Michael Hirsh is the author of numerous books. During a 40-year career in broadcasting, he produced documentaries and specials for PBS, CBS, ABC and HBO, receiving multiple awards, including the Peabody.

He lives and writes in Punta Gorda, Florida