Summary of David Gelles's The Man Who Broke Capitalism

Book excerpt: Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 In 1980, Ronald Reagan was elected president with the slogan Let’s Make America Great Again. The new president’s economic policy, Reaganomics, prioritized lower taxes, decreased regulation, and a favorable attitude toward Wall Street. #2 When Welch took over as CEO, he was very different from Jones. He was impatient, impulsive, and crass. He spoke with a thick Boston accent, and when he grew angry, a stutter flared up. He loathed hierarchy and bureaucracy, and didn’t care what people thought of him as long as he was making money for the company. #3 In the mid-1970s, Welch went on tour with a GE joint venture in Japan, where he was shocked by the manufacturing process. When America’s standing in the world was questioned in 1980, Welch and Jones wrote a letter to shareholders acknowledging the need for urgent change. #4 Jack Welch, the iconic chairman of GE, drastically overcorrected when he took over. He abandoned American manufacturing and began shutting down factories around the country.