“Forgotten Hollywood”- A Man with Drive…
Manny P. here…
“`Lee A. Iacocca was the visionary automaker who ran the Ford Motor Company and then the Chrysler Corporation and came to personify Detroit as the dream factory of America’s postwar love affair with the auto. For a time, Iacocca also became a visible spokesperson on television, creating enthusiasm for auto sales. He was so widely admired, there was serious talk of his running for president of the United States in 1988.
LEE IACOCCA
“`In an industry that has produced legends, from giants like Henry Ford and Walter Chrysler to the birth of the assembly line and freedoms of the road that led to suburbia and a middle class, Iacocca, a son of an immigrant hot-dog vendor, made history as the only executive in modern days to preside over the operations of two of the Big Three car makers. He oversaw the floundering Chrysler Corporation and made it solvent in what critics called one of the brilliant turnarounds in business history.
“`Over a thirty two-year career, he launched some of Detroit’s best-selling vehicles, such as the minivan, Chrysler K-cars and Ford Escort. He also spoke out against what he considered unfair trade practices by Japanese automakers.
“`Television commercials made him one of the nation’s best-known faces. A heroic figure to many Americans, he became chairman of a project to restore the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and was in demand for public appearances. Iacocca conferred with President Ronald Reagan, members of Congress, state governors, business leaders, and often interviewed by the press. Denials of political ambition only fueled public interest in a possible candidacy.
“`In 2008, months before Chrysler and General Motors declared bankruptcy after years of mounting losses, Iacocca visited Auburn Hills, and was greeted with thunderous applause by thousands of Chrysler employees. After retiring, Lee moved to Bel Air, where he invested in electric bicycles, olive oil, and other ventures, and promoted diabetes research.
“`Lee A. Iacocca was 94.
Until next time> “never forget”
This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019 at 8:53 pm and is filed under Blog by Manny Pacheco. You can follow any comments to this post through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
You must be logged in to post a comment.