Though it is not featured on the fronts of greeting cards or in the illustrated pages of nostalgic calendars, obsession with success is one of the greatest American pastimes.For some, it simply means following the lives of celebrities in the gossip columns.For others, it means starting a business or landing an acting role.For James Piermont (J.P.) Morgan, it meant dominating the most promising nation in the world, along with its most promising city, New York. As a figurative father of the city, Morganâ??s wellbeing was intertwined with New Yorkâ??s. He was proud of his city; it was a reflection of his influence. He was an essential part of the promotion of New York Cityâ??s image â?? such as the Hudson-Fulton Celebration, seeking to showcase his domain as a powerful one.
By the time he served as a member of the Hudson-Fulton Commission, Morgan had already established himself as a nearly all-powerful and omniscient entity in the business world. However, his widely accepted image as a naturally ingenious, conservative powerhouse did not come to exist without extensive conditioning. Morganâ??s training and experiences during his early life shaped him to become the essential asset that he was to the Hudson-Fulton Commission.
