Alan Greenspan

Alan Greenspan was an American economist who served as the 13th chair of the Federal Reserve from 1987 to 2006. First nominated by President Ronald Reagan in August 1987, he was reappointed at successive four-year intervals until retiring in January 2006, after the second-longest tenure in the position behind only William McChesney Martin; President George W. Bush appointed Ben Bernanke as his successor. Greenspan came to the Federal Reserve Board from a consulting career, and although subdued in public appearances, favorable media coverage raised his profile to the point that several observers likened him to a rock star. Democratic leaders of Congress criticized him for politicizing his office because of his support for social security privatization and tax cuts.