Keeping at It: The Quest for Sound Money and Good Government. This item is unavailable.Keeping at It: The Quest for Sound Money and Good Government

Paul Volcker has devoted his life's work to public service and the critical importance of open, disciplined and efficient government. As chairman of the Federal Reserve (1979-1987) he literally rescued the American economy from destroying itself, summoning the courage to take radical and controversial steps to slay the inflation dragon. And whenever the going got really tough--the financial crash of 2008, the need to reform banking, the oil for food UN scandal, the turmoil in Switzerland over theft of Holocaust victims, cheating in Major League Baseball--US presidents and other leaders said to "get Volcker in here to help me work this thing through."

Told with wit, humor, and down-to-earth erudition, Volcker's memoir brings to life the changes that have taken place in American life, government, and the economy since World War II. Readers will of course find his penetrating insight into the strengths, weaknesses, and foibles of presidents, chancellors, and finance ministers of great interest. But the person who stands above all and resonates most is his father, the town manager of Teaneck, N.J.--Volcker's role model throughout his life of the critical importance of good government and the absolute need for dedicated, experienced public servants to competently lead us through the changes that await us in our lifetime.

Paul A. Volcker worked in the United States Federal Government for almost 30 years, culminating in two terms as chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from 1979-1987. Earlier he served as Undersecretary of the Treasury for Monetary Affairs and president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Since leaving the Federal Reserve Mr. Volcker has continued his public service: as chairman of the Volcker Alliance; as head of President Obama's Economic Recovery Advisory Board; chair of the investigation of the UN's Oil-for-Food program; and head of the committee formed by Swiss and Jewish organizations to investigate deposit accounts and other assets in Swiss banks of victims of Nazi persecution and to arrange for their disposition.

Educated at Princeton, Harvard, and the London School of Economics, Mr. Volcker is a recipient of honorary doctorates from each of his "alma maters," as well as a number of other American and foreign universities.

Christine Harper has been a financial reporter and editor for more than two decades. She is the editor of Bloomberg Markets and previously was executive editor responsible for overseeing Bloomberg News's global coverage of financial companies.