Leland Stanford: The Life and Legacy of the Railroad Executive Who Became California's Governor and the West's Most Famous Robber Baron

*Includes pictures*Includes a bibliography for further reading“The employee is regarded by the employer merely in the light of his value as an operative. His productive capacity alone is taken into account.” – StanfordFor many people, the Gilded Age and the dawn of the 20th century continue to be remembered for monopolies, trusts, and economic giants in heavy industries like railroads, oil, and steel. Men like Andrew Carnegie built empires like Carnegie Steel, and financiers like J.P. Morgan merged and consolidated them. The era also made names like Astor, Cooke, and Vanderbilt instantly recognizable across the globe. Over time, the unfathomable wealth generated by the businesses made the individuals on top incredibly rich, and that in turn led to immense criticism and an infamous epithet used to rail against them: robber barons.The industrial might wielded by these executives in the late 19th century directly led to a public backlash and made President Teddy Roosevelt the “trust buste