Biography: J. Pierpont Morgan

John Pierpont Morgan had, in his day, the kind of wealth and power that can only be imagined today. He acted as surety for the United States when it was in financial trouble, bailing it out when necessary. This understandably gave him the ear of the President of the United States. Archival film footage shows Morgan on Wall Street, where he made his millions. He is also seen taking his leisure aboard his yacht, and at his summer homes, where he liked to gamble by playing cards. An individualist, he followed his own drummer. A confirmed believer in astrology, he once said, "Millionaires don't consult astrologers, but billionaires do." Commentary by historians and personal recollections by those who knew him give insight into the character of this unique figure in American history.