Samuel W. Anderson
Samuel Wagner Anderson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1898 La Crosse, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | 1962 |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, government official |
| Years active | 1922–1955 |
| Known for | Assistant Secretary of Commerce for International Affairs (1953–1955) |
Samuel Wagner Anderson (1898–1962) was a prominent American entrepreneur who held the position of assistant secretary of commerce for international affairs during President Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration from 1953 until 1955.
Early life and education
Born in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Anderson completed his undergraduate studies at Williams College with cum laude honors and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He further advanced his education by obtaining an MBA with high distinction from the Harvard School of Business. Launching his professional journey in 1922 at Goldman Sachs, he ascended to the roles of vice president and general partner within a decade.
Career
Throughout his career, Anderson transitioned between private sector leadership and government service. In 1941, while serving as a partner at Goldman Sachs, he contributed to the War Production Board by overseeing the expansion of aluminum and magnesium production. Following World War II, he resumed his investment banking career at Lehman Brothers. In 1948, he joined the Economic Cooperation Administration to administer aspects of the Marshall Plan. The subsequent year saw him at the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, where he managed Latin American operations. Later, he took on responsibilities related to aluminum manufacturing within the Defense Production Administration.
In 1953, Anderson was appointed Assistant Secretary of Commerce for International Affairs, where he championed efforts to ease international trade restrictions to support export growth among U.S. allies. He stepped down from this role in 1955 to focus on restoring his personal financial standing and re-entered the private sector. Later in life, he served as honorary fundraising chairman for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and actively engaged in public discourse concerning population control. Additionally, he held a position on the board of trustees for the Population Reference Bureau.
Personal life
In 1926, Anderson wed Lorraine Annette Combs. The couple had two children: Mary Lorraine and Michael Mons.