Henry Ford II
The grandson who saved Ford Motor Company from post-war collapse, modernizing it into a corporate giant and racing powerhouse.
1917–1987 (age 70)·American businessman·Birthday: September 4·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Henry Ford II inherited not just a name but a company on the brink in 1945. The Ford Motor Company, still a private fiefdom run by his aging grandfather, was losing millions. 'Hank the Deuce,' as he was known, immediately forced out the old guard and installed the brilliant 'Whiz Kids,' a team of former Air Force officers who instituted modern financial and managerial systems. He took the company public in 1956, forever changing its structure. A man of immense appetite and blunt force, he championed the development of the iconic Ford Mustang and personally greenlit Ford's ferocious and successful campaign at Le Mans in the 1960s to beat Ferrari. His tenure was not without turmoil, including clashes with Lee Iacocca and labor unions, but he ultimately steered the family business through the 20th century's most competitive era, ensuring its survival as an industrial titan.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Henry was born in 1917, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Henry Was Born
The biggest hits of 1917
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Henry's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1917Born
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Started school
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1930Became a teenager
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1933Could drive
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1935Could vote
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1938Turned 21
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1947Turned 30
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 40
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 50
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 60
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 70
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
Key Achievements
- Revitalized the nearly bankrupt Ford Motor Company after WWII by hiring the 'Whiz Kids' and implementing modern management techniques.
- Oversaw the company's transition to public ownership with its landmark 1956 initial public offering.
- Personally approved and funded Ford's GT40 racing program, which defeated Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans four years in a row.
- Served as President of the Ford Foundation during a period of its significant growth and influence.
Did You Know?
He was famously fired by his grandfather, Henry Ford, from the company in 1944, only to be reinstated weeks later after his grandfather's wife intervened.
He was a close friend of famed Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham.
The character of Adam Trenton in the novel and film 'The Reckoning' is loosely based on him.
“Never complain, never explain.”
