In an Uncertain World

In January 1995, Robert Rubin became the secretary of treasury, swearing in at a brisk ceremony held only by himself and a few colleagues. As soon as the ceremony was over, he began an emergency meeting with Bill Clinton on how to resolve the financial crisis in Mexico. This wasn't just a harbinger of things to come during what would prove to be a rocky period in the global economy; it also captured the essence of Robert Rubin himself--short on formality, quick to get down to business. From his early years in the storied arbitrage department at Goldman Sachs to his current position as chairman of the executive committee of Citigroup, Robert Rubin has been a major figure at the center of the American financial system. He was a key player in the longest economic expansion in U. S. history.