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The Creature from Jekyll Island

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The Creature from Jekyll Island

A Second Look at the Federal Reserve

American Media,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

The US Federal Reserve was actually born in secret on a secluded island; its architects were the world’s most powerful men.

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Editorial Rating

5

Recommendation

While the US Congress officially created the Federal Reserve in 1913, contrarian G. Edward Griffin believes it was born in secret on a secluded island in 1910, designed by a handful of the world’s most powerful men. Griffin, president of American Media and author of The Discovery of Noah’s Ark, leads a circuitous journey through a different version of history, a recounting that bolsters his belief that mighty cabals aim to subjugate the United States to a new world government. Griffin sees the Federal Reserve System as the primary instrument of these enigmatic groups, since he believes that it manipulates economies and people while meeting in closed session. Readers who enjoy conspiracy theories will find much to ponder in Griffin’s book, which is extensive in length and conjecture. More realistic readers may want to do some fact checking. While always politically neutral, getAbstract suggests this alternative take on economic and political history only to those who are curious about Griffin’s ideas or who like a good international economics horror story and aren’t picky about facts. Even the author says his saga is “incredible, which means unbelievable,” and he’s right, though he expects his audience to accept “the evidence of the truth of this story.” Griffin’s history may indicate how far to the edge some fringe thinkers really sit (unless you agree with his theories – and some do – in which case, you will have a good time reading along as he builds his case).

Summary

It Came from Jekyll Island

One night in November 1910, a train left New Jersey heading south. A luxurious railcar at the end of the train carried six secretive figures who had arrived at the station separately and who were under strict orders to use only their first names, even with each other. The railcar decoupled from that train in Raleigh, North Carolina, and hitched to another for the trip to Brunswick, Georgia, where it was just a short boat ride to Jekyll Island. The island belonged to financier J.P. Morgan; and the visitors – a senator, the assistant secretary of the US Treasury and four bankers – represented 25% of the world’s wealth at that time. The group met at this secluded locale to conspire about the creation of a central bank that would have five goals: “stop the growing competition from the nation’s newer banks; obtain a franchise to create money out of nothing...” and to “get control of the reserves of all banks so that the more reckless ones would not be exposed to currency drains and bank runs; get the taxpayer to pick up the cartel’s inevitable losses; and convince Congress that the purpose was to protect the public.”

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About the Author

G. Edward Griffin is president of American Media, a publishing and video company. He is also the author of The Discovery of Noah’s Ark and The Open Gates of Troy.


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