Heller, Walter W.

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Walter Heller was born on August 27, 1915 in Buffalo, New York. He received his B.A. degree from Oberlin College in 1935, his M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from the University of Wisconsin in 1938 and 1941, respectively. Professor Heller began his career at the University of Minnesota in 1946 as a professor of economics and awarded the highest faculty distinction, Regents' Professor, in 1967. He was also chair of the department from 1957 until 1960. Professor Heller took a leave from the University from 1961-1964 to serve as the chairman of the President's Council of Economic Advisors for both President Kennedy and President Johnson. He retired in June 1986 from the University. Professor Keller passed away on June 16, 1987.

From the guide to the Walter Heller papers, 1933-1984, (University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc])

Walter Wolfgang Heller (1915-1987) was son of Ernst and Gertrude (Warmburg) Heller. He married Emily K. Johnson on September 16, 1938. Considered one of the leading economists of the post-war era, Walter Heller served as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors in the Kennedy Administration. During this brief tenure, some analysts believe, Heller may have permanently altered the American economy. Heller decided on a career in economics during the Depression and served as a fiscal economist for the Treasury Department from 1942 until 1946. In 1946 he began teaching at the University of Minnesota. The next year he took a leave of absence to serve as chief of finance for the U.S. military government in Germany. He continued to study that nation's fiscal problems and eventually helped to reform West Germany's tax structure. Heller was a recognized authority on finance and taxation when he was tapped by Kennedy in 1960. He was also know as a persuasive speaker with "a genius for putting economic analysis into simple terms," wrote Time's George J. Church. A prominent Keynesian, Heller joined Kennedy's team just as the country was emerging from a recession. To maximize the economic recovery, Church explained, "Heller developed the idea of measuring the economy's performance not against past figures but against what it might reach while growing at full potential." It was, at the time, a radical proposal. No more so, however, than Heller's recommendation that Congress cut income tax rates to further expansion. When many of his policies were finally adopted in 1964, the economy prospered. Heller left his post shortly after Kennedy's assassination, though he continued to act as an advisor to President Johnson. He urged Johnson to raise taxes to pay for the war in Vietnam, predicting increasing inflation if this measure was not taken. Johnson ignored the warning and inflation soared. The economist also argued that "some governments needed to abandon unjustified attachments to balanced budgets," reported the London Times. Upon leaving government service, Heller returned to the University of Minnesota, Where he taught until 1986.

From the description of Heller, Walter W. (Walter Wolfgang), 1915-1987 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10581099

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Somers, Herman Miles, 1911-. Herman Miles Somers papers, 1936-1979 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Recordings and Transcripts of Telephone Conversations and Meetings. 11/22/1963 - 1/3/1969. John F. Kennedy Assassination Related Recordings and Transcripts. 11/22/1963 - 3/28/1967. LBJ Recording of Telephone Conversation, K Series, Walter Heller, 12:00P Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
Walter Heller Papers John F. Kennedy Library
referencedIn President's Daily Diary. 11/22/1963 - 1/20/1969. President's Daily Diary. 11/22/1963 - 1/20/1969. President's Daily Diary Entry, November 25, 1963 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
creatorOf Recordings and Transcripts of Telephone Conversations and Meetings. 11/22/1963 - 1/3/1969. White House Telephone Recordings and Transcripts. 11/22/1963 - 1/3/1969. LBJ Recording of Telephone Conversation, WH Series, Walter Heller, 4:10P Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
creatorOf Walter Heller papers, 1933-1984 University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc]
referencedIn Carnegie Commission on the Future of Public Broadcasting. Records, 1969-1980. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Herman Miles Somers papers, 1936-1979 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Robert Manning papers, 1938-1993. Houghton Library
creatorOf Recordings and Transcripts of Telephone Conversations and Meetings. 11/22/1963 - 1/3/1969. John F. Kennedy Assassination Related Recordings and Transcripts. 11/22/1963 - 3/28/1967. LBJ Recording of Telephone Conversation, K Series, Walter Heller, 1:40P Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Cabinet Room tape number 74 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn Records of the Council of Economic Advisers (Carter Administration). 1976 - 1981. Charles L. Schultze's Subject Files. 1977 - 1981. Walter Heller Conference 9/25-26/80 Jimmy Carter Library
creatorOf Recordings and Transcripts of Telephone Conversations and Meetings. 11/22/1963 - 1/3/1969. White House Telephone Recordings and Transcripts. 11/22/1963 - 1/3/1969. LBJ Recording of Telephone Conversation, WH Series, Walter Heller, 2:45P Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Alice M. Rivlin Papers, 1963-1988 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Groves, Harold M. (Harold Martin), 1897-1969. Papers, 1927-1969. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Recordings and Transcripts of Telephone Conversations and Meetings. 11/22/1963 - 1/3/1969. John F. Kennedy Assassination Related Recordings and Transcripts. 11/22/1963 - 3/28/1967. LBJ Recording of Telephone Conversation, K Series, Walter Heller, 10:10A Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
creatorOf Recordings and Transcripts of Telephone Conversations and Meetings. 11/22/1963 - 1/3/1969. John F. Kennedy Assassination Related Recordings and Transcripts. 11/22/1963 - 3/28/1967. LBJ Recording of Telephone Conversation, K Series, Walter Heller, 1:40P Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Harris, L. mss., 1931-1977 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Frederick L. Deming papers., 1935-2003 (bulk 1957-1964). Minnesota Historical Society
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Carnegie Commission on the Future of Public Broadcasting. corporateBody
associatedWith Deming, Frederick L. person
associatedWith Groves, Harold M. (Harold Martin), 1897-1969. person
associatedWith Harris, Leon A. person
associatedWith Manning, Robert, 1919- person
correspondedWith Rivlin, Alice M. person
associatedWith Somers, Herman Miles, 1911- person
associatedWith University of Minnesota. Dept. of Economics corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Economics
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Person

Birth 1915-08-27

Death 1987-06-15

Americans

English

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