Henderson, Leon, 1895-1986

Leon Henderson (1895-1986) was born in Millville, New Jersey. He served in the U.S. Army in World War I. He graduated from Swarthmore College and taught at the Wharton School of Commerce and Finance at the University of Pennsylvania and at the Carnegie Institute of Technology. Henderson served as Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and worked at the Russell Sage Foundation in New York before moving to Washington, D.C. In Washington, he joined the National Recovery Administration as head of the research and planning division. He worked as an economist on the staff of the Democratic National Committee in 1936 and 1937, then went to the Works Progress Administration where he was an economic advisor to Harry Hopkins. In 1939, he was named to the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in 1940 was named to the Advisory Commission to the Council of National Defense. He was named first director of the Office of Price Administration in April 1941, but resigned in December 1942. Henderson also served on the War Production Board and was the Director of the Civilian Supply Division. Henderson remained in Washington after leaving government and served as Chairman of the Board of the Research Institute of America. He later became a private economics consultant.

Economist.

Henderson held several positions in government service from 1933 to 1945.