Part 4/13:
Aldrich’s influence in Washington became legendary. He became a key mediator among Senate members, earning the nickname "The Manager of the Nation" for his mastery of shaping national economic policies. He championed protective tariffs and the gold standard, aligning federal laws with big corporate interests. Critics accused him of serving "the big robber barons of Wall Street," but even President Theodore Roosevelt recognized his power, describing Aldrich as "the central pivot" of Senate politics.