Bernanke Named Time's Person of the Year

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126096701015693553.html

Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Bernanke Named Time's Person of the Year
DAVID WESSEL

Time magazine named Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, as its person of the year.

"The main reason … is that he is the most important player guiding the world's most important economy. His creative leadership helped ensure that 2009 was a period of weak recovery rather than catastrophic depression, and he still wields unrivaled power over our money, our jobs, our savings and our national future. The decisions he has made, and those he has yet to make, will shape the path of our prosperity, the direction of our politics and our relationship to the world," the weekly said in a story posted on its Web site.

Mr. Bernanke was chosen over runners-up Gen. Stanley McChrystal, "the Chinese worker," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and runner Usain Bolt.

Write to David Wessel at capital@wsj.com