David Lilienthal
David Lilienthal, third director of the TVA
(1899-1981)
David Lilienthal was the third director of the TVA following Arthur's Harcourt's resignation in 1941. He grew up in Indiana before going to DePauw University and Harvard Law School, becoming a successful lawyer. He specialized in public utility cases, which would prove useful later when he was head of the TVA. He successfully argued in Smith vs. Illinois Bell Telephone Company, a Supreme Court case. In 1931, Lilienthal created of the Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and became nationally famous.
Lilienthal continued work on public service issues before Harcourt Morgan contacted him about working for the TVA on president Roosevelt's request. Lilienthal was not knowledgeable in the engineering aspects of the goals the TVA set out to accomplish but made up for this in his legal experience and vision for the organization. Lilienthal, as director, advocated for the TVA to sell electricity that it created to the surrounding area, a topic over which he and Arthur Morgan constantly fought. Electrification, stemming from the electricity the hydroelectric dams the TVA built, was one of Lilienthal's greatest achievements as director of the TVA. He used effective advertising to get poor southerners to invest in electrical devices to improve their lives, and he sold electricity at an affordable price and cheaper than compete private companies.
In order to do this, he built twelve dams for the Tennessee Valley for hydroelectric power. During his tenure, which spanned World War II, Lilienthal used the resources of the TVA not only to aid the area but also to support the US army and war effort. Lilienthal used the powers of the TVA to improve the life of rural farmers and to develop the Tennessee Vally before departing to head the Atomic Energy Commission in 1946.
David Lilienthal was the third director of the TVA following Arthur's Harcourt's resignation in 1941. He grew up in Indiana before going to DePauw University and Harvard Law School, becoming a successful lawyer. He specialized in public utility cases, which would prove useful later when he was head of the TVA. He successfully argued in Smith vs. Illinois Bell Telephone Company, a Supreme Court case. In 1931, Lilienthal created of the Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and became nationally famous.
Lilienthal continued work on public service issues before Harcourt Morgan contacted him about working for the TVA on president Roosevelt's request. Lilienthal was not knowledgeable in the engineering aspects of the goals the TVA set out to accomplish but made up for this in his legal experience and vision for the organization. Lilienthal, as director, advocated for the TVA to sell electricity that it created to the surrounding area, a topic over which he and Arthur Morgan constantly fought. Electrification, stemming from the electricity the hydroelectric dams the TVA built, was one of Lilienthal's greatest achievements as director of the TVA. He used effective advertising to get poor southerners to invest in electrical devices to improve their lives, and he sold electricity at an affordable price and cheaper than compete private companies.
In order to do this, he built twelve dams for the Tennessee Valley for hydroelectric power. During his tenure, which spanned World War II, Lilienthal used the resources of the TVA not only to aid the area but also to support the US army and war effort. Lilienthal used the powers of the TVA to improve the life of rural farmers and to develop the Tennessee Vally before departing to head the Atomic Energy Commission in 1946.