In the late 1970s and early 1980s, several business publications acknowledged him to have been one of the most influential business leaders in America. In fact, in 1980,  U.S. News & World Report ranked him as the most influential man in business.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, prominent business journals acknowledged his status as a leading figure in American business. He was even named the most influential person in business by U.S. News & World Report in 1980.