# Henry Ford II Grandson of [[Henry Ford]] who took control of Ford Motor Company in 1945 and rebuilt it into a modern corporation after his grandfather's erratic later management. He also served as a trustee of the [[Ford Foundation]], which became one of the largest philanthropic organizations in the world after inheriting Ford Motor stock. Henry Ford II's 1977 resignation letter from the [[Ford Foundation]] board is notable: he accused the foundation of undermining the free-enterprise system that generated its endowment. This episode anticipated conservative critiques of philanthropic institutions as vehicles for progressive ideology — a theme that intensified with later debates over [[Dark Money]] and the political role of foundations. *Stub — expand with: Ford Motor turnaround, Whiz Kids, relationship to conservative philanthropy debates, McNamara connection.*