ANDREW CARNEGIE

One afternoon in 1901, Andrew Carnegie was playing golf with J.P Morgan. The two had been discussing the sale of Carnegies’ corporation for some time, and in mid-round they finally agreed on the price of $250 million.

This naturally, is often cited as irrefutable proof that the business of American business is golf. At about this time, Carnegie-a passionate if mediocre golfer-somehow managed to make a hole in one. A few days later a friend-who had read about the deal with Morgan came up and roundly congratulated Carnegie.

“Thank you,” Carnegie said. “It’s my first hole in one, but how did you hear about it?”