Unplugged: In Bernanke We Trust?
David Wessel, the inside man at the Federal Reserve for the Wall Street Journal discussed his new book "In Fed We Trust" with CBS News Correspondent Kimberly Dozier on Tuesday's edition of "Washington Unplugged."
Being head of the most powerful economic institution in the world, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has had more authority than anyone else to manage the financial crisis.
"The president of the United States can respond instantly to a missile attack with real bullets; he cannot respond to instantly to financial panic with real money without the approval of Congress. But Bernanke could and did," Wessel notes in the book. (if this was in the show, change that to said)
So how has Bernanke fared through the financial crisis? According to Wessel, one economist says "outstanding, with flaws."
Wessel continues, "I think he made some mistakes. But when you look at the economy today and where we were a year ago. I think you have to give Mr. Bernanke credit for pulling us back from the abyss of another Great Depression."
Watch David Wessel's full interview. "Washington Unplugged" appears live on CBSNews.com each weekday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Click here to check out previous episodes.
