Heller, Walter Wolfgang (1915-1987), was an American economist who served as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers from 1961 to 1964 under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Heller helped persuade both Presidents to rely heavily on economists in forming national policies. He played a major role in developing the “new economics”–the concept that the government should strive to control economic growth. During the early 1960’s, he worked for fiscal and monetary actions to stimulate the economy. He was largely responsible for the tax cut passed by Congress in 1964.
Heller was born in Buffalo, N.Y. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1941 and taught economics at the University of Minnesota from 1946 to 1986.
