It's a pity politics is off limits. The guy I have in mind deserves a page 1, 2nd post thread mention.

Instead, I'll tip-toe down the border and leave this genius-who-wasn't-so-genius snakeoil salesman right here...father of the gov't/market put option (ironically, a "derivative") named after him. So famous for saying absolutely nothing in both speeches and answers to vital, important questions his speaking style also garnered it's own nickname. Belief in this man, and the infallibility of his institution, wrecked the finances of the world's wealthiest nation, perhaps permanently. And to this very day his successors stridently oppose opening the accounting books for transparency's sake to the public which they vociferously claim to serve.