Really important people (RIPs): Tim Geithner

Barack Obama, Timothy Geithner and Jack Lew

Slate.com Friday, Jan. 11, 2013

Geithner outlasted Summers and Romer, along with three chiefs of staff and two defense secretaries. He became not just the head of a major government agency but a real adviser to the president—part of the inner circle of decision-makers.

In his world view, there are inevitably financial and political crises, and the chief mission of the policymaker to put out the fires so people can go on with their lives.

Business Insider, Jan 10, 2013

Tim Geithner had an amazing run, and it can be shown in one chart, which shows the pace of jobs recoveries of various financial crisis throughout the globe and history.
The chart comes from Oregon economist Josh Lehner, and as you can see, the US has had a remarkable jobs comeback compared to almost every other financial crisis. Despite the weak economy, the red line (the US jobs recovery) has gone faster than just about any other country's comeback:

Financial Crisis Employment Loss

Tim Geithner is one of the most important Treasury secretaries in history (Washington Post, Jan 10, 2013)

Geithner’s insight was that a big chunk of the problem in the financial system was not merely that banks were sitting on big losses but that there was no confidence in markets over which banks would survive and which would not. The government would, essentially, use the regulatory process to figure out which banks needed more capital and which were fine.

Those stress tests, the results of which were announced in May 2009, were a major step in rebuilding confidence in the U.S. banking system.

He also took on a major role in trying to guide European authorities toward solutions for the debt crisis that exploded in 2010 and threatened the world economy. Often working the phones, Geithner used his longstanding connections among global finance ministers, central bankers and at the IMF to encourage the Europeans toward more concerted action, on a scale commensurate with their challenge. That’s not to say they always listened, and at times the assertiveness of the Americans may have even been counterproductive. But on balance European officials have described Geithner’s involvement as a helpful in clarifying issues and forcing action.