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Sharing stories of individual consumers, Watchdog shows how and why the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was created in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. The Bureau quickly became a powerful force for good, suing big banks for cheating or deceiving consumers, putting limits on predatory lenders, simplifying mortgage paperwork, safeguarding the mortgage market and the economy, and stepping in to help solve problems raised by individual consumers. Former Bureau director Richard Cordray tells a hopeful story of how our system can be reformed by putting government back on the side of the people.
List of contents
- Foreword by Senator Elizabeth Warren
- Introduction
- PART I: THE CASE FOR A CONSUMER WATCHDOG
- Chapter 1: Consumers and Predators
- Chapter 2: The Rise of the Financial Consumer
- Chapter 3: An Ominous Mismatch
- Chapter 4: The Making of a Watchdog
- PART II: LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD
- Chapter 5: Giving People a Voice that Matters
- Chapter 6: A Powerful Force for Good
- Chapter 7: Playing by the Rules
- Chapter 8: Ways and Means
- Chapter 9: Know Before You Owe
- PART III: PITCHED BATTLES FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM
- Chapter 10: A Great Big Country
- Chapter 11: Teaming Up for Consumers
- Chapter 12: The Tougher Fights
- PART IV: TAKING ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
- Chapter 13: Under Fire from All Sides
- Chapter 14: The Last Big Fights
- Chapter 15: A Treacherous Transition
- PART V: GOVERNING IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST
- Chapter 16: Concluding Thoughts
About the author
Richard Cordray served for six years as the first Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Before joining the Consumer Bureau, Rich served as Ohio's Attorney General. He also served as Ohio Treasurer, where he led the State's banking, investment, debt, and financing activities. He previously taught at Ohio State's law school and served as a state legislator and as Ohio's first Solicitor General. Cordray has argued seven cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including by special appointment of both the Clinton and Bush Justice Departments.
