Leading United States financier Bernard Baruch, who was a key player in American affairs during World War II, died at the age of 94 on June 20, 1965.

The son of a German immigrant, he worked as an office boy before becoming a runner for a brokerage firm and later a broker.

A millionaire by the age of 30, he became one of Wall Street's top financiers.

He served as an adviser to US presidents, from Woodrow Wilson to Harry Truman.

He was nicknamed the Park Bench Statesman because he often visited Lafayette Park in Washington DC and Central Park in New York City and discussed government affairs with others while sitting on a park bench.

He was also known for his quotable quotes.

He once said: "Two things are bad for the heart - running up stairs and running down people."

He famously quipped: "To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am."