High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Rexford Guy Tugwell (July 10, 1891 – July 21, 1979) was an agricultural economist who became part of Franklin D. Roosevelt`s first "Brain Trust," a group of Columbia academics who helped develop policy recommendations leading up to Roosevelt`s 1932 election as President. Tugwell subsequently served in FDR`s administration for four years and was one of the chief intellectual contributors to his New Deal. Later in his life, he also served as the director of the New York City Planning Commission, Governor of Puerto Rico, and a professor at various universities.