Herbert H. Lehman

Herbert H. Lehman
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Name	Herbert H. Lehman
Caption	Lehman c. 1937
Order	49th
Office	Governor of New York
Term start	January 1, 1933
Term end	December 3, 1942
Lieutenant	M. William Bray, Charles Poletti
Predecessor	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Successor	Charles Poletti
Jr/sr1	United States Senator
State1	New York
Term start1	January 3, 1949
Term end1	December 31, 1956
Predecessor1	John Foster Dulles
Successor1	Jacob K. Javits
Office2	Director General of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration
Term start2	1943
Term end2	1946
President2	Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman
Predecessor2	Office established
Successor2	Fiorello La Guardia
Office3	45th Lieutenant Governor of New York
Term start3	January 1, 1929
Term end3	December 31, 1932
Governor3	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Predecessor3	Edwin Corning
Successor3	M. William Bray
Birth date	28 March 1878
Birth place	New York City, U.S.
Death date	5 December 1963
Death place	New York City, U.S.
Party	Democratic
Spouse	Edith Altschul
Education	Williams College (BA)
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States
Serviceyears	1917–1919
Rank	Colonel
Battles	World War I

Herbert H. Lehman was an American Democratic Party politician, financier, and philanthropist who served as the 49th Governor of New York and later as a United States Senator from New York. A key ally of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, he was instrumental in implementing New Deal programs within the state and later led major international humanitarian efforts following World War II. His career was defined by a steadfast commitment to liberalism, social welfare, civil rights, and public service, leaving a lasting impact on both New York and national politics.

Early life and education

Herbert Henry Lehman was born on March 28, 1878, in Manhattan, to Bavarian Jewish immigrants. He was the eighth child of Mayer Lehman, a co-founder of the investment bank Lehman Brothers. The family was part of New York's prominent German-Jewish community, with deep ties to both commerce and philanthropy. Lehman received his early education at the Dr. Sach's Collegiate Institute before enrolling at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1899, having been influenced by the Social Gospel movement and developing a strong sense of social responsibility. After graduation, he briefly worked in the textile industry before joining the family firm.

Business and early career

Lehman entered the family business, Lehman Brothers, becoming a partner in 1908. He proved to be a skilled and prudent financier, helping to guide the firm through the Panic of 1907. His business career was paralleled by an early dedication to philanthropy and civic engagement, influenced by his father's community work. He served on the board of the Henry Street Settlement and became deeply involved with the Jewish Welfare Board. During World War I, he served with distinction in the United States Army Ordnance Corps, rising to the rank of colonel and earning the Distinguished Service Medal for his logistical work. This period solidified his commitment to public service.

Political career

Lehman's political career began in earnest when he was recruited by Al Smith to help manage his 1924 and 1928 campaigns for the presidency. In 1928, he was elected as the Lieutenant Governor of New York on a ticket with Franklin D. Roosevelt, beginning a long and consequential political partnership. As lieutenant governor, he was a crucial advisor to Roosevelt and played a key role in the administration's response to the onset of the Great Depression. His competence and liberal credentials made him the natural successor when Roosevelt resigned to assume the presidency after the 1932 election.

Governor of New York

Elected in his own right in 1932, Lehman served as Governor of New York for an unprecedented five terms, from 1933 until his resignation in 1942. His tenure was defined by the vigorous implementation and expansion of New Deal programs within the state. He worked closely with federal officials like Harry Hopkins and Frances Perkins to create a "Little New Deal," establishing groundbreaking state-level initiatives in unemployment insurance, public housing, and labor rights. He championed the Wagner Act and signed the landmark New York State Labor Relations Act. A committed advocate for civil rights, he pushed for anti-lynching legislation and the creation of the first state committee against discrimination. His administration also oversaw major reforms in public utility regulation and expanded support for public education.

Later life and legacy

Resigning the governorship in late 1942 to assist the war effort, Lehman was appointed by President Roosevelt as the first Director General of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA). In this role, he coordinated massive humanitarian aid for war-torn regions across Europe and Asia, earning international acclaim. After the war, he served as chairman of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. In 1949, he was elected to the United States Senate, where he became a leading liberal voice, opposing McCarthyism and advocating for civil rights legislation, including efforts to abolish the poll tax. He did not seek re-election in 1956. In his final years, he remained active in philanthropy, particularly with the New York Foundation and the Institute of International Education. He died in New York City on December 5, 1963. His legacy is honored by institutions like the Herbert H. Lehman College and the Herbert H. Lehman Center for American History at Columbia University, commemorating his lifelong dedication to humanitarianism, progressive government, and social justice.

Category:1878 births Category:1963 deaths Category:Governors of New York Category:United States senators from New York Category:American philanthropists