Lew Lehrman

Lew Lehrman
Name	Lew Lehrman
Birth date	15 August 1938
Birth place	Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Education	Yale University (BA), Harvard University (MA)
Occupation	Businessman, author, political activist
Known for	Co-founding Rite Aid, 1982 New York gubernatorial candidate, monetary policy advocacy
Party	Republican
Spouse	Louise Lehrman, 1963

Lew Lehrman. An American businessman, author, and conservative political figure, he is best known for co-founding the Rite Aid pharmacy chain and for his influential advocacy for a return to the gold standard. His 1982 candidacy for Governor of New York against Mario Cuomo was a defining moment in his political career, cementing his role as a significant voice within the Republican Party. Lehrman's later work through the Lehrman Institute and his numerous publications have established him as a leading thinker on monetary history and economic policy.

Early life and education

He was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and demonstrated an early aptitude for academics and business. After completing his secondary education, he attended Yale University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, studying under notable figures in the field. He then pursued graduate studies at Harvard University, receiving a Master of Arts in philosophy, which provided a strong foundation in analytical thought. This academic training at two of the nation's premier Ivy League institutions profoundly shaped his intellectual approach to economics and public policy.

Business career

His business career began in earnest when he joined the family enterprise, which operated several retail stores. He played a pivotal role in merging these stores with others to form the foundation of what would become the national Rite Aid corporation, serving as its president and driving its early expansion. Beyond the pharmacy sector, he demonstrated his acumen as an investor and manager, taking leadership roles at other firms and establishing a successful private investment practice. His experiences in building a major Fortune 500 company from the ground up deeply informed his views on entrepreneurship, capital formation, and the regulatory environment.

Political involvement

His political involvement intensified in the late 1970s, aligning with the rising Reagan Revolution and its emphasis on supply-side economics. He served as an advisor to President Ronald Reagan on economic policy and was appointed to the President's Economic Policy Advisory Board. In 1982, he secured the Republican nomination for Governor of New York, waging a high-profile and well-funded campaign against the Democratic candidate, Mario Cuomo. Although he lost the election, the race elevated his national profile and established him as a formidable political force and a major donor to conservative causes, including the National Review Institute.

Monetary policy advocacy

Following his gubernatorial campaign, he increasingly focused his energies on monetary theory, becoming one of the most prominent modern advocates for restoring a gold standard to the United States dollar. He founded the Lehrman Institute, a think tank dedicated to research on money, banking, and financial history. He has testified before the United States Congress on monetary reform and has been a frequent critic of the policies of the Federal Reserve System, arguing for a rules-based system to ensure price stability. His advocacy places him in a long intellectual tradition that includes economists like Jacques Rueff and aligns with the views of politicians such as Jack Kemp.

Writings and publications

He is a prolific author whose works concentrate on economic history and monetary policy. His major publications include *The True Gold Standard*, a detailed blueprint for monetary reform, and *Money, Gold, and History*, a collection of essays tracing the impact of currency regimes. He has contributed scholarly articles to journals like *The Wall Street Journal* and *The New York Times* and has been a featured speaker at institutions such as the American Enterprise Institute. His writing is noted for its historical depth, often drawing parallels between contemporary financial issues and the monetary debates of the Gilded Age and the Bretton Woods system.

Personal life and legacy

He has been married to Louise Lehrman since 1963, and the couple has four children. A devout Episcopalian, his faith has been a guiding principle in his philanthropic endeavors, which include significant support for educational and religious institutions. His legacy is that of a businessman-philosopher who leveraged his success in the private sector to advocate for foundational economic reforms, influencing a generation of policymakers through his writing, his institute, and his political activism. His papers are archived at Cornell University, ensuring that his work will remain a resource for future scholars of monetary history.

Category:American businesspeople Category:American political writers Category:American philanthropists Category:1938 births Category:Living people Category:People from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Category:Yale University alumni Category:Harvard University alumni Category:Republican Party (United States) politicians