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{{Short description|American businessman}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2011}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2016}}
:''For the physician, see [[Edward Jacobson (physician)]]''
{{for multi|the physician|Edward Jacobson (physician)|the playwright|Eduard Jacobson}}
'''Edward Jacobson''' (17 June 1891, New York City – 25 October 1955, [[Kansas City, Missouri]]) was an [[history of Jews in the United States|American-Jew]]ish businessman. He was also a [[U.S. Army]] associate, business partner, and close friend of President [[Harry S. Truman]].
'''Edward "Eddie" Jacobson''' (June 17, 1891, [[New York City]] – October 25, 1955, [[Kansas City, Missouri]]) was an [[American Jews|American Jewish]] businessman. He is best known as an [[United States Army|Army]] comrade, business partner, and close friend of President [[Harry S. Truman]].


== Biography ==
⚫
Jacobson met Truman when the two reported to basic training at Fort Sill, near Lawton, Oklahoma, with a unit of soldiers from the Kansas City area. They successfully managed a canteen together, and were thus inspired to open a haberdashery together after World War I. However, poor business decisions caused the business to fail, and the resulting debts burdened both for many years. Jacobson spent the rest of his career as a traveling salesman, which enabled him periodically to visit Truman in Washington. According to [[David McCullough]], Jacobson had open access to the Oval Office.
Jacobson was born in [[New York City]]'s [[Lower East Side]]. His parents, David (1851–1935) and Sarah Rubin Jacobson (1862–1941) were impoverished [[Jews|Jewish]] immigrants from [[Lithuania]].<ref name=Avner>Avner, Yehuda, ''The Prime Ministers''' (2010)</ref> Jacobson had three brothers and two sisters. The family moved to [[Kansas]] in 1893, settling in [[Leavenworth, Kansas|Leavenworth]], before finally relocating to [[Kansas City, Missouri]] in 1905.


⚫
Jacobson met Truman in 1905, when both worked in downtown Kansas City. They renewed their acquaintance during [[World War I]], when in 1917 they reported for basic training at [[Fort Sill]], near [[Lawton, Oklahoma]], with a unit of soldiers from the Kansas City area. They successfully managed a canteen together, and were thus inspired to open a haberdashery together after the war. The business failed as a result of the post-war recession and the resulting debts burdened both for many years. Jacobson spent the rest of his career as a traveling salesman, which enabled him periodically to visit Truman in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]. According to [[David McCullough]], Jacobson had open access to the [[Oval Office]].
⚫
When Jacobson first heard about what was happening to the Jews in Germany, before and during World War II, he took to discussing it with Truman. After he heard the post-war reports regarding the [[Nazi Holocaust]] and its survivors, his talks with Truman about how to help the Jewish people became more intense. Because Jewish leaders in the U.S. knew Jacobson was a friend of the President, they approached him to lobby Truman with even more fervor. Jacobson went to the [[White House]] on 13 March 1948, and at that meeting persuaded Truman to meet with the leader of the [[Zionist]] movement, [[Chaim Weizmann|Dr. Chaim Weizmann]]. Partly as a result of Jacobson's efforts, the United States became the first nation to grant diplomatic recognition to the new state of [[Israel]] on 14 May 1948.

⚫
When Jacobson first heard about [[The Holocaust|what was happening to the Jews in Germany before and during World War II]], he took to discussing it with Truman. After he heard the post-war reports regarding the Holocaust and its survivors, his talks with Truman about how to help the Jewish people became more intense. Because Jewish leaders in the U.S. knew Jacobson was a friend of the President, they approached him to lobby Truman with even more fervor.

On March 13, 1948, Jacobson visited Truman at the [[White House]], and persuaded him to meet with [[Zionism|Zionist]] leader Dr. [[Chaim Weizmann]]. Truman had been increasingly irritated by lobbying from Zionists, and had issued instructions that he did not want to see any more Zionist spokesmen, but Jacobson reminded him about his admiration for [[Andrew Jackson]]. He said "Your hero is Andrew Jackson. I have a hero too. He's the greatest Jew alive. I'm talking about Chaim Weizmann. He's an old man and very sick, and he has traveled thousands of miles to see you. And now you're putting him off. This isn't like you, Harry.". Truman then agreed to meet with Weizmann.<ref name=Avner/> Partly as a result of Jacobson's efforts, the United States became the first nation to grant diplomatic recognition to the new [[Israel|state of Israel]] on May 14, 1948.

In 1949, Jacobson visited Israel, where he met with Prime Minister [[David Ben-Gurion]] and President Weizmann. One Kansas City rabbi told reporters that Jacobson should become President of Israel, and Truman wrote him that while Israel "couldn't nominate a better man, I sincerely hope you won't take it." Jacobson rejected the suggestion, saying that it was just "a silly dream of a very emotional rabbi", and that he was "too proud of my American citizenship to trade it for any office in the world."<ref name=Beschloss>Beschloss, Michael R. (1989) ''Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America''.</ref>

After Truman's retirement in 1953, Jacobson had wanted to be his escort for his first visit to Israel. However, before he had the chance, he died of a heart attack in 1955.<ref name=Beschloss/>


==Timeline==
==Timeline==
* 1893: Moved with his family to [[Leavenworth, Kansas]]
*1893: Moved with his family to [[Leavenworth, Kansas]]
* 1905: Moved with his family to Kansas City, Missouri
*1905: Moved with his family to Kansas City, Missouri
* 19-teens: Worked as a clerk in a Kansas City clothing store
*19-teens: Worked as a clerk in a Kansas City clothing store
* 1917–1919: Served as enlisted man in the [[129th Field Artillery]], [[60th Brigade]], [[U.S. 35th Infantry Division|35th Division]], U.S. Army
*1917–1919: Served as a private in Supply Company, [[129th Field Artillery]], [[60th Brigade (United States)|60th Brigade]], [[U.S. 35th Infantry Division|35th Division]], U.S. Army<ref>"U.S. Veterans Bureau Form 7202 Index Card" for Jacobson Edward, "United States Government, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940" database, National Archives and Records Administration, St. Louis, Missouri, available through [[FamilySearch]]. Rank is listed as "Pvt", Enl is listed as "8/5/17" and Dis is listed as "5/6/19".</ref>
* 1919–1922: Partnered with Harry S. Truman in the Truman & Jacobson [[haberdashery]], 104 West 12th St., Kansas City, Missouri
*1919–1922: Partnered with Harry S. Truman in the Truman & Jacobson [[haberdashery]], 104 West 12th St., Kansas City, Missouri
* 1922–1945: Traveling salesman in the clothing business
*1922–1945: Traveling salesman in the clothing business
* 1945–1955: Proprietor, Eddie Jacobson's Westport Menswear, Kansas City, Missouri
*1945–1955: Proprietor, Eddie Jacobson's Westport Menswear, Kansas City, Missouri
* 1947–1948: Urged President Truman to support the creation of a Jewish homeland in the [[British Mandate of Palestine]] – now [[Israel]].
*1947–1948: Urged President Truman to support the creation of a Jewish homeland in the [[Mandatory Palestine|British Mandate of Palestine]] – now [[Israel]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.trumanlibrary.org/hstpaper/jacobson.htm Edward Jacobson Papers @ the Truman Library]
*[http://www.trumanlibrary.org/hstpaper/jacobson.htm Edward Jacobson Papers @ the Truman Library]
*David Hacohen, [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3390986,00.html The man who saved the Negev], ynetnews, April 25, 2007
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Jacobson, Edward
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 17 June 1891
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 25 October 1955
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jacobson, Edward}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jacobson, Edward}}
[[Category:1891 births]]
[[Category:1891 births]]
[[Category:1955 deaths]]
[[Category:1955 deaths]]
[[Category:American businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:American Jews]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:Jews from Missouri]]

[[Category:American people of Lithuanian-Jewish descent]]
[[zh:爱德华·雅各布森]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Missouri]]
[[Category:Jewish American military personnel]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War I]]

Latest revision as of 18:17, 9 March 2024

For the physician, see Edward Jacobson (physician). For the playwright, see Eduard Jacobson.

Edward "Eddie" Jacobson (June 17, 1891, New York City – October 25, 1955, Kansas City, Missouri) was an American Jewish businessman. He is best known as an Army comrade, business partner, and close friend of President Harry S. Truman.

Biography[edit]

Jacobson was born in New York City's Lower East Side. His parents, David (1851–1935) and Sarah Rubin Jacobson (1862–1941) were impoverished Jewish immigrants from Lithuania.[1] Jacobson had three brothers and two sisters. The family moved to Kansas in 1893, settling in Leavenworth, before finally relocating to Kansas City, Missouri in 1905.

Jacobson met Truman in 1905, when both worked in downtown Kansas City. They renewed their acquaintance during World War I, when in 1917 they reported for basic training at Fort Sill, near Lawton, Oklahoma, with a unit of soldiers from the Kansas City area. They successfully managed a canteen together, and were thus inspired to open a haberdashery together after the war. The business failed as a result of the post-war recession and the resulting debts burdened both for many years. Jacobson spent the rest of his career as a traveling salesman, which enabled him periodically to visit Truman in Washington. According to David McCullough, Jacobson had open access to the Oval Office.

When Jacobson first heard about what was happening to the Jews in Germany before and during World War II, he took to discussing it with Truman. After he heard the post-war reports regarding the Holocaust and its survivors, his talks with Truman about how to help the Jewish people became more intense. Because Jewish leaders in the U.S. knew Jacobson was a friend of the President, they approached him to lobby Truman with even more fervor.

On March 13, 1948, Jacobson visited Truman at the White House, and persuaded him to meet with Zionist leader Dr. Chaim Weizmann. Truman had been increasingly irritated by lobbying from Zionists, and had issued instructions that he did not want to see any more Zionist spokesmen, but Jacobson reminded him about his admiration for Andrew Jackson. He said "Your hero is Andrew Jackson. I have a hero too. He's the greatest Jew alive. I'm talking about Chaim Weizmann. He's an old man and very sick, and he has traveled thousands of miles to see you. And now you're putting him off. This isn't like you, Harry.". Truman then agreed to meet with Weizmann.[1] Partly as a result of Jacobson's efforts, the United States became the first nation to grant diplomatic recognition to the new state of Israel on May 14, 1948.

In 1949, Jacobson visited Israel, where he met with Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and President Weizmann. One Kansas City rabbi told reporters that Jacobson should become President of Israel, and Truman wrote him that while Israel "couldn't nominate a better man, I sincerely hope you won't take it." Jacobson rejected the suggestion, saying that it was just "a silly dream of a very emotional rabbi", and that he was "too proud of my American citizenship to trade it for any office in the world."[2]

After Truman's retirement in 1953, Jacobson had wanted to be his escort for his first visit to Israel. However, before he had the chance, he died of a heart attack in 1955.[2]

Timeline[edit]

  • 1893: Moved with his family to Leavenworth, Kansas
  • 1905: Moved with his family to Kansas City, Missouri
  • 19-teens: Worked as a clerk in a Kansas City clothing store
  • 1917–1919: Served as a private in Supply Company, 129th Field Artillery, 60th Brigade, 35th Division, U.S. Army[3]
  • 1919–1922: Partnered with Harry S. Truman in the Truman & Jacobson haberdashery, 104 West 12th St., Kansas City, Missouri
  • 1922–1945: Traveling salesman in the clothing business
  • 1945–1955: Proprietor, Eddie Jacobson's Westport Menswear, Kansas City, Missouri
  • 1947–1948: Urged President Truman to support the creation of a Jewish homeland in the British Mandate of Palestine – now Israel

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Avner, Yehuda, The Prime Ministers' (2010)
  2. ^ a b Beschloss, Michael R. (1989) Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America.
  3. ^ "U.S. Veterans Bureau Form 7202 Index Card" for Jacobson Edward, "United States Government, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940" database, National Archives and Records Administration, St. Louis, Missouri, available through FamilySearch. Rank is listed as "Pvt", Enl is listed as "8/5/17" and Dis is listed as "5/6/19".

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Edward_Jacobson&oldid=1212814634"