Herbert H. Lehman

Herbert Henry Lehman (born March 28, 1878 in New York City , † December 5, 1963 there ) was an American politician of the Democratic Party . From 1933 to 1942 he served as governor of the state of New York . Between 1949 and 1957 he represented his state in the US Senate .

Early years

Herbert Lehman was born the son of Mayer Lehman , one of the three founders of the Lehman Brothers investment bank, which collapsed in 2008 . Herbert attended the Sachs Collegiate Institute and then Williams College until 1899 . Then he worked in the family's own bank. During the First World War he was a colonel in the US Army .

Political advancement and governor of New York

Herbert Lehman became a member of the Democratic Party and supported the gubernatorial and presidential campaigns of Al Smith . In 1928 he became his party's treasurer. From 1929 he was Vice Governor of New York, Deputy Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt , to whose successor he was elected on November 8, 1932. Lehmann took up his new office on January 1, 1933, which he held until December 3, 1942 after several re-elections.

At the beginning of his reign, the state was still suffering from the severe global economic crisis . In the course of the 1930s, the situation improved with the help of the New Deal policy of the federal government under President Roosevelt. During Lehman's tenure, New York State introduced unemployment insurance and adopted some other New Deal measures. Unlike Al Smith, Lehman was a supporter of Roosevelt and the New Deal. A racing commission was also established. A constitutional amendment extended the governors' term of office from two to four years. His last year as governor was overshadowed by the events of World War II , to which New York also had its contribution. On December 3, 1942, Governor Lehman resigned to become director of a federal agency ( Foreign Relief and Rehabilitation Operations ). The remaining 29 days of the term of office led his lieutenant governor Charles Poletti to the end.

US Senator

In 1946 Herbert Lehman ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the US Senate. After the resignation of Senator Robert F. Wagner , John Foster Dulles (1888-1959) was initially appointed as the acting successor as Class 3 Category Senator. In the by-elections that were due, however, Lehman was able to prevail against Dulles and win this mandate. After he was confirmed in this office in the congressional elections in 1950, he could remain in the Senate between November 9, 1949 and January 3, 1957. There he was considered liberal, which made him an opponent of the conservative Senator Joseph McCarthy from Wisconsin . In Congress Lehman but has not exercised any leadership position. In 1956, he decided not to run again.

Old age and death

Lehman's grave

After leaving politics in January 1957, Lehman retired into private life. Herbert Lehman died on December 5, 1963 in New York City. He had three children with his wife Edith Altshul. Lehman was also the recipient of numerous orders and awards.

literature

Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 3, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Lehman, Herbert H.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Lehman, Herbert Henry (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician, Governor of New York State (1933–1942)
DATE OF BIRTH	March 28, 1878
PLACE OF BIRTH	New York City
DATE OF DEATH	5th December 1963
Place of death	New York City