Max Lowenthal

Max Lowenthal (1888-1971) was a Washington, DC political figure through the 1930s and 40's. During his early days in politics he was an advisor to several United States senators including Harry S. Truman. Many of Lowenthal's accomplishments are presumed unknown as some are being discovered through historical research. Lowenthal had an incredibly discreet personality and often refused to take credit for his accomplishments.

Lowenthal assisted Ferdinand Pecora with Senate committee hearings investigating the causes of the Wall Street Crash of 1929. The hearings launched a major reform of the American financial system.

Lowenthal's best known accomplishment occurred during his term as the chief adviser on Palestine to Clark Clifford, an advisor to President Truman, from 1947-1952. President Truman credited Lowenthal as being the primary force behind the United States recognition of Israel.

In 1950 he wrote a book about the FBI^[1][2] in which he dealt with issues he felt were still unresolved "although they were brought to light and discussed by statesmen in 1908 and 1909 when the police force now known as the FBI was created."

As late as 1967, Lowenthal denied ever even discussing Israel with President Truman and claimed to have only heard of the partition of Palestine through a secondhand source in the White House.

References

1. ^ The Federal Bureau of Investigation (William Sloane, pub. 1950)
2. ^ The Federal Bureau of Investigation (Turnstile Press Limited, pub. 1950)

Sources

• Michael J. Cohen, Truman and Israel, (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1990.)
• Ronald Radosh and Allis Radosh, A Safe Haven: Harry S. Truman and the Founding of Israel (HarperCollins, 2009)

External links

• Finding aid to Max Lowenthal papers, 1910-1971 held at the University of Minnesota

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Name	Lowenthal, Max
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Date of birth	1888
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Date of death	1971
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