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Max Lerner

Max Lerner (December 20, 1902 – June 5, 1992) was a Russian Empire-born American journalist and educator known for his controversial syndicated column.

Poster for a lecture by Max Lerner in Des Moines, Iowa, 1940

Background

Maxwell Alan Lerner was born on December 20, 1902 in Minsk, in the Russian Empire, the son of Bessie (Podel) and Benjamin Lerner. His Russian-Jewish family emigrated to the U.S. in 1907, where his father sold milk door to door.[1] Lerner earned a B.A. from Yale University in 1923. He studied law there, but transferred to Washington University in St. Louis for an M.A. in 1925. He earned a PhD from Robert Brookings Graduate School of Economics and Government, Washington, D.C. in 1927.[2]

Career

Once out of school, Lerner began work as an editor for the Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences (1927–32), The Nation (1936–38), and PM (1943–48). After PM sold, he continued as a contributor to its short-lived successor, the New York Star (ended 1949).

His column for the New York Post debuted in 1949. It earned him a place on the master list of Nixon political opponents. During most of his career he was considered a liberal. In his later years, however, he was seen as something of a conservative since he expressed support for Margaret Thatcher and the Reagan administration.[3]

He taught at Sarah Lawrence College, Harvard University, Williams College, United States International University, the University of Notre Dame, and Brandeis University. Lerner was also a close friend of film star Elizabeth Taylor during her marriage to Eddie Fisher.[4]

Personal life and death

Lerner was a strong advocate of the New Deal.[3]

Lerner was a staunch opponent of discrimination against African Americans but supported the wartime Japanese American internment and backed an American Civil Liberties Union resolution on the issue to "subordinate civil liberties to wartime considerations and political loyalties."[5]

Lerner married Anita Marburg in 1928, and they divorced in 1940. He married Edna Albers in 1941.[1] Lerner died on June 5, 1992.

Lerner's granddaughter is actress Betsy Russell.

Works

Lerner's most influential book was America as a Civilization: Life and Thought in the United States Today (1957).[5]

His book The Unfinished Country is a collection of more than 200 of his daily columns, which were written for the New York Post over the span of more than a decade. The Unfinished Country contains one of his better-known quotes: "The turning point in the process of growing up is when you discover the core of strength within you that survives all hurt." His 1990 book, Wrestling with the Angel, was about his long struggle with illness.[1]

Bibliography

Books
  • America as a Civilization: Life and Thought in the United States Today (1957)
    • Volume 1: The Basic Frame
    • Volume 2: Culture and Personality
  • Values in Education: Notes Toward a Values Philosophy (1976)
  • Ted and the Kennedy Legacy: A Study in Character and Destiny (1980)
  • Wrestling with the Angel: A Memoir of My Triumph Over Illness (1990) (memoir)
undated books
  • The Unfinished Country: A Book of American Symbols (collection of essays and editorials)
  • Wounded Titans: American Presidents and the Perils of Power
  • It Is Later Than You Think: The Need for a Militant Democracy
  • Nine Scorpions in a Bottle: Great Judges and Cases of the Supreme Court
  • Ideas Are Weapons: The History and Uses of Ideas
  • Magisterial Imagination: Six Masters of the Human Science
  • Third World: Premises of U.S. Policy
  • Ideas for the Ice Age: Studies in a Revolutionary Era
  • Actions and Passions: Notes on the Multiple Revolutions of Our Time
  • "Education and a Radical Humanism: Notes Toward a Theory of the Educational Crisis" (with E.I.F. Williams)
  • Public Journal: Marginal Notes on Wartime America
  • Civil Liberties in War Times
Edited works
  • Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences (1927-1932)
  • The Nation (1936-1938)
  • PM (1943-1948)
  • Tocqueville and American Civilization
  • Thomas Jefferson: America's Philosopher-King
  • The Mind and Faith of Justice Holmes: His Speeches, Essays, Letters, and Judicial Opinions
  • Essential Works of John Stuart Mill
  • The Portable Veblen
Forewords and introduction
Columnist and Editorial

In popular culture

Lerner was referenced in folk singer Phil Ochs' song, "Love Me, I'm a Liberal": "You know, I've memorized Lerner and Golden" (in reference also to Harry Golden).

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Severo, Richard (June 6, 1992). Max Lerner, Writer, 89, Is Dead; Humanist on Political Barricades. New York Times
  2. ^ "Max Lerner". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Sanford Lakoff, "Preface", pp. ix-xxi, in Lakoff, Max Lerner : Pilgrim in the Promised Land. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998. ISBN 0-226-46831-3
  4. ^ Schine, Cathleen (October 18, 1981). Bad Luck and Violet Eyes. New York Times
  5. ^ a b Irons, Peter. Justice at War: The Story of the Japanese-American Internment Cases, pg. 129 (1983)

External sources

  • Max Lerner papers (MS 322). Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library.[1]
  • Romano, C. America the Philosophical (2012).
  • Richard Severo, Max Lerner, Writer, 89, Is Dead; Humanist on Political Barricades, The New York Times, June 6, 1992
  • A film clip "The Open Mind - An American Original . . . Revisited (1988)" is available at the Internet Archive

lerner, austrian, born, american, known, military, intelligence, work, maximilian, lerner, december, 1902, june, 1992, russian, empire, born, american, journalist, educator, known, controversial, syndicated, column, poster, lecture, moines, iowa, 1940, content. For the Austrian born American known for his military intelligence work see Maximilian Lerner Max Lerner December 20 1902 June 5 1992 was a Russian Empire born American journalist and educator known for his controversial syndicated column Poster for a lecture by Max Lerner in Des Moines Iowa 1940 Contents 1 Background 2 Career 3 Personal life and death 4 Works 4 1 Bibliography 5 In popular culture 6 See also 7 References 8 External sourcesBackground EditMaxwell Alan Lerner was born on December 20 1902 in Minsk in the Russian Empire the son of Bessie Podel and Benjamin Lerner His Russian Jewish family emigrated to the U S in 1907 where his father sold milk door to door 1 Lerner earned a B A from Yale University in 1923 He studied law there but transferred to Washington University in St Louis for an M A in 1925 He earned a PhD from Robert Brookings Graduate School of Economics and Government Washington D C in 1927 2 Career EditOnce out of school Lerner began work as an editor for the Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences 1927 32 The Nation 1936 38 and PM 1943 48 After PM sold he continued as a contributor to its short lived successor the New York Star ended 1949 His column for the New York Post debuted in 1949 It earned him a place on the master list of Nixon political opponents During most of his career he was considered a liberal In his later years however he was seen as something of a conservative since he expressed support for Margaret Thatcher and the Reagan administration 3 He taught at Sarah Lawrence College Harvard University Williams College United States International University the University of Notre Dame and Brandeis University Lerner was also a close friend of film star Elizabeth Taylor during her marriage to Eddie Fisher 4 Personal life and death EditLerner was a strong advocate of the New Deal 3 Lerner was a staunch opponent of discrimination against African Americans but supported the wartime Japanese American internment and backed an American Civil Liberties Union resolution on the issue to subordinate civil liberties to wartime considerations and political loyalties 5 Lerner married Anita Marburg in 1928 and they divorced in 1940 He married Edna Albers in 1941 1 Lerner died on June 5 1992 Lerner s granddaughter is actress Betsy Russell Works EditLerner s most influential book was America as a Civilization Life and Thought in the United States Today 1957 5 His book The Unfinished Country is a collection of more than 200 of his daily columns which were written for the New York Post over the span of more than a decade The Unfinished Country contains one of his better known quotes The turning point in the process of growing up is when you discover the core of strength within you that survives all hurt His 1990 book Wrestling with the Angel was about his long struggle with illness 1 Bibliography Edit BooksAmerica as a Civilization Life and Thought in the United States Today 1957 Volume 1 The Basic Frame Volume 2 Culture and Personality Values in Education Notes Toward a Values Philosophy 1976 Ted and the Kennedy Legacy A Study in Character and Destiny 1980 Wrestling with the Angel A Memoir of My Triumph Over Illness 1990 memoir undated booksThe Unfinished Country A Book of American Symbols collection of essays and editorials Wounded Titans American Presidents and the Perils of Power It Is Later Than You Think The Need for a Militant Democracy Nine Scorpions in a Bottle Great Judges and Cases of the Supreme Court Ideas Are Weapons The History and Uses of Ideas Magisterial Imagination Six Masters of the Human Science Third World Premises of U S Policy Ideas for the Ice Age Studies in a Revolutionary Era Actions and Passions Notes on the Multiple Revolutions of Our Time Education and a Radical Humanism Notes Toward a Theory of the Educational Crisis with E I F Williams Public Journal Marginal Notes on Wartime America Civil Liberties in War TimesEdited worksEncyclopaedia of the Social Sciences 1927 1932 The Nation 1936 1938 PM 1943 1948 Tocqueville and American Civilization Thomas Jefferson America s Philosopher King The Mind and Faith of Justice Holmes His Speeches Essays Letters and Judicial Opinions Essential Works of John Stuart Mill The Portable VeblenForewords and introductionThe Prince and The Discourses by Niccolo Machiavelli New York Random House 1950 Values of Veblen a critical appraisal by Bernard Rosenberg Washington Public Affairs Press 1956 Americans for Democratic Action its role in national politics by Clifton Brock Washington Public Affairs Press 1962 Political science and political knowledge by Philip H Melanson Washington Public Affairs Press 1975 Columnist and EditorialNew York Post columnistIn popular culture EditLerner was referenced in folk singer Phil Ochs song Love Me I m a Liberal You know I ve memorized Lerner and Golden in reference also to Harry Golden See also EditThe Nation PM New York Star 1948 1949 References Edit a b c Severo Richard June 6 1992 Max Lerner Writer 89 Is Dead Humanist on Political Barricades New York Times Max Lerner Encyclopedia Britannica Retrieved November 27 2022 a b Sanford Lakoff Preface pp ix xxi in Lakoff Max Lerner Pilgrim in the Promised Land Chicago University of Chicago Press 1998 ISBN 0 226 46831 3 Schine Cathleen October 18 1981 Bad Luck and Violet Eyes New York Times a b Irons Peter Justice at War The Story of the Japanese American Internment Cases pg 129 1983 External sources Edit Wikiquote has quotations related to Max Lerner Max Lerner papers MS 322 Manuscripts and Archives Yale University Library 1 Romano C America the Philosophical 2012 Richard Severo Max Lerner Writer 89 Is Dead Humanist on Political Barricades The New York Times June 6 1992 A film clip The Open Mind An American Original Revisited 1988 is available at the Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Max Lerner amp oldid 1124116099, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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