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Morgenthau : power, privilege, and the rise of an American dynasty / Andrew Meier.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: New York : Random House, an imprint and division of Penguin Random House LLC, [2022]Copyright date: ©2022Edition: First editionDescription: xxi, 1046 pages, 32 unnumbered leaves of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 25 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9781400068852
  • 1400068851
Other title:
  • Power, privilege, and the rise of an American dynasty
Subject(s): Genre/Form: Summary: "Since their arrival in the United States from Germany in 1866, the Morgenthaus have been a linchpin in American history -- losing everything only to grow rich again, assimilating, and then climbing to the country's highest ranks of power. In the words of former Mayor Ed Koch, they are "the closest thing we've got to royalty in New York City." With unprecedented, exclusive access to family archives, award-winning journalist Andrew Meier chronicles this epic American story, revealing how the Morgenthaus amassed enormous wealth, advised presidents, shaped the New Deal, decried mass murder during the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust, waged war in the Mediterranean and Pacific, and built a dynasty that would remake the city of New York. Morgenthau begins with Lazarus, who arrived in New York City dreaming of rebuilding the fortune he had lost in his homeland of Germany. While Lazarus died destitute, in shame and alone, the family would rise once again with the ascendance of Henry, who became a real estate baron, and one of the first to suggest to Woodrow Wilson that he run for president. From there, the Morgenthaus would go on to influence the most consequential presidencies of the 20th century, as Henry's son Henry, Jr., became FDR's longest-serving aide, his Treasury Secretary during the War, and his confidante of 30 years. Finally, there was Robert Morgenthau, a decorated World War II hero who went on to become the longest-tenured district attorney in the history of New York City -- "DA for life," as he was known. As DA, he oversaw some of the most important legal cases in New York of the last fifty years, from the war on the Mafia, the advent of white-collar prosecutions, to the race wars of the 1970s -- and, of course, the Central Park Five case. At heart public servants and confidantes, the Morgenthaus propelled candidates into power. But they were often forced to stand loyally on the sidelines, even as they witnessed the great moral and human cost of political expediency. The saga of the Morgenthau family has lain half-hidden in the shadows for too long. At heart a family history, Morgenthau is also an American epic, as big and improbable as the country itself"-- Provided by publisher.
Holdings
Item type Home library Collection Call number Materials specified Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Adult Book Adult Book Dr. James Carlson Library NonFiction 973.0492 M511 Available 33111011011778
Adult Book Adult Book Main Library NonFiction 973.0492 M511 Available 33111010900948
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A "magisterial" ( The Wall Street Journal ) portrait of four generations of the Morgenthau family, a dynasty of power brokers and public officials with an outsize--and previously unmapped--influence extending from daily life in New York City to the shaping of the American Century

A New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice * A New Yorker Book of the Year

"Exhaustively researched, vividly written, and a welcome reminder that even the most noxious evils can be vanquished when capable and committed citizens do their best."--David M. Kennedy, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Freedom from Fear

After coming to America from Germany in 1866, the Morgenthaus made history in international diplomacy, in domestic politics, and in America's criminal justice system. With unprecedented, exclusive access to family archives, award-winning journalist and biographer Andrew Meier vividly chronicles how the Morgenthaus amassed a fortune in Manhattan real estate, advised presidents, advanced the New Deal, exposed the Armenian genocide, rescued victims of the Holocaust, waged war in the Mediterranean and Pacific, and, from a foundation of private wealth, built a dynasty of public service. In the words of former mayor Ed Koch, they were "the closest we've got to royalty in New York City."

Lazarus Morgenthau arrived in America dreaming of rebuilding the fortune he had lost in his homeland. He ultimately died destitute, but the family would rise again with the ascendance of Henry, who became a wealthy and powerful real estate baron. From there, the Morgenthaus went on to influence the most consequential presidency of the twentieth century, as Henry's son Henry Jr. became FDR's longest-serving aide, his Treasury secretary during the war, and his confidant of thirty years. Finally, there was Robert Morgenthau, a decorated World War II hero who would become the longest-tenured district attorney in the history of New York City. Known as the "DA for life," he oversaw the most consequential and controversial prosecutions in New York of the last fifty years, from the war on the Mafia to the infamous Central Park Jogger case.

The saga of the Morgenthaus has lain half hidden in the shadows for too long. At heart a family history, Morgenthau is also an American epic, as sprawling and surprising as the country itself.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 901-995) and index.

"Since their arrival in the United States from Germany in 1866, the Morgenthaus have been a linchpin in American history -- losing everything only to grow rich again, assimilating, and then climbing to the country's highest ranks of power. In the words of former Mayor Ed Koch, they are "the closest thing we've got to royalty in New York City." With unprecedented, exclusive access to family archives, award-winning journalist Andrew Meier chronicles this epic American story, revealing how the Morgenthaus amassed enormous wealth, advised presidents, shaped the New Deal, decried mass murder during the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust, waged war in the Mediterranean and Pacific, and built a dynasty that would remake the city of New York. Morgenthau begins with Lazarus, who arrived in New York City dreaming of rebuilding the fortune he had lost in his homeland of Germany. While Lazarus died destitute, in shame and alone, the family would rise once again with the ascendance of Henry, who became a real estate baron, and one of the first to suggest to Woodrow Wilson that he run for president. From there, the Morgenthaus would go on to influence the most consequential presidencies of the 20th century, as Henry's son Henry, Jr., became FDR's longest-serving aide, his Treasury Secretary during the War, and his confidante of 30 years. Finally, there was Robert Morgenthau, a decorated World War II hero who went on to become the longest-tenured district attorney in the history of New York City -- "DA for life," as he was known. As DA, he oversaw some of the most important legal cases in New York of the last fifty years, from the war on the Mafia, the advent of white-collar prosecutions, to the race wars of the 1970s -- and, of course, the Central Park Five case. At heart public servants and confidantes, the Morgenthaus propelled candidates into power. But they were often forced to stand loyally on the sidelines, even as they witnessed the great moral and human cost of political expediency. The saga of the Morgenthau family has lain half-hidden in the shadows for too long. At heart a family history, Morgenthau is also an American epic, as big and improbable as the country itself"-- Provided by publisher.

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