Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
"A gripping, deeply researched, and intimate saga of American dynasty that is also a history of the USA, New York, and the Democratic presidency and Jewish-American life though 150 years of the remarkable Morgenthau family."--Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of The Romanovs and Jerusalem 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. 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 New York. In the words of former Mayor Ed Koch, they are "the closest thing we've got to royalty in New York City."
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 rose once again with the ascendance of Henry, who became a wealthy and powerful real estate baron, and one of the first to suggest to Woodrow Wilson that he run for president. From there, the Morgenthaus went on to influence the most consequential presidencies of the twentieth century, as Henry's son Henry, Jr., became FDR's longest-serving aide, his Treasury Secretary during the War, and his confidante of thirty 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. Known as "DA for life," he oversaw some of the most important legal cases in New York of the last fifty years, from the war on the Mafia and the advent of white-collar prosecutions to the race wars of the 1970s--and, of course, the Central Park Five case.
Public servants at heart, the Morgenthaus also propelled candidates into power. But they were often forced to stand loyally on the sidelines, even as they bore witness to the great moral and human cost of political expediency. The saga of the Morgenthaus has lain half-hidden in the shadows for too long. At heart a family history, drawn largely from private family records and including sixty archival photographs, Morgenthau is also an American epic, as big and improbable as the country itself.
Synopsis
Andrew Meier's Morgenthau is that rare writerly accomplishment that manages to tell a tale that is both epic and intimate. To trace the lives of four generations of Morgenthaus is to traverse much of the history of the post-Civil War American republic - and to be inspired once again by a mythical immigrant journey from the margins of society to the peaks of power, command, and consequential public service. 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 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 and 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 thing 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 confidante 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 "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.
Synopsis
An "epic and intimate" (David M. Kennedy) 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
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.