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_Analyzing Governor Herbert H. Lehmans Phenomenal
Success in American Politics
n of Destiny
ERBERT H. LEHMAN is a stern realist.
His training as a banker has influenced his
outlook on life. He studies men and things
I im the point of view of assets and liabilities.
lc bases his evaluations on the final balance sheet
if his appraisal. He has the gift to remain un
prejudiced and to suppress his subjective reactions.
Hi' decision is irrevocable. Former associates of
.ehman the banker and present colleagues of Gov
ernor Lehman know that only too well. Once
pis mind is made up, he cannot be swayed by emo-
h'ont. He is that rare phenomenon in American
lite: a man of decision.
(jovernor Lehman is not removed from the
lustle and bustle of every-day life. He does not
|.*>k at humanity from an ivory tower, stuffing
lis ears against the cries of the great anonymous
He is very much interested in movements,
nasses.
i>cial experiments and economic problems affect
ing the small man. But he never loses sight of
[he whole problem. He differentiates between the
'sential and secondary, and will not be influenced
hv ephemeral changes. He thinks in
pecades and universal scope.
When, not so long ago, in his ca
pacity as Acting Governor, Colonel
I.ehman handled a prison outbreak
jkvith an iron fist, the country real
ized that this rather small-statured
Jnan with the soft Southern drawl,
lias an unbending will of steel. To
phe large circle of his friends, Col.
Lehman’s determination to see
through this revolt against organ
ized law and order, regardless of
personal sacrifices, unswayed by
•motion (which, in this instance, in-
olved the life of the warden) was
in no way a surprise. They knew
that Col. Lehman, when put to
test, would come through with fly
ing colors.
(Governor Herbert H. Lehman en
tered the political arena when a im
pure man of fifty, fully equipped by
*ducation, training and experience to
peal with every phase of govern
mental problems. His associations
with some of the largest industrial
Undertakings in this country, in the
textile, automobile manufacturing,
hnd even retail merchandising field
fiave provided him with that ex-
utive and organization talent which government
natters require. There is nothing startling in the
fact that Col. Lehman adjusted himself so bril
liantly to the handling of State problems and in-
rtnluced so efficient a modus operandi in his mani
fold duties at the Executive Mansion at Albany.
^Modern statesmanship is merely business on a
Huge scale, and Governor Lehman is eminently
fitted for it. What amazed even his closest friends
his success in the purely political field. It was
feared that Herbert Lehman was too straightfor
ward, too frank; in other words, too ethical a per-
onality to avoid the many pitfalls besetting the
areer of a politician. The politician who depends
! ,n a majority of votes to keep him in the running
belongs, generally, to the species who say “Y'es”
when they mean “Perhaps” and “I’ll do everything
NrfMc ’ when they mean “no.” Lehman uses
i and “No” without regard to the rules of
ie Political game. A rather dangerous habit in
By Robert Stone
H'hen Herbert II, Lehman, Lieutenant-Gover
nor of the State of New York, announced his
candidacy for the Democratic nomination of
the Governorship, political leaders of both par
ties realized that his nomination and subsequent
election was inevitable. The writer of this ar
ticle analyzes the Lehman personality—and
presents us with an interesting X-Ray chart of
the man who became New York’s first Jewish
Governor-. . . The Editor.
public life. It is foreign to his nature to paint
rosy pictures of the future and to use the reper
toire of the candidate who revels in promises,
intent on making pre-election friends. Either Leh
man had to transform himself, overnight, into a
man alien to his real self or he had to pay the
penalty. This was the view of those who watched
"Jews should be proud Jews, or no Jews at all."
Governor Herbert Henry Lehman, Mrs. Lehman,
Hilda Jane, John R. and Peter G.
the newly-elected Lieutenant Governor after his
success at the polls in 1928. But, strange to say,
Lieutenant Governor Lehman made no compro
mises when he entered the political ring. He re
mained the punctual, efficient and thoroughly re
sponsibility-conscious man of affairs with this ex
ception, however. The morrow after his election
he had divested himself of all active business in
terests, believing that a public servant should have
no business affiliations whatsoever and be entirely
free from all personal, practical considerations.
Lehman’s re-election two years ago with a larger
plurality than any other candidate on the Demo
cratic ticket in the state of New York proved con
clusively that the people had taken to this new
type of public servant. His very unorthodox out
look in regard to traditions of the politician’s
game brought him support. The intelligent citizen
interested in the smooth and efficient administra
tion of state affairs and sick of shallow and mean
ingless prosperity slogans took enthusiastically to
Colonel Lehman’s realistic and honest personality.
He was impressed by the earnestness of the man
and his concentration of fundamentals.
It is as a negotiator that Colonel Lehman has
triumphed time and again in the political field. He
has averted several strikes by bringing employers
and employees together and exposing to them
lucidly the prospective advantages and disad
vantages of their contemplated action. His talent
to maintain a strictly impartial attitude, coupled
with his straight-from-the-shoulder argumentation,
makes him the trusted leader of any conference
he participates in.
To Jewish affairs, Lehman has transferred his
same outlook. No futile emotionalism. No shallow
dramatization. Before giving his support to any
Jewish movement he studies it on its intrinsic
merit, He is not a Zionist but be
lieves in the reconstruction work
carried on in Palestine. He is ac
tively interested in the work of the
Agro-Joint in the Soviet Union,
although he is an irreconcilable op
ponent of the Communist doctrine.
For many years he has given of him
self and his means to domestic and
foreign Jewish charities, in accord
ance with his fortune.
The younger generation problem
attracts him more than any other.
He believes in the plastic possibil
ities of the human character, through
example, and through a proud esprit
de race. Jews should be proud Jews
or no Jews at alt, according to the
Lehman viewpoint. ITus, the pri
mary problem is to make our youth
proud of their racial and religious
heritage by teaching them our his
tory and pointing out to them con
temporary examples of Jewish
genius and achievement.
These are the dominant character
traits of the man who was destined
to become the first Jew to hold the
Governorship of the State of New
York. When he announced his in
tention to be a candidate for the
nomination of the Democratic Party in the Empire
State, he broke political traditions by refusing to
open headquarters, declaring he stood on his record
as Lieutenant Governor. It is characteristic for
the man that he enjoys the friendships of President
elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt and ex-Govcrnor
Smith.
This can be explained by Governor Lehman’s
extraordinary gift to steer clear of all personal en
tanglements. In his book, “Government—Not
Politics,” President-elect Roosevelt says the fol
lowing about politics as a career:
“I think we can lay down a rule covering a
political career entered into with the highest pur
pose of serving one’s community or one’s country.
Either the individual should have enough money
of his own safely invested to take care of him
when not holding office, or else he should have
business connections, a profession or a job to which
he can return from time (Please turn to page 18)
THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
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