Arnold Picker
Encyclopedia
Arnold M. Picker was a United States film industry executive, mayor of Golden Beach, Florida
and the number one enemy on Richard Nixon's list of targets.
Picker began his career by following in his father's footsteps. In 1935 he started with Columbia Pictures
, where his father had been an executive, and worked his way up the company's ladder to become head of international distribution. He then joined United Artists
where in the 1960s he was made an executive vice president. His motion picture career ended and political career began when President Lyndon B. Johnson
named him to the International Commission on Education and Cultural Affairs.
In 1972, Picker served as the finance chairman of Senator Edmund S. Muskie's Presidential campaign and in 1976 he worked as a top fundraiser for Henry M. Jackson
's campaign. Picker was so effective as a liberal advocate that he was singled out by President Richard M. Nixon's reelection strategists as the top target of a list of 20 people on Nixon's Enemies List
. This list came to light during the Watergate scandal. Mr. Picker was elected mayor of Golden Beach in 1979.
Although his career in the motion picture industry ended in the 1960s, Picker continued to be an active force in the field. He helped establish the Washington based American Film Institute
. He later served as chairman of the board of the National Center for Jewish Film. The center at Brandeis University
is dedicated to restoring Yiddish film classics. He also helped found the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center based at Florida International University.
Picker died of pneumonia
at New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston
.
Golden Beach, Florida
Golden Beach is a town located in the northeast corner of Miami-Dade County, Florida, between the Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 919. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 921.-Geography:Golden Beach is...
and the number one enemy on Richard Nixon's list of targets.
Picker began his career by following in his father's footsteps. In 1935 he started with Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
, where his father had been an executive, and worked his way up the company's ladder to become head of international distribution. He then joined United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
where in the 1960s he was made an executive vice president. His motion picture career ended and political career began when President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
named him to the International Commission on Education and Cultural Affairs.
In 1972, Picker served as the finance chairman of Senator Edmund S. Muskie's Presidential campaign and in 1976 he worked as a top fundraiser for Henry M. Jackson
Henry M. Jackson
Henry Martin "Scoop" Jackson was a U.S. Congressman and Senator from the state of Washington from 1941 until his death...
's campaign. Picker was so effective as a liberal advocate that he was singled out by President Richard M. Nixon's reelection strategists as the top target of a list of 20 people on Nixon's Enemies List
Nixon's Enemies List
Nixon’s Enemies List is the informal name of what started as a list of President of the United States Richard Nixon’s major political opponents compiled by Charles Colson, written by George T. Bell , and sent in memorandum form to John Dean on September 9, 1971...
. This list came to light during the Watergate scandal. Mr. Picker was elected mayor of Golden Beach in 1979.
Although his career in the motion picture industry ended in the 1960s, Picker continued to be an active force in the field. He helped establish the Washington based American Film Institute
American Film Institute
The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
. He later served as chairman of the board of the National Center for Jewish Film. The center at Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
is dedicated to restoring Yiddish film classics. He also helped found the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center based at Florida International University.
Picker died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
at New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
.