Max Lerner
Encyclopedia
Maxwell "Max" Alan Lerner (December 20, 1902—June 5, 1992) was an American
journalist
and educator known for his controversial syndicated column.
After immigrating from Russia
with his parents in 1907, 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 doctorate from the Brookings Institution
in 1927 and began work as an editor:
Lerner's most influential book was "America as a Civilization: Life and Thought in the United States Today" (1957).
Lerner was a staunch opponent of discrimination against African-Americans, but supported the
wartime internment of Japanese Americans
, and backed an ACLU
resolution on the issue which "subordinate[d] civil liberties to wartime considerations and political loyalties." During the 30s, Lerner was a strong advocate of
the New Deal
.
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, due to expressing
support for the Reagan administration
.
He taught at Sarah Lawrence College
, Harvard University
, Williams College
, United States International University, and Brandeis University
. Lerner was also a close friend of film star Elizabeth Taylor
during her marriage to Eddie Fisher
He is referenced in the lyrics to Phil Ochs
' song, "Love Me, I'm a Liberal
": "You know, I've memorized Lerner and Golden
."
His book "The Unfinished Country" is a collection of over 200 of his daily columns, written over a decade for the New York Post. This work contains one of his more well-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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and educator known for his controversial syndicated column.
After immigrating from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
with his parents in 1907, Lerner earned a B.A. from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1923. He studied law there but transferred to Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
for an M.A. in 1925.
He earned a doctorate from the Brookings Institution
Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
in 1927 and began work as an editor:
- Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences (1927–32)
- The NationThe NationThe Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
(1936–38) - PMPM (newspaper)PM was a leftist New York City daily newspaper published by Ralph Ingersoll from June 1940 to June 1948 and bankrolled by the eccentric Chicago millionaire Marshall Field III....
(1943–48)
Lerner's most influential book was "America as a Civilization: Life and Thought in the United States Today" (1957).
Lerner was a staunch opponent of discrimination against African-Americans, but supported the
wartime internment of Japanese Americans
Japanese American internment
Japanese-American internment was the relocation and internment by the United States government in 1942 of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese who lived along the Pacific coast of the United States to camps called "War Relocation Camps," in the wake of Imperial Japan's attack on...
, and backed an ACLU
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
resolution on the issue which "subordinate[d] civil liberties to wartime considerations and political loyalties." During the 30s, Lerner was a strong advocate of
the New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
.
His column for the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
debuted in 1949. It earned him a place on the master list of Nixon political opponents
Master list of Nixon political opponents
A master list of Nixon political opponents was compiled to supplement the original Nixon's Enemies List of 20 key people considered opponents of President Richard Nixon. The master list was compiled by Charles Colson's office and sent in memorandum form to John Dean. Dean later provided this...
. During most of his career he was considered a liberal. In his later years however, he was seen as something of a conservative, due to expressing
support for the Reagan administration
Reagan Administration
The United States presidency of Ronald Reagan, also known as the Reagan administration, was a Republican administration headed by Ronald Reagan from January 20, 1981, to January 20, 1989....
.
He taught at Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College is a private liberal arts college in the United States, and a leader in progressive education since its founding in 1926. Located just 30 minutes north of Midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County, New York, in the city of Yonkers, this coeducational college offers...
, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
, United States International University, and 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...
. Lerner was also a close friend of film star Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE was a British-American actress. From her early years as a child star with MGM, she became one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age...
during her marriage to Eddie Fisher
Eddie Fisher (singer)
Edwin Jack "Eddie" Fisher , was an American entertainer. He was one of the world's most famous and successful singers in the 1950s, selling millions of records and hosting his own TV show. His divorce from his first wife, Debbie Reynolds, to marry his best friend's widow, Elizabeth Taylor, garnered...
He is referenced in the lyrics to Phil Ochs
Phil Ochs
Philip David Ochs was an American protest singer and songwriter who was known for his sharp wit, sardonic humor, earnest humanism, political activism, insightful and alliterative lyrics, and haunting voice...
' song, "Love Me, I'm a Liberal
Love Me, I'm a Liberal
"Love Me, I'm a Liberal" is a satirical song by Phil Ochs, a U.S. protest singer. Originally released on his 1966 live album, Phil Ochs in Concert, "Love Me, I'm a Liberal" was soon one of Ochs's most popular concert staples...
": "You know, I've memorized Lerner and Golden
Harry Golden
Harry Lewis Golden was an American Jewish writer and newspaper publisher. He was born Herschel Goldhirsch in the shtetl Mikulintsy, Ukraine, then part of Austria-Hungary. His mother was Romanian and his father Austrian.In 1904 his father, Leib Goldhirsch, emigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba, only to...
."
His book "The Unfinished Country" is a collection of over 200 of his daily columns, written over a decade for the New York Post. This work contains one of his more well-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.