Myer Rashish
Encyclopedia
Myer Rashish was a Harvard
-trained economist
who served as United States
Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs from 1981 to 1982.
on November 10, 1924. He attended Harvard College
, receiving his B.A.
in 1944. He then received an M.A.
in economics
from Harvard University
in 1947. Rashish spent the 1940s teaching economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, Williams College
, Tufts College, and Bowdoin College
.
Rashish moved to Washington, D.C.
in 1952. In 1956, he became chief economist and staff director of the Subcommittee on Foreign Trade Policy and the United States House Committee on Ways and Means
. In 1960-61, President-elect of the United States
John F. Kennedy
named Rashis secretary of his Task Force on Foreign Economic Policy and the Task Force on the Balance of Payments. From 1961 to 1963, he was Assistant to the President
for International Trade Policy, in which capacity he played a major role in the passage of the Trade Expansion Act
of 1962.
Rashish became a private economist in 1963. From 1967 to 1971, he was a consultant to the United States Congress Joint Economic Committee
. He later served on the presidentially appointed Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations and was elected Chairman in 1980.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan
nominated Rashish as Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs and, after Senate confirmation, Rashish held that office from June 29, 1981 until January 20, 1982.
Rashish died of lung cancer
at Sibley Memorial Hospital
in Washington, D.C. on May 22, 1995, at the age of 70.
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...
-trained economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
who served as United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs from 1981 to 1982.
Biography
Myer Rashish was born in Cambridge, MassachusettsCambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
on November 10, 1924. He attended Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, receiving his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1944. He then received an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from 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...
in 1947. Rashish spent the 1940s teaching economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, 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...
, Tufts College, and Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
.
Rashish moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1952. In 1956, he became chief economist and staff director of the Subcommittee on Foreign Trade Policy and the United States House Committee on Ways and Means
United States House Committee on Ways and Means
The Committee of Ways and Means is the chief tax-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives. Members of the Ways and Means Committee are not allowed to serve on any other House Committees unless they apply for a waiver from their party's congressional leadership...
. In 1960-61, President-elect of the United States
President-elect of the United States
President-elect of the United States is the title used for an incoming President of the United States in the period between the general election on Election Day in November and noon eastern standard time on Inauguration Day, January 20, during which he is not in office yet...
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
named Rashis secretary of his Task Force on Foreign Economic Policy and the Task Force on the Balance of Payments. From 1961 to 1963, he was Assistant to the President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
for International Trade Policy, in which capacity he played a major role in the passage of the Trade Expansion Act
Trade Expansion Act
Under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 , the United States Congress granted the White House unprecedented authority to negotiate tariff reductions of up to 50%. It paved the way for the Kennedy Round of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade negotiations, concluding on June 30, 1967 — the...
of 1962.
Rashish became a private economist in 1963. From 1967 to 1971, he was a consultant to the United States Congress Joint Economic Committee
United States Congress Joint Economic Committee
The Joint Economic Committee is one of four standing joint committees of the U.S. Congress. The committee was established as a part of the Employment Act of 1946, which deemed the committee responsible for reporting the current economic condition of the United States and for making suggestions...
. He later served on the presidentially appointed Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations and was elected Chairman in 1980.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
nominated Rashish as Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs and, after Senate confirmation, Rashish held that office from June 29, 1981 until January 20, 1982.
Rashish died of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
at Sibley Memorial Hospital
Sibley Memorial Hospital
Sibley Memorial Hospital is a non-profit hospital located in NW Washington D.C.. It is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and is licensed by the District of Columbia Department of Health and Human Services. The hospital specializes in surgery,...
in Washington, D.C. on May 22, 1995, at the age of 70.