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Oscar Straus (politician)
Encyclopedia
Oscar Solomon Straus was United States Secretary of Commerce and Labor under President Theodore Roosevelt
from 1906 to 1909. Straus was the first Jewish United States Cabinet
Secretary.
, Germany
. He emigrated with his parents to the United States, and settled in Talbotton, Georgia
. At the close of the Civil War
he moved to New York City
where he graduated from Columbia College
in 1871 and Columbia Law School
in 1873. He practised law until 1881, and then became a merchant, retaining his interest in literature. He first served as United States Minister to the Ottoman Empire
from 1887 to 1889 and again from 1898 to 1899.
In December 1906, Straus became the United States Secretary of Commerce and Labor under President Theodore Roosevelt
. This position also placed him in charge of the United States Bureau of Immigration. During his tenure, Straus ordered immigration inspectors to work closely with local police and the United States Secret Service
to find, arrest and deport immigrants with Anarchist political beliefs under the terms of the Anarchist Exclusion Act.
Straus left the Commerce Department in 1909 when William Howard Taft
became president and became U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire
until 1910. In 1912, he ran unsuccessfully for Governor of New York
on the Progressive
and Independence League tickets.
His memoirs, Under Four Administrations, were published in 1922.
The Straus family had several influential members including Straus's grandson Roger W. Straus, Jr.
, who started the publishing company of Farrar, Straus and Giroux
; his brother, Isidor Straus
, who perished aboard the RMS Titanic in 1912, served as a representative from New York City
's 15th District, and was co-owner of the department store R. H. Macy & Co.
along with another brother Nathan
; and nephew Jesse Isidor Straus
, confidant of Franklin Delano Roosevelt
and Ambassador to France
from 1933 to 1936.
Washington, D.C.
, commemorates the achievements of this famous Jewish-German-American statesman in the Oscar Straus Memorial
. He is buried at Beth El Cemetery in Ridgewood, New York
.
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
from 1906 to 1909. Straus was the first Jewish United States Cabinet
United States Cabinet
The Cabinet of the United States is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States, which are generally the heads of the federal executive departments...
Secretary.
Biography
He was born in OtterbergOtterberg
Otterberg is a municipality in the district of Kaiserslautern in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate with about 7,350 inhabitants. It is situated approx...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He emigrated with his parents to the United States, and settled in Talbotton, Georgia
Talbotton, Georgia
Talbotton is a city in Talbot County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,019 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Talbot County. Talbotton may be best known in history as the place where the immigrant Straus family got their start in retail sales in the 19th century....
. At the close of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he graduated from Columbia College
Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
in 1871 and Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 1873. He practised law until 1881, and then became a merchant, retaining his interest in literature. He first served as United States Minister to the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
from 1887 to 1889 and again from 1898 to 1899.
In December 1906, Straus became the United States Secretary of Commerce and Labor under President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
. This position also placed him in charge of the United States Bureau of Immigration. During his tenure, Straus ordered immigration inspectors to work closely with local police and the United States Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
to find, arrest and deport immigrants with Anarchist political beliefs under the terms of the Anarchist Exclusion Act.
Straus left the Commerce Department in 1909 when William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
became president and became U.S. Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire
United States Ambassador to Turkey
The United States of America has maintained many high level contacts with Turkey since the nineteenth century.-Chargé d'Affaires:*George W. Erving *David Porter -Minister Resident:*David Porter *Dabney Smith Carr...
until 1910. In 1912, he ran unsuccessfully for Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
on the Progressive
Progressive Party (United States, 1912)
The Progressive Party of 1912 was an American political party. It was formed after a split in the Republican Party between President William Howard Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt....
and Independence League tickets.
His memoirs, Under Four Administrations, were published in 1922.
The Straus family had several influential members including Straus's grandson Roger W. Straus, Jr.
Roger W. Straus, Jr.
Roger Williams Straus, Jr. was co-founder and chairman of Farrar, Straus and Giroux, a New York book publishing company, and member of the Guggenheim family.-Early life:...
, who started the publishing company of Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Farrar, Straus and Giroux is an American book publishing company, founded in 1946 by Roger W. Straus, Jr. and John C. Farrar. Known primarily as Farrar, Straus in its first decade of existence, the company was renamed several times, including Farrar, Straus and Young and Farrar, Straus and Cudahy...
; his brother, Isidor Straus
Isidor Straus
Isidor Straus —a German Jewish American—was co-owner of the Macy's department store with his brother Nathan. He also served briefly as a member of the United States House of Representatives...
, who perished aboard the RMS Titanic in 1912, served as a representative from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's 15th District, and was co-owner of the department store R. H. Macy & Co.
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
along with another brother Nathan
Nathan Straus
Nathan Straus was an American merchant and philanthropist who co-owned two of New York City's biggest department stores – R.H...
; and nephew Jesse Isidor Straus
Jesse I. Straus
Jesse Isidor Straus served as the American ambassador to France from 1933 to 1936. He was the eldest son of Isidor Straus , who died in the sinking of the RMS Titanic, co-owner with his brother Nathan Straus of the department store R.H. Macy & Co...
, confidant of Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
and Ambassador to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
from 1933 to 1936.
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....
, commemorates the achievements of this famous Jewish-German-American statesman in the Oscar Straus Memorial
Oscar Straus Memorial
The Oscar S. Straus Memorial in Washington, D.C., commemorates the accomplishments of the first Jew to serve in the cabinet of a U.S. president. Oscar Solomon Straus served as Secretary of Commerce and Labor under President Theodore Roosevelt from 1906 to 1909...
. He is buried at Beth El Cemetery in Ridgewood, New York
Ridgewood, Queens
Ridgewood is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It borders the neighborhoods of Maspeth, Middle Village and Glendale, as well as the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bushwick. Historically, the neighborhood straddled the Queens-Brooklyn boundary. The neighborhood is part of Queens...
.
External links
- Oscar S. Straus at Find A GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...