W. Michael Blumenthal
Encyclopedia
Werner Michael Blumenthal (born January 3, 1926) served as United States Secretary of the Treasury
under President Jimmy Carter
from 1977-1979.
, Brandenburg
, Germany
, the son of Rose Valerie (née Markt) and Ewald Blumenthal. Blumenthal and his family were Jewish, and left the country in 1939, shortly before the outbreak of World War II
. They went to Shanghai
, and then to the United States
in 1947. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley
in 1951 with a B.S. degree in business administration from the Haas School of Business
, and later received a Ph.D from Princeton University
, where he was also a Professor of Economics from 1953-1956. He then joined Crown Cork International Corporation, where he rose to Vice President and Director.
In the 1960s, he entered politics and public service. He served in the State Department from 1961 until 1967 as advisor to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson on trade. Following a ten-year career as president and then chairman of the board with Bendix International, President Jimmy Carter appointed him as Secretary of the Treasury, where he served from January 23, 1977 to August 4, 1979.
He returned to the business sector and joined Burroughs Corporation in 1980 as Vice Chairman, then Chairman of the Board a year later. After a merger into the Unisys
Corporation in 1986, he became Chairman and CEO of Unisys, where he remained until retiring in 1990.
From his former marriage, Blumenthal had three daughters: Ann, Jill, and Jane, and has many grandchildren.
Currently he resides in Berlin and Princeton, New Jersey, with his wife, Barbara and his son Michael, and is director of the Jewish Museum Berlin
. In 2008, he was elected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
, pledged to back President Barack Obama
.
In 1999, he received the Leo Baeck Medal
for his humanitarian work promoting tolerance and social justice.
United States Secretary of the Treasury
The Secretary of the Treasury of the United States is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, which is concerned with financial and monetary matters, and, until 2003, also with some issues of national security and defense. This position in the Federal Government of the United...
under President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
from 1977-1979.
Life and career
Blumenthal was born in OranienburgOranienburg
Oranienburg is a town in Brandenburg, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Oberhavel.- Geography :Oranienburg is a town located on the banks of the Havel river, 35 km north of the centre of Berlin.- Division of the town :...
, Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
, 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...
, the son of Rose Valerie (née Markt) and Ewald Blumenthal. Blumenthal and his family were Jewish, and left the country in 1939, shortly before the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. They went to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, and then to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1947. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1951 with a B.S. degree in business administration from the Haas School of Business
Haas School of Business
The Walter A. Haas School of Business, also known as the Haas School of Business or simply Haas, is one of 14 schools and colleges at the University of California, Berkeley....
, and later received a Ph.D from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, where he was also a Professor of Economics from 1953-1956. He then joined Crown Cork International Corporation, where he rose to Vice President and Director.
In the 1960s, he entered politics and public service. He served in the State Department from 1961 until 1967 as advisor to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson on trade. Following a ten-year career as president and then chairman of the board with Bendix International, President Jimmy Carter appointed him as Secretary of the Treasury, where he served from January 23, 1977 to August 4, 1979.
He returned to the business sector and joined Burroughs Corporation in 1980 as Vice Chairman, then Chairman of the Board a year later. After a merger into the Unisys
Unisys
Unisys Corporation , headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, United States, and incorporated in Delaware, is a long established business whose core products now involves computing and networking.-History:...
Corporation in 1986, he became Chairman and CEO of Unisys, where he remained until retiring in 1990.
From his former marriage, Blumenthal had three daughters: Ann, Jill, and Jane, and has many grandchildren.
Currently he resides in Berlin and Princeton, New Jersey, with his wife, Barbara and his son Michael, and is director of the Jewish Museum Berlin
Jewish Museum Berlin
The Jewish Museum Berlin , in Berlin, Germany, covers two millennia of German Jewish history. It consists of two buildings. One is the old Kollegienhaus, a former courthouse, built in the 18th century. The other, a new addition specifically built for the museum, designed by world-renowned architect...
. In 2008, he was elected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
, pledged to back President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
.
Awards and honors
Recipient of The International Center in New York's Award of Excellence.In 1999, he received the Leo Baeck Medal
Leo Baeck Institute
The Leo Baeck Institute-New York in Manhattan is a library, archive, and exhibition centre devoted to the study of the history and culture of German-speaking Jewry. The Institutes's offices and collections are housed in Center for Jewish History in New York City...
for his humanitarian work promoting tolerance and social justice.