Si Gerson | |
|---|---|
%2c_New_York%2c_New_York._Slide_103.png) Gerson in 1969 | |
| Confidential Examiner to the Borough President ofManhattan | |
| In office January 1, 1938 – September 27, 1940 | |
| Borough President | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1909-01-23)January 23, 1909 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | December 26, 2004(2004-12-26) (aged 95) New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Communist |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Occupation | Journalist, activist, politician |
| Known for | FirstCommunist to hold any appointed office inNew York City |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1944–1946 |
| Rank | Private |
| Battles/wars | |
Simon William "Si" Gerson (January 23, 1909 – December 26, 2004) was a leader in theCommunist Party USA. In particular, he was considered its leading expert on campaigns and election. He was the party's appointee to fill theNew York City Council vacancy left by the death ofPeter Cacchione, but the council refused to seat him. He was also an editor for theDaily Worker.
Simon William Gerson[1] was born inNew York City on January 23, 1909, the eldest child ofJewish immigrants from theGrodno region, located in modern-dayBelarus.
Both of Gerson's parents were members of theSocialist Party of America, and his mother, Dr. Helen Movshovitz, later became a member of theCommunist Party USA and supportedWilliam Z. Foster's presidential campaigns. Si Gerson's father supportedNorman Thomas' campaigns.
Gerson joined theYoung Communist League USA while attending theCity College of New York and was expelled from the college in 1928 for leadingantimilitarism activities. He joined the CPUSA itself in 1931[2] and worked as a city hall reporter and executive editor for theDaily Worker and its successor, theDaily World.[3]
In 1937, Gerson was appointed confidential examiner (also known as assistant)[4] toRepublicanManhattanBorough President-electStanley M. Isaacs,[5] making him the first Communist to hold any appointed office in New York City.[6][7] In this position, he was charged with handling complaints and ensuring other members of the borough president's staff did their jobs.[8] He served from the beginning of 1938 until his resignation in September 1940;[9] facing a legal challenge from theAmerican Legion on his right to hold office, Gerson could not afford a legal team and theCity Corporation Counsel refused to take his case.[10][11] Gerson later served in thePacific theater duringWorld War II.[12][13]
In 1947, incumbent CommunistNew York City CouncilmanPeter Cacchione unexpectedly died. Under city law, council vacancies had to be filled by a member of the same political party as the previous officeholder, but when the Communist Party nominated Gerson, who had been Cacchione's campaign manager,[7] the council refused on the grounds that the CPUSA was not legally a political party.[14] Instead, the seat was left vacant,[15] and a special election was held the following year. Although he received the nominations of the Communist andAmerican Labor parties (earning 18,000 votes on the former ballot line and 132,000 votes on the latter), he came in third place with 15% of the vote, behind Republican Jacob P. Lefkowitz andDemocrat Jack Kranis, the victor.[16]
On the morning of June 20, 1951, Gerson and 16 other Communist Party leaders werearrested by theFBI and charged with violating theSmith Act.[17] In September 1952, JudgeEdward J. Dimock dropped the charges against Gerson andIsidore Begun, arguing that there was insufficient evidence to convict them.[18]
Gerson later served as campaign manager forGus Hall andAngela Davis during the1980 presidential election.[3]
Gerson marriedSophie Melvin, the "Red flame" of the Communist Party, in 1932, with whom he had two children.[7] Melvin was a passionate union organiser[19] who gained notoriety due to her involvement in the 1929Loray Mill Strike, during which she was imprisoned.[20]
Gerson died inBrooklyn, New York on December 26, 2004.[7]
Gerson and Melvin's papers were donated to theTamiment Library after their deaths.[21]
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