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Nathaniel L. Goldstein | |
|---|---|
.jpg) New York Law School photo, circa 1952 | |
| 57thAttorney General of New York | |
| In office January 1, 1943 – December 31, 1954 | |
| Governor | Thomas E. Dewey |
| Preceded by | John J. Bennett Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Jacob Javits |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1896-06-09)9 June 1896 New York City |
| Died | 24 March 1981(1981-03-24) (aged 84) New York City |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Etta May Brown |
| Children | 2 |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1918 |
Nathaniel Lawrence Goldstein (June 9, 1896 – March 24, 1981) wasNew York State Attorney General from 1943 to 1954, paralleling the three terms of GovernorThomas E. Dewey. ARepublican, Goldstein equaled the twelve-year tenure of hisDemocratic predecessorJohn J. Bennett Jr. Since the office's creation in 1777, the onlyNew York Attorneys General who served longer wereLouis Lefkowitz (1957–78) andRobert Abrams (1978–94).
A native ofNew York City, Nathaniel Goldstein was born on theLower East Side ofManhattan, to parents ofJewish descent. When he was six years old his family moved toBrooklyn where, as a high school student, Goldstein joinedSigma Omega Psi fraternity at New York University. he excelled in debating and was inspired by Brooklyn AssemblymanCharles C. Lockwood who attended one of the debates. Lockwood hired the young man as an assistant in his law firm, while encouraging him to study at night and later to attendNew York University, where he was a member of the Sigma Omega Psi fraternity.
While a student atNew York University, Goldstein also worked as an accountant and, after graduating in 1915, went on to receive his law degree fromNew York Law School in 1918. WithAmerica's participation inWorld War I in full progress, a few weeks later, he was an infantry private on a troop ship bound forEurope. AfterWorld War I, he began to practice law with Assemblyman Lockwood and others, including Republican statesmanHenry Stimson, who later served asFranklin D. Roosevelt'sWorld War IISecretary of War. Through the 1920s and the 1930s Goldstein's stature grew in importance as he rose from being a legal aide in state assembly committees to a political advisor in housing and other New York City affairs.[citation needed]
In the first full year of United States participation inWorld War II, the New York State Republican Party chose as its1942 nominees for Governor and Attorney General, the 40-year-oldThomas E. Dewey and the 46-year-old Nathaniel L. Goldstein. The ticket proved victorious in November and both Dewey and Goldstein went on to win two more times, in1946 and1950.As he began his first term, Goldstein realized that twelve years of one-party control of the Attorney General's office resulted in abuse of the patronage system, with political appointees whose annual salaries exceeded $10,000 not showing up for work, while receiving their paychecks by mail. The actual work of the office was being done by assistants who were making $2000 per year. One of his first acts was to equalize salaries and insist on a full day's work from all members of his staff.[citation needed]
Much of his time was consumed with rent-control litigation. However, another long-investigated and much-publicized case, which he personally supervised, had as its goal the withdrawal of the New York State charter for theKu Klux Klan, which the organization had managed toclandestinely acquire in 1923.[citation needed]
Goldstein had one of his agents join the Klan and come to know the secret society's inner workings, while uncovering its propagators and organizers. He was quoted in a statement issued by the office of New York Attorney General, that "the principles of hate, intolerance, bigotry and violence must be stamped out" as he transmitted to theFederal Bureau of Investigation 1100 names of members of theKu Klux Klan and theHitler-resurgentGerman-American Bund. On July 29, 1946, theNew York State Supreme Court revoked the Klan's charter.[citation needed]
The final years of Goldstein's tenure were occupied with fighting the growing spread ofillegal narcotics, which he called "socially contagious". He devoted numerous task forces to the problem and lobbiedCongress to provide for enforced treatment of those who become addicted. He was also deeply involved in international drug control through his service as advisor to the United States negotiators in theUnited Nations committees dealing with the matter.[citation needed]
Throughout his public life, he was a leading voice in philanthropic endeavors through his participation inUnited Jewish Appeal, National Conference of Christians and Jews,Brooklyn Hebrew Orphan Asylum,Hebrew University of Jerusalem bond organization,Willkie Memorial ofFreedom House,Pace University andNew York Law School.
In his final years he acted as special counsel for the law firmFinley, Kumble, Wagner, Heine & Underberg. He was a trustee of theFletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and chairman of the board of overseers of theHarry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.[1]
Goldstein died at his residence in Manhattan of aheart attack, aged 84. He was survived by his wife, the former Etta May Brown and two children, Steven Goldstein and Lois Lowenstein.[1]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Arthur V. McDermott | Republican nominee forAttorney General of New York 1942, 1946, 1950 | Succeeded by |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by | New York Attorney General 1943–1954 | Succeeded by |