1-Early Years
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Unfortunately, these influential Jews in America were notWhen Germany invaded and took complete control of Hungary by March
1944, William feared for the lives of the 800,000 Jews still in Hungary.
William hoped to get prominent Jewish politicians and businessmen to
influence President Roosevelt to take action to save the Jews of Hungary.
The hope was to convince Roosevelt to allow American planes to bomb the
railroad tracks leading to Auschwitz, allowing refugees from Europe to enter
the U.S., or persuade the British to allow entry into Palestine. Attending the
initial meeting were influential Democrats, including Herbert Lehman of the
“Lehman Brothers” who was also former governor of New York and a close
friend of President Roosevelt. Also present was Lester Martin of “Fruit of
the Loom”, a large clothes manufacturer and Abraham Multer who
eventually became a Congressman.
Unfortunately, these influential Jews in America were not willing to confront Roosevelt on behalf of their brothers in Europe. By October 1944, the transporting of the Hungarian Jews to the concentration camps began. The US presidential election of November 7, 1944 was looming. Roosevelt was facing the Republican candidate, Thomas Dewey♣