Oscar Solomon Straus Quotes

A collection of quotes by Oscar Solomon Straus.

Oscar Solomon Straus was an American politician and diplomat, born on December 23, 1850, in Otterberg, Germany. He migrated to the United States with his family in 1854, settling in New York City. Straus pursued a successful career as a lawyer before entering public service.

In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Straus as the United States Minister to the Ottoman Empire, where he played a crucial role in negotiating various international issues. During his tenure, Straus advocated for the protection of Jewish rights in Turkey, earning him recognition as a prominent Jewish-American diplomat.

Straus later served as the Secretary of Commerce and Labor under President William Howard Taft from 1906 to 1909, becoming the first Jewish Cabinet member in U.S. history. In this position, he worked towards improving working conditions, promoting fair trade practices, and enforcing immigration laws.

Moreover, Straus actively participated in the Republican Party, serving as a treasurer and being involved in several presidential campaigns. He also played an instrumental role in establishing the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, Netherlands, promoting peaceful resolution of international disputes.

Oscar Straus is remembered for his progressive ideas, commitment to justice, and his efforts to promote diplomacy and human rights. He passed away on May 3, 1926, leaving behind a legacy of public service and advocacy.

The Jew is neither a newcomer nor an alien in this country o

The Jew is neither a newcomer nor an alien in this country or on this continent; his Americanism is as original and ancient as that of any race or people with the exception of the American Indian and other aborigines. He came in the caravels of Columbus, and he knocked at the gates of New Amsterdam only thirty-five years after the Pilgrim Fathers stepped ashore on Plymouth Rock.

Oscar Solomon Straus

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