Max Lerner
Maxwell "Max" Alan Lerner (December 20 1902—June 5 1992) was an American journalist and educator known for his controversial syndicated column.
After immigrating from Russia with his parents in 1907, Lerner earned a B.A. from Yale University in 1923. He studied law there but transferred to Washington University, St. Louis for an M.A. in 1925.
He earned a doctorate from the Brookings Institution in 1927 and began work as an editor:
- Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences (1927–32)
- The Nation (1936–38)
- PM (1943–48)
Lerner's most influential book was "America as a Civilization: LIfe and Thought in the United States Today" (1957).
His column for the New York Post debuted in 1949. It earned him a place on the master list of Nixon political opponents. During most of his career he was considered a liberal. In his later years however, he was seen as something of a neo-conservative.
He taught at Sarah Lawrence College, Harvard University, Williams College, United States International University, and Brandeis University. Lerner was also a close friend of film star Elizabeth Taylor during her marriage to Eddie Fisher[1]
His book "The Unfinished Country" is a collection of over 200 of Mr. Lerner's daily columns, written over a decade, for the New York Post. This work contains one of his more well known quotes: "The turning point in the process of growing up is when you discover the core of strength within you that survives all hurt."
His 1990 book Wrestling with the Angel was about his long struggle with illness.[2]
In Pop Culture
In the Phil Ochs song "Love me, I'm a Liberal" he is referenced:
"I read New republic and Nation I've learned to take every view You know, I've memorized Lerner and Golden I feel like I'm almost a Jew But when it comes to times like Korea There's no one more red, white and blue So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal"
References
- ^ Schine, Cathleen (October 18, 1981). Bad Luck and Violet Eyes. New York Times
- ^ Severo, Richard (June 6, 1992). Max Lerner, Writer, 89, Is Dead; Humanist on Political Barricades. New York Times