W. Michael Blumenthal

W. Michael Blumenthal, born on January third, nineteen twenty-six, is a distinguished German-American economist, writer, diplomat, and business leader. His remarkable journey began when, at the tender age of thirteen, he fled Nazi Germany with his Jewish family in nineteen thirty-nine. This harrowing escape led them to the ghetto of Japanese-occupied Shanghai, China, where they endured the trials of World War II until nineteen forty-seven.

After the war, Blumenthal made his way to San Francisco, where he worked various odd jobs to support his education. His determination paid off as he graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and Princeton University, earning degrees in international economics. His career flourished as he became a prominent figure in both the business world and public service.

Before his appointment as Secretary of the Treasury under President Jimmy Carter from nineteen seventy-seven to nineteen seventy-nine, Blumenthal had already made significant contributions in administrative roles under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. During his tenure in the Carter administration, he played a crucial role in shaping economic policy and was instrumental in re-establishing diplomatic ties with China.

Following his resignation, Blumenthal took on leadership roles as chairman and CEO of Burroughs Corporation and Unisys. He dedicated seventeen years to the Jewish Museum Berlin as its director, further solidifying his commitment to cultural preservation. An accomplished author, he penned 'The Invisible Wall' in nineteen ninety-eight and 'From Exile to Washington: A Memoir of Leadership in the Twentieth Century' in twenty-thirteen. Today, he stands as the oldest living former U.S. Cabinet member, a testament to his enduring legacy.