Robert Morgenthau facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Morgenthau
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Morgenthau as the New York County District Attorney in 1985
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| 35th District Attorney of New York County | |
| In office January 1, 1975 – December 31, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Kuh |
| Succeeded by | Cyrus Vance Jr. |
| United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York | |
| In office December 4, 1962 – January 15, 1970 |
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| President | John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Vincent L. Broderick (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Whitney North Seymour Jr. |
| In office April 18, 1961 – September 4, 1962 |
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| President | John F. Kennedy |
| Preceded by | Samuel Hazard Gillespie Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Vincent L. Broderick (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert Morris Morgenthau
July 31, 1919 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | July 21, 2019 (aged 99) New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
Martha Pattridge
(m. 1943; died 1972)Lucinda Franks
(m. 1977) |
| Children | 7 |
| Parents |
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| Relatives |
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| Education | Amherst College (BA) Yale University (LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1940–1945 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant Commander |
| Unit | USS Lansdale (DD-426) USS Harry F. Bauer |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Robert Morris Morgenthau (born July 31, 1919 – died July 21, 2019) was an important American lawyer. For many years, from 1975 to 2009, he was the top prosecutor, called the District Attorney, for New York County (the borough of Manhattan). Before that, he was a United States Attorney, appointed by President John F. Kennedy. When he retired, he was the longest-serving District Attorney in New York State history.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Robert Morgenthau was born in 1919 in New York City. He came from a well-known Jewish family. His father, Henry Morgenthau Jr., was a very important person in the government. He served as the Secretary of the Treasury for Presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry Truman.
Robert's family was close to powerful political figures. Their home was near President Roosevelt's estate. This meant Robert grew up knowing the future president.
Military Service in World War II
After finishing his studies at Amherst College, Morgenthau joined the United States Navy. He served for four and a half years during World War II. He became a lieutenant commander. He was an important officer on two ships, the USS Lansdale and the USS Harry F. Bauer.
He showed great bravery during the Battle of Iwo Jima. His ship, the Bauer, was attacked many times. It survived torpedo and bomber attacks. He fought in battles in both the Mediterranean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
Becoming a Lawyer
After the war, Morgenthau went to Yale Law School and became a lawyer in 1948. He joined a law firm in New York. By 1954, he became a partner in the firm.
Career in Public Service
Serving as U.S. Attorney
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy chose Morgenthau to be the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. This is a very important job as a federal prosecutor.
In 1962, he ran for Governor of New York but did not win. After that, he was reappointed as U.S. Attorney. He continued in this role through the presidencies of Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.
When Richard Nixon became president in 1969, Morgenthau faced pressure to leave his job. He was a Democrat, and the new Republican administration wanted their own person. Morgenthau eventually left his position at the end of 1969.
Return to New York Politics
After leaving his federal job, Morgenthau worked briefly for New York City Mayor John V. Lindsay. He then tried to run for governor again in 1970 but later withdrew from the race.
District Attorney of New York County
In 1974, Morgenthau was elected as the District Attorney of New York County. This means he was the chief prosecutor for Manhattan. He won a special election for this role.
He was re-elected many times, serving for over 30 years. From 1985 to 2005, he ran unopposed in general elections.
Morgenthau was known for going after "white-collar crime." This means he focused on crimes committed by business people, like fraud. He believed these crimes were just as important to prosecute as street crimes.
In 2005, at age 85, Morgenthau decided to run for another term. He faced a strong opponent in the primary election. However, he won the Democratic primary with 59% of the votes. In the general election, he won with more than 99% of the vote.
Retirement
On February 27, 2009, Morgenthau announced he would retire. He said he had served "25 years beyond the normal retirement age." He was replaced by Cyrus Vance Jr.. After retiring, Morgenthau joined a law firm.
Television Character
The character of District Attorney Adam Schiff on the TV show Law & Order was based on Robert Morgenthau. Morgenthau reportedly enjoyed watching the character.
Community Involvement
Morgenthau was very active in community groups. He served the Police Athletic League of New York City for many years. He was also the chairman of the Museum of Jewish Heritage.
Awards and Recognition
In 2005, Morgenthau received a Gold Medal from The Hundred Year Association of New York. This was for his great contributions to New York City. He also received an award from the New York City Bar Association. In 2016, he was given the Leo Baeck Medal.
Personal Life
Robert Morgenthau was married twice. His first wife, Martha Pattridge, died in 1972. They had five children together. In 1977, he married Lucinda Franks, who was a writer and had won a Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting. They had two children. His son, Joshua, now runs the family farm, Fishkill Farms.
Death
Robert Morgenthau passed away on July 21, 2019, in Manhattan. He was almost 100 years old.
Images for kids
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USS Lansdale (DD-426).jpg
The USS Lansdale, one of the ships Morgenthau served on during World War II.
See also
In Spanish: Robert Morgenthau para niños
