Leo Isacson Papers
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Abstract
Leo Isacson (1910-1996) was an attorney and politician from Bronx, NY. In a 1948 special election he was elected to the seat for New York's 24th District of the United States House of Representatives as the American Labor Party candidate. The victory shocked the political establishment and commentators. In that November's general election, the mainstream political parties worked in a coalition to unseat him. The collection chronicles Isacson's life, with particular emphasis the 1948 campaign and his subsequent service in Congress. Included are clippings, photographs, campaign materials, correspondence, and writings. There are four boxes of scrapbooks, comprised primarily of clippings, that document the campaign, Isacson's brief career in the House, and the analysis of Isacson's unexpected victory.
Historical/Biographical Note
Leo Isacson (1910-1996) was an attorney and politician from Bronx, NY. In a 1948 special election he was elected to the seat for New York's 24th District in the United States House of Representatives as the American Labor Party candidate. The victory shocked the political establishment and commentators. Isacson's tenure in the House coincided with the escalation of the Cold War, and while a member of the House of Representatives, the State Department denied him a passport to travel to France. In the general election in the November of that year, the mainstream political parties worked in a coalition to unseat him. Following his defeat, Isacson returned to his law practice, and later in life he taught political science at Nova University in Fort Lauderdale.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in two series: Series 1. Papers; Series 2. Photographs and Nonprint Materials.
Scope and Content Note
The collection chronicles the life of attorney and politician Leo Isacson with particular emphasis on his 1948 campaign for the United States House of Representatives on the American Labor party ticket and subsequent service in Congress. Included are clippings, photographs, campaign materials, correspondence, and writings. There are four boxes of scrapbooks, comprised primarily of clippings. These document the campaign, Isacson's brief career in the House, and the analysis of Isacson's unexpected victory. Other subjects represented include the relationship between Isacson and the campaign of Progressive Party presidential candidate Henry Wallace, Congressman Vito Marcantonio, Isacson's views on the state of Israel, and a peace trip to the Soviet Union.
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People
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection, created by Leo Isacson, was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Leo Isacson Papers; TAM.306; box number; folder number; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Materials donated by Dale Isacson Bloom in 1998. The accession numbers related to this gift are 1998.022, 1998.023, and NPA.2003.023.
About this Guide
Processing Information Note
Photographs were separated, foldered and described shortly after acquisition. They were established as a separate collection, the Leo Isacson Photographs (PHOTOS 159). At that time, a scrapbook covering the years 1935-1940 was photocopied and disassembled for preservation reasons. In 2013 the Leo Isacson Photographs were reincorporated into the Leo Isacson Papers. These materials are represented in the Photographs and Nonprint Materials series. Archivist intervention for the Papers series has been minimal.