Rosenzweig, Harry, 1907-

Prominent Phoenix businessman, long-time friend of Barry Goldwater and chairman of the Republican State Committee.

From the description of Harry Rosenzweig Sr. collection, 1930-1993. (Scottsdale Public Library). WorldCat record id: 56900369

Harry Rosenzweig was born in Phoenix, Arizona on July 8, 1907. His father, Isaac, an immigrant from Austria, opened a small jewelry store in Phoenix in 1897 and married Rosa Gross, another Austrian immigrant, in 1903. Harry Rosenzweig attended Phoenix Union High School where he was a boyhood friend of Senator Barry Goldwater, Senator Paul Fannin, Governor Jack Williams, and the Basha family. He attended the University of Arizona and the University of Michigan before returning to join the family jewelry business. Upon his father's death in 1942, he and his brother Newton became partners in the ownership of Rosenzweig Jewelers, by this time the largest jewelry firm in Arizona with several stores.

Rosenzweig did not become involved in politics until 1949 when he persuaded his close friend Barry Goldwater to run with him for the Phoenix City Council on the Charter ticket in 1949 to combat corruption. I said I would run if he would run, Rosenzweig said later, He had no more experience than I had, but had a bigger mouth. Both were elected in 1950 and Rosenzweig was an active reformer. Rosenzweig resigned in February 1953, two months after reelection, because he had moved outside the city limits.

Rosenzweig was a registered Democrat until 1951 when he switched political parties. He was at the center of the rise of the Arizona Republican Party in the 1950's. He became finance chairman of the Maricopa County Republican Committee in 1952, and in 1960 the financial chairman of the Arizona Republican State Central Committee. In 1965 he became Chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, an influential political post he held until 1975. He was a Republican National Committeeman in 1965 and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1960, 1964, 1968, and 1972.

During this time, Rosenzweig was a close friend and political confidant of Barry Goldwater. In 1964 he served as fund raiser and finance chairman of the Goldwater for President Committee and also as the Arizona campaign chairman. He later handled Goldwater's finances for his senatorial campaigns. As a prominent political boss, Rosenzweig became involved in controversy several times. The Investigative Reporters and Editors in 1977 linked his name to the investigation of the murder of Phoenix journalist Don Bowles as well as to gambling and corruption.

For decades Rosenzweig was a noted local philanthropist. In 1975 he was named Phoenix Man of the Year and his nomination stated that he has contributed time and money to almost everything. He served as president of the Maricopa County Heart Drive, the Urban League, the Boys Club of Phoenix, the MS Society, Arizona Blue Cross/BlueShield, the Maricopa County Unit of the American Cancer Society, the statewide cancer crusade, and the muscular dystrophy drive. He served as director of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, the Phoenix Fine Arts Association, the Roosevelt Council Boy Scouts, the Barrow Neurological Institute, Valley Forward, the Phoenix Development Association, and as treasurer of the Arizona Historical Foundation. He was a charter member of the Phoenix Thunderbirds and a charter member and president of the Sun Angels Foundation at Arizona State University. In 1984 the Harry and Sandy Rosenzweig Boys and Girls Club was dedicated in their honor after he lead the capital campaign to construct three new clubs. He was also selected as Man of the Year for the City of Hope in 1964.

Rosenzweig was a leader in the Jewish community. He was president of congregation Beth Israel, the Phoenix Jewish Federation, and the Jewish Community Council. He was chairman of Bonds for Israel, the United Jewish Appeal, and the United Welfare Fund. He received the Torch of Liberty Award from the Anti-Defamation League in 1974.

Rosenzweig was also Director of the Better Business Bureau from 1938 to 1989, President of the Arizona Retail Jewelers Association and the Arizona Retailers Association, and Past Director and Vice President of the Retail Jewelers of America. He was a 32nd Degree Mason.

In 1959 Rosenzweig and his brother Newton associated with the Del E. Webb Corporation to construct the Rosenzweig Business Center complex on North Central Avenue in Phoenix that included the Townehouse Hotel.

Harry Rosenzweig married Margaret Christine Burke in 1938 and they had three children, Burke, Diana, and Harry Jr. His second marriage was to Arline Sandy Petersen Pollack (d. 1986) in 1958.

From the guide to the Harry Rosenzweig Sr. Papers, 1920-1993, (Arizona State University Libraries Arizona Collection)