Edelstein, M. Michael (Morris Michael), 1888-1941

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Morris Michael Edelstein (February 5, 1888 – June 4, 1941) was a Polish-born Congressional Representative from the state of New York. Edelstein was born in Meseritz (now Międzyrzec Podlaski), Poland. At three years of age immigrated to the United States with his parents, who settled in New York City. He attended public schools and Cooper Union College in New York. He graduated from the Brooklyn Law School of St. Lawrence University, in 1909, and was admitted to the bar in 1910 and practiced law in New York. Edelstein was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-sixth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William I. Sirovich. He was reelected to the Seventy-seventh Congress and served from February 6, 1940, until his death.

Edelstein's House career was notable for his last speech, a response to Mississippi Representative John Elliott Rankin, widely described as an anti-Semite who advocated peace with Nazi Germany. Rankin had just delivered a House floor speech accusing "international Jewish brethren" of trying to drag America into World War II. In his response, Edelstein, who was Jewish, said: "Hitler started out by speaking about 'Jewish brethren.' It is becoming the play and the work of those people who want to demagogue to speak about their 'Jewish brethren' and 'international bankers.' ... I deplore the idea that ... men in this House ... attempt to use the Jews as their scapegoat. I say it is unfair and I say it is un-American. ... All men are created equal, regardless of race, creed or color, and whether a man be Jew or Gentile, he may think what he deems fit." Edelstein then walked out of the House chamber, collapsing and dying shortly afterwards in the House cloakroom.

Edelstein was buried in Mount Zion Cemetery, Maspeth, New York. The SS M. Michael Edelstein, a World War II liberty ship, was named in his honor.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961, Papers, 1822, 1831, 1845, 1903-2007 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
referencedIn Samuel Arthur Weiss papers, undated, 1941 American Jewish Historical Society Archives
referencedIn Learned Hand papers Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Brooklyn Law School corporateBody
associatedWith Hand, Learned, 1872-1961 person
associatedWith Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961 person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf United States. Congress. House person
Place Name Admin Code Country
District of Columbia DC US
New York City NY US
Subject
Occupation
Lawyers
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1888-02-05

Death 1941-06-04

Male

Americans,

Poles

English

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