PURELY COMMENTARY Barbara Tuchman: Libertarian And Historian a proud Jewess. In its totality, therefore, she was the humanist in the American Editor Emeritus and Jewish sense who was an active libertarian. or some 40 years, when there was Basic proof of this was provided search for an authority to discuss when she acted courageously on a mat- the major international occur- ter that related comparably with the rences, my advice always was, "Try to Vietnam agonies. It was in the 1967 secure the great lady of our time in Middle East crisis when there was a literature, Barbara Tuchman." I corn- threat to deny freedom of the seas to mence my personal tribute to this Israel in the Aqaba case. Then, in a let- remarkable lady in this fashion to in- ter published in the New York Times dicate that this eminent author, who (May 20, 1967) she declared: died Feb. 5 at the age of 77, had This is — or should be — an remarkable scholastic records as a self- American, not a Jewish, issue. It taught historian for two generations. is the American reputation that Her accomplishments were unlimited is at stake. If the United States and as guides to whoever may emulate in this crisis fails to support its her record are most valuable. stated position, because of in- There are numerous factors in her volvement in Vietnam, then the life to be remembered. uneasy rationale — called There are the family backgrounds "resistance to aggression" — of — the Wertheimers and the Morgen- our battle over there collapses thaus — and they are temptations for hollowly and publicly. biographers and bibliographers. While we claim to fight for it The American dedication in her in the Far East, it is nullified in career is in the historical studies which the Middle East, closer to home. have made her works inerasable. Link- Israel represents the land ed with them is the idealism of citizen- and the nation which were the ship that made her exemplary. source of the Judaeo-Christian Her Jewish devotions gave her tradition to which we and the noteworthy status and led her to a role other Western nations belong of strong defensiveness not only for and which, presumably, we Israel but also for Zionism. uphold. As such it seems to me There was fearlessness in the treat- obvious that its integrity and ment of her family. The great lady she security, not to say its survival, was, she was never lacking in respect. is a closer concern of ours than Therefore, when the famous in her fami- that of South Vietnam .. . ly failed to go along positively on The attention given to her views measures like Zionism, she was never abusive but always reserved the right becomes apparent in the fact that this to differ and to advocate even an un- letter also appeared verbatim on June popular cause as Zionism was for Henry 1, 1967 in the New York Herald Tribune. It was one of her many defensive Morgenthau the elder. There was something more vital in acts in Israel's behalf. This recollection about one of the her activities. She was a proud Jewess. She refused to submit to dangers to many Barbara Tuchman defensive ser- Jewish causes. She was unlike the vices is especially timely in this critical many Jewish writers and artists who period for Israel and Jewry. It emphasiz- are popular in public acclaim and ed the need for the courageous among seldom speak out in defense of Israel, our authors and the eminent in the Zionism and the Jewish quests for world of art to speak out when an unin- justice. She always spoke fearlessly as formed and regrettable element in the PHILIP SLOMOVITZ F Barbara Tuchman media keeps stabbing in the back and adding curses to the very existence of Israel. The proof of such prejudice is in several of the recent editorials in the Free Press. In every instance the writer of those biased intepretations of current events keeps harping on the glory of the rock-hurlers without a semblance of compassion for those who defend their own and their people's lives. Hopefully, the notables in our midst, Christians and Jews, will speak out in condemnation of attempts by the misinformed to drag our morality into the gutter. About the glorious Barbara Tuchman: She was the daughter of Maurice Wertheim, who was an investment banker and who gained wide recogni- tion as an art collector and philan- thropist. He was a president of the American Jewish Committee. His mother, Alma A. Morgenthau Wertheim, was the sister of Henry Morgenthau Jr., who was secretary of the treasury in the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The added recognition is the role of her grandfather Henry Morgenthau Sr., who was U.S. ambassador to Turkey as an appointee of President Woodrow Wilson and had an important role on behalf of the U.S. in exposing the atrocities against Armenians by Ot- toman Turkey. Thus, her family background gave her deep knowledge of American, world and Jewish developments. She knew about her grandfather's anti or non-Zionist views and he knew that she differed with him without disrespect but vigorously. It was my privilege to read and to review Barbara Tuchman's books. We communicated with regard to some of our views in her writings and on Zionism. I wrote extensively on her im- portant Bible and Sword. My Commen- tary column in the issue of May 25, 1956, was devoted to that important work which, regrettably, has not receiv- ed enough space in the numerous obituaries devoted to her, her literary classics and her many civic accomplishments. Added interest must be given to Bi- ble and Sword. When I also was in- spired to write about it extensively, in my special article in The Jewish News issue of June 28, 1968. That article has special relevance to our present time and I share portions of it again with my readers: Barbara W. Tuchman, already noted for her brilliant analyses of world affairs, has produced a great work in her Bi- ble and Sword in which she presents a thorough review of "England and Palestine from the Bronze Age to Balfour." This outstanding study, published by Funk and Wagnalls is a major work. It is of special merit for our time, since it not only presents a history of British interests in Continued on Page 36 Frank Angelo Among Noted Journalists F rank Angelo is an unforgettable name in American journalism. He was omitted from my recollec- tions in the Feb. 10 issue. Nevertheless, THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS (US PS 275-520) is published every Friday with additional supplements the fourth week of March, the fourth week of August and the second week of November at 20300 Civic Center Drive, Southfield, Michigan. Second class postage paid at Southfield, Michigan and additional mailing offices. Postmaster Send changes to: DETROIT JEWISH NEWS, 20300 Civic Center Drive, Suite 240, Southfield, Michigan 48076 $26 per year $33 per year out of state 60` single copy Vol. XCIV No 26 2 February 24, 1989 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1989 he is tops in the creative ranks and his name will ever arouse admiration. There must be a few other names to be remembered. Frank Angelo rates priority. As managing editor of the Detroit Free Press he honored me with a special assignment — to cover for his newspaper the Eichmann trial in Jerusalem. Harry Golden, who authored the famous Only in America among his many books, shared that Jerusalem assignment with me. Frank Angelo published several dozen of my other reports from Israel. They were the contents of a special com- bined Jewish News-Free Press pamphlet of 48 pages. In the Detroit Jewish community, Frank Angelo was very often among the most distinguished of guests. He gave encouragement to numerous Jewish movements, was a supporter of the Zionist cause in its early stages and later in its fulfillment as Israel. He gave encouragement to the Israel Bonds appeals. There are scores of associates with Frank in important commitments to social services and they surely join with me to wish him the best of health and recovery from his recent illnesses. An item of special community in- terest is the memory of the Detroit News Library which had a significant journalist aspect. George B. Catlin, Detroit News librarian from 1917 until the early 1930s, had a scholarly aspect which became a journalistic devotion. It was my privilege to benefit from him and to cooperate with him in the acquisition of Jewish-content books for the. newspaper's reference library. I recall especially that when he purchased the two-volume History of Zionism by Nahum Sokolow he also bought a set for me for the special price of $7.50 for both. Then came the librarianship of Lee A White — the A without a period, which I explained in my earlier column about the Detroit journalists. White was followed by Frances E. Curtis. For a number of years Julia Wine, a charming Detroiter who was active in Jewish women's movements here and was a member of a prominent Detroit Jewish family in the 1920s and 1930s, was associate librarian of the Detroit News. Such are among the historic records called to mind by the JOA-Joint Opera- tion Agreement — currently under dispute.