Isidor Straus (1845-1912)

Return to The Straus Family: A History of Public Service and Philanthropy

Isidor (1845-1912), Nathan (1948-1931) and Oscar Straus (1850-1926) were close friends of Grover Cleveland, Governor of New York (1883-1885) and two-time President of the United States (1885-1889, 1893-1897). From 1894 to 1895, Isidor Straus served as a member of the House of Representatives under Cleveland, focusing on tariff reform, the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchasing Act and regulation of the railroads through the Interstate Commerce Commission. Although he never aspired to public office, Isidor felt it was his civic duty to serve when called.

While Isidor Straus never held public office again, he remained active in civic affairs. He served on a general committee of the New York Chamber of Commerce to enter the crusade against free silver coinage. He continued to be an advisor to President Cleveland. He chaired the Citizens Committee on Conventions of the New York Board of Trade and Transportation that inaugurated a drive to bring the Democratic Convention to New York. Isidor's name was suggested in 1901 and in 1909 as a possible candidate for Mayor of New York. And in March of 1911, he was considered for nomination for the New York State Senate. His overriding desire, however, was to attend to his family and his business, both jobs he handled with perfection.

Links:

Adler, Joan. “Many Waters Cannot Quench Love – Neither Can the Floods Drown it” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 3 No. 2 (New York: August 1995); pp. 3-8.

http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/______nwsltr895.pdf

“Hon. Isidor Straus, House of Representatives: 1894-1895” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 4 No. 1 (New York: August 2002); pp. 1-8.

http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/________nwsltr802.pdf