Oscar S. Straus (1850-1926)
<h4><a href="https://vmps.omeka.net/exhibits/show/straus-family/straus-family">Return to The Straus Family: A History of Public Service and Philanthropy</a></h4>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#000000;">Oscar S. Straus (1850-1926) is noted for his brilliant professional life. He was one of America's first career diplomats; serving his country under four administrations including Cleveland, McKinley, T. Roosevelt and Taft: both Democrat and Republican. He was Minister to Constantinople and then Ambassador to Turkey between 1887 and 1910. He served as Secretary of Commerce and Labor from 1906 through 1909 under President Theodore Roosevelt. Oscar Straus was Minister to the International Court of Arbitration at The Hague and was instrumental in having the Covenant of the League of Nations written into the Treaty of Versailles. He was one of the founders of the Young Men's Hebrew Association in 1874, a founder and first president of the American Jewish Historical Society from its inception in 1892 to 1898 and was the author of several books including his autobiography, <em><span style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under Four Administrations: From Cleveland to Taft.</span></em></span></p>
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<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#000000;">Oscar S. Straus wrote, "Had diplomacy been a career, nothing would have pleased me more than to continue in such service of my country."</span></p>
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The Straus Historical Society
https://cdn4.picryl.com/photo/1912/01/01/oscar-solomon-straus-head-and-shoulders-portrait-facing-left-640.jpg
The Straus Historical Society
Circa 1920s
The Straus Historical Society
Oscar S. Straus (1850-1926). <br /><br />Source: <a href="http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org">The Straus Historical Society</a>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#000000;">Links:</span></p>
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<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#000000;">“Oscar Straus – Minister to Constantinople, 1887 – 1888” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 2 No. 2 (New York: August 1994); pp. 4-8.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/_______nwsltr894.pdf"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#c51b35;">http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/_______nwsltr894.pdf</span></b></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#000000;"></span></p>
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<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#000000;">“Oscar Solomon Straus – Minister to Constantinople, Letters 1888 – 1888” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 3 No. 1 (New York: February 1995); pp. 2-5.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/_______nwsltr295.pdf"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#c51b35;">http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/_______nwsltr295.pdf</span></b></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#000000;"></span></p>
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<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#000000;">“Rededication Ceremony, Oscar S. Straus Memorial, October 26, 1998” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 7 No. 1 (New York: February 1999); pp. 1-2.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/_________nwsltr299.pdf"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#c51b35;">http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/_________nwsltr299.pdf</span></b></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#000000;"></span></p>
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<p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#000000;">“Oscar Solomon Straus - Lawyer, Author, Merchant, Philanthropist” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 5 No. 1 (New York: August 2003); pp. 1-7.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/_____nwsltr803.pdf"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#c51b35;">http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/_____nwsltr803.pdf</span></b></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#000000;"></span></p>
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Medium: Photograph
English
Figures
Oscar S. Straus, Straus Family, Biography, Diplomacy, Presidents, Turkey, Commerce, Labor, Jewish
Historic
Oscar S. Straus: Minister to Constantinople
<h4><a href="https://vmps.omeka.net/exhibits/show/straus-family/straus-family">Return to The Straus Family: A History of Public Service and Philanthropy</a></h4>
<p>Oscar S. Straus (1850-1926) served as Minister to Constantinople from 1887-1889 at the pleasure of President Grover Cleveland. In 1898 President William McKinley requested an interview with Straus, suggesting that Oscar once again become Minister to Constantinople. In his autobiography, <em>Under Four Administrations: From Cleveland to Taft</em>, Oscar wrote about his meeting with McKinley, “He said the situation had worried him so that it interfered with his sleep, and he begged me to accept again the appointment of minister to Turkey, declaring with conviction that he regarded me as the only man who could adjust the situation. I explained to him frankly how I was situated in regard to my business obligations and that it was very difficult for me to drop them at this time; but under the circumstances as he had stated them to me I felt I had no right to interpose my personal affairs as a reason for refusing, for I certainly regarded no sacrifice too great to make in the service of the country when it was needed, as in this instance. I said I had been too young to shoulder a gun in the Civil War as he had done, but with a full understanding of my situation if he should feel it necessary to call upon me I should be at his service.”</p>
<p>When, on May 27, 1898, McKinley telegrammed Oscar Straus to let him know he was going to nominate him before the Senate, Oscar responded, “Your request that I should accept the post of Minister to Turkey, with which you honor me, I regard as a command, and deem it my patriotic duty to you and to the country to accept.”</p>
<p>Oscar served as Minister to Constantinople for a second time from 1898-1899.</p>
<a href="http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/_____nwsltr803.pdf"><strong></strong></a>
The Straus Historical Society
http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/594104_orig.jpg, http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/5165222_orig.jpg
The Straus Historical Society
Circa 1887
The Straus Historical Society
Oscar S. Straus: Minister to Constantinople <br /><br />Source: <a href="http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org">The Straus Historical Society</a>
<p>Links:</p>
<p>“Oscar Straus – Minister to Constantinople, 1887 – 1888” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 2 No. 2 (New York: August 1994); pp. 4-8.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/_______nwsltr894.pdf"><strong>http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/_______nwsltr894.pdf</strong></a></p>
<p>“Oscar Solomon Straus – Minister to Constantinople, Letters 1888 – 1888” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 3 No. 1 (New York: February 1995); pp. 2-5.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/_______nwsltr295.pdf"><strong>http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/_______nwsltr295.pdf</strong></a></p>
<p>“Rededication Ceremony, Oscar S. Straus Memorial, October 26, 1998” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 7 No. 1 (New York: February 1999); pp. 1-2.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/_________nwsltr299.pdf"><strong>http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/_________nwsltr299.pdf</strong></a></p>
<p>“Oscar Solomon Straus - Lawyer, Author, Merchant, Philanthropist” Straus Historical Society Newsletter Vol. 5 No. 1 (New York: August 2003); pp. 1-7.</p>
<a href="http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/_____nwsltr803.pdf"><strong>http://www.straushistoricalsociety.org/uploads/1/1/8/1/11810298/_____nwsltr803.pdf</strong></a>
Medium: Photograph
English
Figures
Oscar S. Straus, Straus Family, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire, Turkey
Historic