Oscar S. Straus (1850-1926)

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, Under Four Administrations: From Cleveland to Taft.

Oscar S. Straus wrote, "Had diplomacy been a career, nothing would have pleased me more than to continue in such service of my country."