Henry Morgenthau Jr.

Henry Morgenthau Jr.
Morgenthau in 1944
52nd United States Secretary of the Treasury
In office January 1, 1934 – July 22, 1945
President	Franklin D. Roosevelt Harry S. Truman
Preceded by	William H. Woodin
Succeeded by	Fred M. Vinson
Personal details
Born	(1891-05-11)May 11, 1891 New York City, U.S.
Died	February 6, 1967(1967-02-06) (aged 75) Poughkeepsie, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Elinor Fatman ​ ​ (m. 1916; died 1949)​ Marcelle Puthon Hirsch ​ ​ (m. 1951)​
Children	Henry Robert Joan
Parents	Henry Morgenthau Sr. Josephine Sykes
Relatives	Helen Morgenthau Fox (sister) Barbara W. Tuchman (niece) Anne W. Simon (niece)
Education	Cornell University
Signature
Henry Morgenthau Jr.'s voice Morgenthau describing the importance of war bonds Recorded November 22, 1944

Henry Morgenthau Jr. (/ˈmɔːrɡənθɔː/; May 11, 1891 – February 6, 1967) was the United States Secretary of the Treasury during most of the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He played a major role in designing and financing the New Deal. After 1937, while still in charge of the Treasury, he played the central role in financing United States participation in World War II.^[1] He also played an increasingly major role in shaping foreign policy, especially with respect to Lend-Lease, support for China, helping Jewish refugees, and proposing (in the "Morgenthau Plan") measures to deindustrialise Germany.^[2]

Morgenthau was the father of Robert M. Morgenthau, who was district attorney of Manhattan for 35 years; Henry Morgenthau III, an American author and television producer; and noted pediatrician Dr. Joan Morganthau Hirschhorn. He continued as Treasury secretary through the first few months of Harry Truman's presidency, and from June 27, 1945, to July 3, 1945, following the resignation of Secretary of State Edward Stettinius Jr., was next in line to the presidency. Morgenthau was also the first Jew to be in the presidential line of succession.^[3][4]