Samuel Irving Rosenman

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Samuel Irving Rosenman (1896 - 1973) was born in San Antonio, Texas. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I. He was a U.S. lawyer and a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly from New York County 11th District, 1922-26.

Justice of New York Supreme Court 1st District, 1936-43; resigned 1943.

Rosenman was an advisor to Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. Under their administration he was a leading figure in the war crimes issue. He was also the first official White House Counsel -- then called Special Counsel -- between 1943 and 1946.

He was a key speechwriter under both presidents, helping Roosevelt with his speeches from his days as governor. While he was not heavily involved in speechwriting during FDR's first term, he started traveling to Washington to help out with important talks during the 1936 campaign and was a key speech aid for the remainder of FDR's life. He officially joined the White House after ill health forced him to have to choose between his judicial work and his presidential work.

He submitted his resignation as Special Counsel upon FDR's death but Truman asked him to stay on, initially through VE Day, then through VJ Day, and finally into 1946. Even after leaving the White House he would periodically return to aid the president with major speeches, including his acceptance speech to the 1948 Democratic convention.

Member, Delta Sigma Rho; Phi Beta Kappa.