(3 of 3)
There
have been six Jewish U. S. Senators—Philip Judah Benjamin, Louisiana
(1853-61); Simon Guggenheim, Colorado (1907-13); Benjamin Franklin
Jonas, Louisiana (1879-85) ; Isidor Rayner, Maryland (1904-10) ;
Joseph Simon, Oregon (1897-1903) ; David Levy Yulee,* Florida (1845-51
and 1855-61). There were ten Jewish Representatives, no Jewish
Senators in the 69th Congress. A Jewish Cabinet officer was Oscar
Straus who was Secretary of Commerce & Labor in Roosevelt's
Cabinet (1906-09). Probably the highest public office held by a U. S.
Jew today is the seat on the U. S. Supreme Court bench occupied by
Louis D. Brandeis.
* Before becoming a Senator, David L. Yulee served in the
House of Representatives under the name of Levy.
