From Exile to Washington: A Memoir of Leadership in the Twentieth Century

by W. Michael Blumenthal

“The former Treasury Secretary has shared his story in a memoir that is both an engrossing personal narrative and a thoughtful reflection on leadership” (Henry Kissinger, author of On China).   In a life that has spanned nearly nine decades and has taken him around the world and back, W. Michael Blumenthal has borne witness to the world’s convulsions and transformations during the twentieth century. Born in Germany between the two world wars, Blumenthal narrowly escaped the Nazi horror, when, in 1939, he and his family fled to Shanghai’s chaotic Jewish ghetto, where they spent the entirety of the WWII. From these fraught and humble beginnings, Blumenthal would emerge a major leader in American business and politics.   In the second half of the century, Blumenthal headed two major American corporations—Bendix and Burroughs (later Unisys); served as a US trade ambassador in the State Department and the White House, advising John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson; and served under Jimmy Carter as the secretary of the treasury. After his retirement from business and politics, he began an entirely new chapter in his career when he conceived and served as the director of Europe’s largest Jewish museum—the Jewish Museum of Berlin. An essential autobiography by one of America’s great political figures, From Exile to Washington is an engaging chronicle of the twentieth century’s greatest upheavals, and a tribute to a lifetime of courage, leadership, and decisiveness.   “Blumenthal’s astute understanding of history allows him to ably demonstrate the significance of good leadership.” —Kirkus Reviews   “An astounding life, splendidly recorded.” —Fritz Stern, author of Five Germanys I Have Known

562 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 21, 2015

About the author

AKA: Michael Blumenthal

A graduate of Cornell Law School and formerly Director of Creative Writing at Harvard, Michael Blumenthal is the author of eight books of poetry, including No Hurry (Etruscan Press, 2011). He is also the author of the novel Weinstock Among the Dying, and the memoir All My Mothers and Fathers, among other books. Currently Visiting Professor of Law at the West Virginia University College of Law, he lives in Morgantown, West Virginia, and Hegymagas, Hungary.

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is really a remarkable documentation not only as a personal history of W. Michael Blumenthal, but also of world history from the 1930s to the 2000s. I was struck by his very detailed narrative about the world events he witnessed or was played a role in. He does a very good job of providing the context for many world events such as how technology developed since the 1980s has resulted in today’s globalization. In many ways, I felt like I was reading a world history textbook.

His personal accomplishments going from being a stateless immigrant escaping from Nazi Germany by way of Japanese-occupied Shanghai, obtaining advanced education in the U. S., to heading up different two multinational corporations, and having leading roles in U.S. government leadership, is truly remarkable. His involvement with the Jewish Museum of Berlin and the preservation of the Jewish history of the city is also noteworthy.

I particularly appreciated the book because I actually met and had an opportunity to interview Dr. Blumenthal for a class assignment when I was a junior high school student. He was the head of Bendix Corporation at the time and I have always remembered him and admired the fact that he took the time to meet with me. The book further reinforced my positive memory of him. It was a lot to read, but completely worthwhile.

[Kathrin Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written and moving account of his journey from Berlin to Shanghai and, after the war, to the United States where he rose to become one of the key officials during the Carter Presidency. A story of hope and determination. His career was crowned in his later years by becoming the director of the Jewish Museum in Berlin.

[Woodsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an absorbing book with a personal insiders view point, into such an important part of modern history.

Anyone with interest in international history since the Second World War, would find this book well worth reading.