Herbert London

Herbert Ira London[1] (March 6, 1939 – November 10, 2018) was an American conservative activist, commentator, author, and academic. London was the president of the Hudson Institute from 1997 to 2011. He was a frequent columnist for The Washington Times. London was president of the London Center for Policy Research, a conservative think tank hosted at The King's College in New York City,[2] and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.[3]

Herbert London
President of the Hudson Institute
In office
1997–2011
Preceded byLeslie Lenkowsky
Succeeded byKenneth R. Weinstein
Personal details
Born
Herbert Ira London

(1939-03-06)March 6, 1939
Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedNovember 10, 2018(2018-11-10) (aged 79)
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Political partyConservative
Republican
ChildrenAt least 3, including Stacy
Alma materColumbia University
New York University
OccupationPolitical activist, commentator, author, academic

Personal life and education

London was born on March 6, 1939, in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York, the son of Esta (Epstein), a homemaker, and Jack London, who sold materials for upholstery.[4] His family was Jewish. At 6'5", he played basketball for a city championship-winning Jamaica High School team.[1]

London recorded several pop songs, achieving a modest hit record in 1959 with "Sorry We're Not Going Steady."[5] One of his three daughters is Stacy London, former host of TV shows What Not to Wear and Love, Lust or Run.[4]

London attended Columbia University and studied under Jacques Barzun.[6] He graduated from Columbia in 1960 and obtained a doctorate in history at New York University in 1966.[7]

London died in Manhattan from complications of heart failure on November 10, 2018, at the age of 79.[4]

Professional life

London started working at New York University after getting his doctorate there.[1] He was responsible for creating NYU's "University Without Walls" in 1972. UWW was part of a new trend in American higher education to provide inter-disciplinary and out-of-the-classroom learning.[8] UWW changed its name to the Gallatin Division in 1976.[9] Gallatin students design their own curricula and do not have any required courses.[10] Gallatin later added a focus on the study of great books.[11] London directed the program from its inception until 1992.[7] After retiring as a dean, London became the John M. Olin Professor of Humanities at NYU.[11] The Gallatin Division was renamed the Gallatin School of Individualized Study in 1995.

London was the president of Hudson Institute from 1997 until 2011 and later was named president emeritus.[12] He was also a senior fellow at the Center for the American University at the Manhattan Institute[13] and chairman of the National Association of Scholars.[7] In February 2013, London joined the board of advisors of the Coalition to Reduce Spending.[14]

London was a noted social critic and a guest lecturer on many major radio and television programs, including CNN's Crossfire which he co-hosted for one year. His work appeared in major newspapers across the country, including the Wall Street Journal, Commentary, National Review, Fortune, The New York Times and many others.[15]

Political campaigns

London registered as a Republican in New York in 1978.[5] He was considered a conservative maverick, at various times joining and at other times criticizing the New York State Republican Party.[11][16][17][18]

1989 campaign for Mayor of New York City
Main article: 1989 New York City mayoral election

In 1989, London entered the race for both the Conservative Party and Republican Party nominations for Mayor of New York City. Ronald Lauder was endorsed by the Conservatives and London dropped out of the Republican primary.[19][20]

1990 campaign for Governor of New York
Main article: 1990 New York gubernatorial election

London was the Conservative Party nominee for Governor of New York in 1990.[21] The party broke from recent practice and declined to cross-endorse the Republican nominee, the Canada-born businessman Pierre Rinfret. Conservatives leaders cited Rinfret's support for abortion, his perceived lack of seriousness about his candidacy, and his potential difficulties in attacking incumbent Democratic governor Mario Cuomo on fiscal policies as reasons for their decision to run their own gubernatorial candidate.[22] London finished one percentage point behind Rinfret, 827,614 votes to 865,948. Cuomo was re-elected to a third term.[11]

1994 campaign for New York Comptroller
Main article: 1994 New York State Comptroller election
See also: 1994 New York gubernatorial election § Republican

Soon after the 1990 election, London began campaigning for the Republican nomination in the 1994 Governor's race, which turned out to have no clear front-runner.[1] The main reason was that U.S. Senator Al D'Amato kept hinting he would run for the nomination and if he did, he would be the presumptive favorite. London became the first formally announced candidate to take on incumbent Mario Cuomo, declaring for both the Republican and Conservative parties' nomination in October 1993.[11]

Republican and Conservative leaders were resolved to support the same candidate to avoid splitting the conservative vote as in 1990. D'Amato preferred State Senator George Pataki, but state senate majority leader Ralph J. Marino held a grudge against Pataki, London and others who tried to oust Marino in the 1992 primary.[1] However, Marino supported London through the Republican Party convention, where London could not gain enough supporters to automatically be placed on the G.O.P. primary ballot.[23]

During that convention, Republican leaders convinced London to drop out of the governor's race in favor of accepting the party's nomination for state Comptroller.[24] Prior to London being offered the Comptroller's nomination, Assemblyman John Faso was considered the frontrunner for the nomination.[25] London went on to face interim Democratic Comptroller Carl McCall.[25]

The race was notable in part for the controversy created when the candidate's identities, Jewish for London and black for McCall, became a focal point of the campaign.[26] Then, in the week before the election, a statement was issued by 50 leading members of the Democratic Party in New York, condemning London for launching racist attacks against McCall.[27][28] Two Manhattan Republicans withdrew their support for London, while Mayor Rudy Giuliani stuck with his endorsement of London.[29]

McCall defeated London in the election, 52% to 46%, becoming the first black candidate elected to statewide office in New York.[30] McCall had out-raised London $3.6 million to $543,000. London's criticism of Pataki and his attack ads against McCall were seen as negatively affecting his performance in the race.[31]

Think tank

The London Center for Policy Research (LCPR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded in 2012 by London in New York City and defines itself as a boutique think tank created to engage in research and advise on key policy issues of national security, international relations, energy, and risk analysis.[32] The center claims to challenge conventional wisdom where appropriate, add texture to the current deliberations on policy issues and build support for positions that further the national interest and the interest of key allies.[33] The London Center was influential in the staffing and policy direction of the Trump Administration with many of its senior fellows taking on both official and unofficial roles in the administration.[34] The center counts these "Fellows" among its membership: Deroy Murdock, Gordon G. Chang, Monica Crowley, Jim Woolsey, Derk Jan Eppink, and Walid Phares.

Works

Source:[35]

  • The BDS War Against Israel: The Orwellian Campaign to Destroy Israel Through the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. 2014. (with Jed Babbin)
  • The Transformational Decade: Snapshots of a Decade from 9/11 to the Obama Presidency. University Press of America. 2012.
  • Decline and Revival in Higher Education. Transaction Publishers. 2010.
  • America's Secular Challenge: The Rise of a New National Religion. Encounter Books. 2008.
  • Decade of Denial: A Snapshot of America in the 1990s. Lexington Books. 2001.
  • The National Endowments: A Critical Symposium. Center for the Study of Popular Culture. 1995. (edited with James F. Cooper & Laurence Jarvik)
  • From the Empire State to the Vampire State. University Press of America. 1994. (with Edwin S. Rubenstein)
  • Armageddon in the Classroom. University Press of America. 1987.
  • Social Science Theory: Structure and Application. New York University Press. 1975. ISBN 9780814749586.

Articles

References
  1. Dao, James (January 31, 1994). "Candidate Seeks New Armor For Crusade Against Cuomo". New York Times. p. A1. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  2. Freedlander, David (October 17, 2017). "The Creepily Influential Trumpist Foreign-Policy Think Tank You've Never Heard Of". The Daily Beast. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  3. "Membership Roster - Letter L". Council on Foreign Relations. Archived from the original on April 18, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  4. Roberts, Sam (November 12, 2018). "Herbert London, Conservative Savant and Social Critic, Dies at 79". The New York Times. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  5. Roberts, Sam (September 19, 1994). "Ideology Contrast Adds Some Flavor to Comptroller Race". New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  6. Barzun, Jacques (1993) [First published 1968]. The American University (2nd ed.). University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226038452.
  7. "NAS Staff & Boards". National Association of Scholars. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  8. "Higher Education: Without Walls Gets Mixed Reactions". Chicago Tribune. October 22, 1972. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  9. "Facts and Figures". Gallatin School of Individualized Study. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  10. Berry, Erica; McGarry, Marisa (February 7, 2014). "NAS protests Bowdoin's 'global citizenship' at Brunswick conference". Bowdoin Orient. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  11. Sack, Kevin (October 5, 1993). "Conservative Is Joining G.O.P. Race for Governor". New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  12. "Kenneth R. Weinstein Elected Hudson Institute President and CEO by Board of Trustees". Hudson Institute. April 4, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  13. "Center for the American University". Manhattan Institute. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  14. "Board of Advisors". Coalition to Reduce Spending. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  15. DAVIDOVIT, ALIZA. "HERB LONDON,words to live by" (PDF). www.davidovit.com.
  16. Fisher, Ian (September 23, 1994). "London Hit By Criticism For Attacks On Pataki". New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  17. "Governor Is Criticized By a Fellow Republican". New York Times. May 6, 1997. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  18. Healy, Patrick (March 31, 2006). "Republicans Go on Attack, but the Target Is Pataki". New York Times. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
  19. Lynn, Frank (April 19, 1989). "Conservatives Choose Lauder In Mayor Race". New York Times. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  20. "N.Y.U. Dean Drops Out of Mayoral Primary". New York Times. June 24, 1989. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  21. Lynn, Frank (July 11, 1990). "Rinfret and London Slug It Out as Cuomo Steps Deftly Aside". New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  22. Lynn, Frank (May 29, 1990). "Conservatives Balk as G.O.P. Prepares to Back Rinfret". New York Times. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  23. Sack, Kevin (May 24, 1994). "G.O.P. Backs a Legislator to Oppose Cuomo". New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  24. Roberts, Sam (May 26, 1994). "Republicans and Conservatives Solidify Efforts Against Cuomo". New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  25. Healy, Patrick (October 18, 2006). "An Ill-Timed Candidate Believes His Time Is Now". New York Times. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  26. Fisher, Ian (October 25, 1994). "McCall Accuses London of Roiling Racial Tensions in Campaign". New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  27. Fisher, Ian (November 1, 1994). "Republican Comptroller Candidate Denounced as Racist". New York Times. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  28. Herbert, Bob (November 2, 1994). "In America; Mugging Carl McCall". New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  29. Myers, Steven Lee (November 5, 1994). "Republican Candidate Loses Officials' Support". New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  30. Fisher, Ian (November 9, 1994). "McCall Becomes First Black Elected to Statewide Office". New York Times. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  31. Fisher, Ian (November 10, 1994). "How Democrat McCall Navigated a G.O.P. Flood". New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  32. londoncenter.org
  33. About Us; London Center online
  34. The Creepily Influential Trumpist Foreign Policy Think Tank You've Never Heard Of; Daily Beast online;
  35. List of books authored at Google Books
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