Martin S. Fox

Martin S. Fox (Born 1924 in Newark, New Jersey) is an American Publisher who served as President of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency an international the oldest and largest news agency and wire service serving Jewish community newspapers and media around the world.

Biography

Fox was born in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Jacob Fox (1898-1992), the longtime attorney for the Newark Board of Education and Mae Fox. He was a graduate of Amherst College and received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1949. He served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War II.[1] He served as Vice Chairman of the Essex County, New Jersey Chapter of Americans for Democratic Action. He was a partner at the Newark firm of Fox and Fox, with his father and brother.

In 1952, at age 28, Fox won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Jersey's 12th congressional district. President Harry Truman's low approval ratings and the election of Dwight Eisenhower as the first Republican President in twenty years, helped Republicans win control of the House. Given the national political climate, Fox surprised local Democrats with a stronger than expected showing. He lost by 14,903 votes to the seven-term incumbent, Republican Robert Kean, 84,949 (54.81%) to 70,046 (45.19%).[2]

Democrats viewed their chances as better in 1954, Eisenhower's mid-term election. Republicans were facing a fallout from the McCarthy hearings. Fox was again nominated as Kean's Democratic opponent. He ran as an unabashed liberal, calling himself "essentially New Dealish." He attacked Kean for voting against "socially important measures," and called for the repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act.[3] While Democrats regained control of the House, picking up 18 seats, Kean beat Fox in a close race, 59,151 (53.07%) to 52,314 (46.93%), a margin of just 6,837 votes.[4]

Governor Robert B. Meyner appointed him to serve as a member of the New Jersey State Board of Education in 1960.[5] He was reappointed by Governor Richard J. Hughes and served until his replacement by Governor William Cahill in 1970.[6]

In 1979, he was elected President of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Fox was President of the Jewish Community Federation of Metropolitan New Jersey, served as a United Jewish Appeal campaign chairman, and on the Board of the Council of Jewish Federations.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Zerner, Charles (12 October 1954). "Representative for 8 Terms Is Challenged by Young Lawyer". New York Times.
  2. ↑ "Our Campaigns". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Zerner, Charles (12 October 1954). "Representative for 8 Terms Is Challenged by Young Lawyer". New York Times.
  4. ↑ "Our Campaigns". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Legislative Manual of New Jersey. Trenton, NJ: Joseph J. Gribbons. 1962.
  6. ↑ "Martin Fox New JTA President Landau Named Board Chairman". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 8 June 1979. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  7. ↑ "Martin Fox New JTA President Landau Named Board Chairman". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 8 June 1979. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
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