What is Norman Thomas birthday?

Norman Thomas was born at 1884-11-20

When was Norman Thomas died?

Norman Thomas was died at 1968-12-19

Which age was Norman Thomas died?

Norman Thomas was died at age 84

Where is Norman Thomas's birth place?

Norman Thomas was born in Marion

What is Norman Thomas nationalities?

Norman Thomas's nationalities is American

Who is Norman Thomas spouses?

Norman Thomas's spouses is Frances Violet Stewart

What was Norman Thomas universities?

Norman Thomas studied at Princeton University, Bucknell University, Princeton University, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York

What was Norman Thomas notable alumnis?

Norman Thomas's notable alumnis is Princeton University

Which company or organization was founded by Norman Thomas?

Norman Thomas was the founder/co-founder of National Civil Liberties Bureau (the precursor of the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU).

What is Norman Thomas's political ideology?

Norman Thomas's political ideology is Socialist

What is Norman Thomas's religion?

Norman Thomas's religion is Presbyterian

Who is Norman Thomas's father?

Norman Thomas's father is Welling Evan Thomas

Who is Norman Thomas's mother?

Norman Thomas's mother is Emma Mattoon

Norman Thomas - Political Leaders, Life Achievements and Childhood

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Personal Details
Photo
Overview
Timeline
FAQ

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Norman Thomas's Personal Details

Norman Thomas, the socialist, political activist and the American Presbyterian minister became one of the major figures of American society through his anti-war preaching and peace initiatives

Information	Detail
Birthday	November 20, 1884
Died on	December 19, 1968
Nationality	American
Famous	Princeton University, Leaders, Political Leaders, Writers
Spouses	Frances Violet Stewart
Universities	Princeton University Bucknell University Princeton University Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Notable Alumnis	Princeton University
Founder / Co-Founder	National Civil Liberties Bureau (the precursor of the American Civil Liberties Union ACLU).
Birth Place	Marion
Political Ideology	Socialist
Religion	Presbyterian
Gender	Male
Father	Welling Evan Thomas
Mother	Emma Mattoon
Sun Sign	Scorpio
Born in	Marion
Died at Age	84

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Norman Thomas's photo

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Who is Norman Thomas?

Norman Thomas, the American Presbyterian minister is best remembered for being the leader of the socialist movement in United States for more than four decades. The six time socialist candidate for president, also an author, lecturer and one of the most admired critics of American society, he captured the imagination of even those who were against his political views as an articulate spokesman. He criticized everything for which United States of America stands for in the eyes of the rest of the world – militarization and interference in the internal affairs of other nations. As a strong voice of democratic socialism, his influence on the middle-class Americans was considerably great, despite them considering socialism as an unsavory form of political thought. The great dissenter, he objected strongly to America’s intervention in the two World Wars, though he softened his stand after the Pearl Harbour incident. Being a strong advocate for world peace, he despised anything which stood as an obstacle for long standing peace. One who strongly voiced his protest against the Vietnam War he also established numerous institutions to promote world peace and universal disarmament. No wonder he earned the admiration of the American society and even those who opposed his political views.

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Childhood & Early Life

Born as the oldest of the six children to Emma Williams Mattoon and Weddington Evans Thomas, a Presbyterian minister, he had an uneventful childhood.

He completed his education from Marion High School and attended Bucknell University which he left after a year to join Princeton University from where he graduated in 1905.

After undertaking a trip around the world, he decided to follow the footsteps of his father and enrolled to Union Theological seminary. In 1911, he graduated from the seminary and was ordained a Presbyterian minister.

Career

At first, he became an assistant to Rev. Henry Van Dyke at the fashionable Brick Presbyterian Church on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue Rev. Following this, he was made the pastor for the East Harlem Presbyterian Church, ministering Italian-American Protestants.

His preaching against the American participation in the First World War led his fellow alumni from Princeton and a few leaders of the Presbyterian Church in New York to shun him.

He resigned from his pastorate when church stopped the funding of American Parish's social programs though he did not formally leave the ministry until after his mother’s death in 1931.

It was his stand against the Great War which enabled him to draw closer to Socialist Party of America (SPA), a staunchly antimilitarist organization. Soon, he joined the party and worked energetically for it.

In the magazine, ‘The World Tomorrow’, started by the organization, he became the editor in January 1918 and strived to make it the voice of liberal Christian social activism.

Soon, moving to a secular journalism, he became the associate editor of the Nation magazine.

He contested for various offices on the Socialist Party ticket. These include: Governor of New York in 1924, Mayor of New York in 1925 and 1929, New York State Senate in 1926, and Alderman in 1927.

In 1928, he contested the U.S Presidential elections as the nominee of the Socialist Party.This was first of his six consecutive campaigns for the office of the U.S. President. As an articulate spokesperson, he won great admiration of the middle class Americans.

In 1934, he ran for the office of U.S. Senator from New York, obtaining the second highest vote earned by any socialist candidate in the New York state elections.

Over the period of time, Socialist Party continued losing its strength, becoming minor and inconsequential element in the political system of America. But, Norman felt much satisfied seeing his programs being taken over by Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal.

While, some of the socialists in his party joined the Democratic Party led by Roosevelt, others left in support of the Popular Front movement of the late 1930s. Some left because of Thomas’s opposition to the involvement of the United States in the European and Asian wars after 1939.

Though he gave his critical support to the American war effort after the Pearl Harbour, he condemned the captivity and forced relocation of Japanese Americans.

Turning a staunch rival of Soviet communism, he also criticized the American foreign policy, which focused mainly on militarization and the growing power of military in American government.

He criticized the government for the escalating rate of poverty and racism, and also for the intervention of United States in the internal affairs of other nations.

During his last years he was a strong critic of the Vietnam War. He was one of the signatories to the 1968, “Writers and Editors War Tax Protest” pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War.

Major Works

‘Socialism Re-Examined’ published in 1963 is one his most famous books. The book shows his receptivity to new ideas and his willingness to re-analyze his ideas and beliefs in the wake of new theories.

‘Is Conscience a Crime?’ is another of his well-known works, released in 1927. This book is considered as a rational and biological explanation of our conscience.

Personal Life & Legacy

He passed away in sleep in Cold Spring Harbor, New York.

The Norman Thomas High School in Manhattan, Norman Thomas '05 Library at Princeton University's Forbes College and the Assembly Hall at the Three Arrows Cooperative Society was named in his honor.

Trivia

He is the grandfather of Newsweek columnist, Evan Thomas.

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