World War II – Bernard Baruch: Private Life of a Public Man

Baruch chatting with group of soldiers on a park bench. — Baruch chatting with a couple of soldiers [ca. 1942-1946]

Baruch wearing overcoat and hat talking with another soldier in uniform. — Baruch conversing with a soldier
[ca. 1942-1946]

Baruch wearing overcoat and hat talking with soldier in uniform. — Baruch talking with a soldier
[ca. 1942-1946]

Baruch came back from Paris a changed man. The end of World War I had created a backlash in the United States and the country slid back toward isolation.

I came out of the war, as I have said, with some definite ideas. Inevitably the strong views I entertained, about the League of Nations, about the agricultural situation, and about other public questions which agitated America, led me to take an active part in politics – the forum in which great issues are debated and resolved (The Public Years, 171).

Baruch standing among a group of Signal corpsmen and women in front of a war plane. — Baruch posing in front of a plane
[ca. 1942-1946]

Baruch standing with two other people in front of a bombed out building. — Baruch in liberated Europe
[ca. 1945-1946]

Baruch riding in a military jeep with soldiers. — Baruch riding in a jeep
[ca. 1942-1946]

Baruch remained a constant advocate of preparedness leading up to World War II. When the war inevitably came, he did not accept an official position in the Roosevelt government but would go wherever he was needed and troubleshoot the situation.

Baruch talking with a soldier in uniform on a park bench — Baruch speaking with a soldier in liberated Europe
[ca. 1945-1946]