Quest for Memorial to ‘Jewish Founding Father’ Makes a Capitol Gain

A politically active Van Nuys businessman has been successful in the first step in his four-year campaign for a Washington memorial to Haym Salomon, a financier who helped fund the American Revolution and died penniless and from an illness he contracted in a British prison.

Following lobbying by an organization founded by Marvin Feldman, Sen. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.) last month introduced a bill calling for erection of a statue of Salomon inside the Capitol and for construction of a memorial to him on federal land somewhere in the District of Columbia.

U.S. Reps. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove), and Carlos J. Moorehead, (R-Glendale), have jointly introduced companion legislation in the House. Aides to the three legislators predicted that hearings on the bills will be held this fall.

Feldman, who has been active in conservative Republican causes, said the purpose of the campaign is to “recognize a real American patriot” and “raise the image of the Jew nationally by showing to the American public the contributions made by a Jew.”

Salomon, a Polish-born banker who lived in New York and Philadelphia, has been credited with helping the Continental Congress obtain most of the money it borrowed from France, Holland and other lenders. The Dictionary of American Biography says that Salomon also personally loaned $658,000 to the cause.

A City University of New York professor , Morris Schappes, has disputed the story, alleging that Salomon’s financial contribution was fabricated by his son for personal gain. But the history books agree that no money was ever paid back to Salomon or his heirs.

Feldman, who describes himself as a political consultant, said he decided to campaign for the memorial four years ago and has lobbied federal officials since then.

“Even many Jews have not heard about Haym Salomon,” Feldman said. “And, when I tell them what I’m doing, they don’t seem to know whether to take me seriously. Who ever heard of a Jewish founding father? But there was one and he should be recognized.”

Salomon was arrested by the British during the Revolution on charges of espionage and sabotage for allegedly plotting to destroy British warehouses and ships around New York. He died in 1785.

The statue and memorial would be paid for from contributions raised by Feldman’s friends, who in April formed a group called American Jewish Patriots and Friends of Haym Salomon. Feldman declined to estimate the project’s cost or say how much the group has raised.

Requests for statues in the Capitol are rare, according to Elliott Carroll, a spokesman for George White, the current architect of the Capitol. Carroll said the only such request in the last five years was for a statue for Martin Luther King Jr. It was approved by Congress and the statue, which is being paid for with tax dollars, is being sculpted.

Carroll said White will have a lot to say about the fate of Feldman’s request for a statue, and that the Department of the Interior will have a voice in the proposal. “I’m sure the proposals will be given serious consideration,” Carroll said.

In Los Angeles, there already is a statue of Salomon on the grounds of the city-owned West Wilshire Recreation Center.