THE THREE LESSONS OF JOE FLOM Dina Christopoulos

THE THREE LESSONS OF JOE FLOM Dina Christopoulos Chris Monopoli Hunter Santos Charis Kao

LESSON 1: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING JEWISH • Joe Flom was intelligent, Jewish lawyer, who unfortunately was at the wrong place at the wrong time • Through 1940 to 1950, it was very difficult to enter a law firm, because they were very picky as to who they hired • If you had graduated at a law school during that era, you would probably be involved in small cases and be classed as below many of the lawyers in the world

LESSON 1: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING JEWISH • Many top class lawyers, at that time, had jobs of “representing” giant corporations, by handling taxes and legal work and to make sure the company has a good reputation • The cases that the low class Jewish lawyers would receive are the cases the white-shoes firms didn’t want to be involved with • “…Litigation was for hams, not for serious people. Corporations just didn’t sue each other in those days. ” (124)

LESSON 1: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING JEWISH • When ever there was a lawsuit they needed to deal with, they would call Joe Flom to do it, only so they don’t have to do deal with the problem • Then, suddenly, even more corporations began proxy fighting, and more lawyers were needed more then ever. • And now, Joe Flom, with all the experience he received from all those lawsuits, was now even more valuable as a lawyer then he used to be.

LESSON 2: DEMOGRAPHIC LUCK • “He was intelligent and educated. He came from a family well-schooled in the rules of the system. He was living in the most economically vibrant city in the world. Here is the strange thing: it never happened. ” Page 130 • Maurice Janklow was born in 1902. He began his career when the Depression started He had a son named Mort Janklow. Mort ended up built his own law firm and was very successful in his career • If you were born after 1912, you had better chance of succeeding because the Depression had ended

LESSON 2: DEMOGRAPHIC LUCK Mort Janklow Maurice Janklow - Mort went to NYC Public Schools when they were at their best -Maurice went to NYC public schools when they were overcrowded -Mort went to Colombia University Law School -Brooklyn Law school - Mort sold his cable business for tens of millions of dollars -Maurice closed titles for twenty-five dollars Page 138

LESSON 2: DEMOGRAPHIC LUCK • The demographic trough was a decade in the 1930 s. This was when the economy of the depression really affected families and lead them to stop having children • Working parents could not support their families during this time period • This generation of children was much smaller than other generations

LESSON 3: THE GARMENT INDUSTRY AND MEANINGFUL WORK • Louis and Regina Borgenicht were a hard working couple that came from Hamburg, Germany • Started pushcart business • Didn’t see a future in pushcart • Inspired by the clothing store around him • Began to make aprons for children

LESSON 3: THE GARMENT INDUSTRY AND MEANINGFUL WORK • His apron business was very successful • Other Jewish immigrants followed their sewing skills and created businesses • “The garment industry was boot camp for the professions. ” (Page 153) • Children of Garment/Supermarket Industry Lawyer/Doctors

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS 1. After what year would you have to be born in order to have a better chance of succeeding? 2. Why do you think people were not having more children in the time period of the Depression? 3. How did the garment/supermarket industry help the future children in their success? If Louis and Regina continue the pushcart business would that help the children in future success? Why? 4. How was the discrimination of Jews an advantage for Joe Flom to get to the top?