Portrait of Henry Morgenthau Jr. at his desk in the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Portrait of Henry Morgenthau Jr. at his desk in the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Henry Morgenthau Jr. (1891-1967), served as Secretary of the Treasury under Franklin Roosevelt, and as such, was the highest ranking Jewish official in the administration. In January 1944, after receiving a report prepared by his subordinates on "the acquiescence of this government in the murder of the Jews," Morgenthau wrote a personal report to the President which led to the establishment of the War Refugee Board. After the war he became Chairman of the United Jewish Appeal and served in that capacity until 1950.