Nathan Perlmutter

Nathan Perlmutter was the executive director of the Anti-defamation League from 1979 to 1987. Perlmutter began work with the ADL in 1949, serving in Detroit, Miami, and New York as regional director in each of those territories until 1964. He worked as associate national director of the American Jewish Committee from 1965 to 1969. After that, he worked as assistant national director of the ADL from 1973 to 1979, at which point he became national director. He served in that role at the ADL until his death in 1987. From 1969 to 1973 Perlmutter was vice president of Brandeis University.

Perlmutter received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Ronald Reagan.

Publications

Perlmutter's first book, How to Win at the Races, published in 1964, was about horse racing. He later wrote the 1972 book A Bias of Reflections and co-authored the 1982 book The Real Anti-Semitism in America with his wife Ruth Ann Perlmutter.

Childhood

Perlmutter grew up in Williamsburg, a neighborhood in New York City. At age 19 he began work at the Pentagon as a typist. He studied at Georgetown University School of Diplomatic and Consular Practice and Villanova College. He received a law degree from New York University Law School. During World War II Perlmutter served in China for the States Marine Corps.

Family

Perlmutter's father, Hyman, was a tailor who worked for the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression, while his mother, Bell Perlmutter of the Finkelstein family, tended a pushcart that sold ices. Perlmutter's wife was Ruthann Perlmutter of the Osofsky family. His children are Dean, Azez, and Ninah.