Harold I. Cammer
| Harold I. Cammer | |
|---|---|
Cammer speaking at a rally in Atlantic City, N.J.
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| Born |
June 18, 1909 Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | October 21, 1995 (aged 86) Mamaroneck, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | JD Harvard Law School |
| Alma mater | City College |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Employer | Boudin & Wittenberg (1932–1933), Zalkin & Cohen (1933–1936), Liebman, Robbins, Pressman & Leider (1936–1941), Witt & Cammer (1941-1948), Pressman, Witt & Cammer (1948–1949), Witt & Cammer, Cammer & Shapiro |
| Known for | defender of Ware Group members Nathan Witt, Lee Pressman, John Abt |
| Notable work | Co-founder National Lawyers Guild |
| Children | Robert Cammer, Margaret Cammer |
Harold I. Cammer (June 18, 1909 – October 21, 1995) was an American lawyer who co-founded the National Lawyers Guild. He was known for his participation in labor law, civil rights, peace and justice issues, and freedom of speech cases; in particular, defending those accused of communist leanings.
Cammer was born in June 1909 in the borough of Manhattan in New York City to Harry and Anne (Boriskin) Cammer, poor immigrants from the Russian Empire. He attended New York City public schools and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1929 from City College. He attended Harvard Law School on a full scholarship, receiving a Doctor of Law degree (cum laude) in 1932.
He began practicing law with the firm of Boudin & Wittenberg from 1932 to 1933, and Zalkin & Cohen from 1933 to 1936. In 1936, he joined his long-time friend Lee Pressman in the firm of Liebman, Robbins, Pressman & Leider, and stayed with the firm until 1941. After his friend, Nathan Witt, resigned from the National Labor Relations Board following accusations in December 1940 that he was a member of the Communist Party (CPUSA), Cammer formed the law firm of Witt & Cammer in 1941.
Cammer interrupted his legal career to serve in the United States military during World War II.
After the war, Cammer returned to the firm of Witt & Cammer, with offices at 9 East 40th Street, New York City. On August 20, 1948, Cammer represented Ware Group members Witt, Pressman, and John Abt before HUAC, less than a week before on the famous "Confrontation Day" hearing of HUAC in which Alger Hiss and Whittaker Chambers faced each other publicly for the first time. Chambers described the day as follows:
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