Maxwell Henry Gluck
| Maxwell Henry Gluck | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 4, 1899 Commerce, Texas |
| Died | November 21, 1984 Los Angeles, California |
| Cause of death | heart failure |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
| Spouse(s) | Muriel (Schlesinger) Gluck |
Maxwell Henry Gluck (1899-1984) was an American businessman, diplomat, thoroughbred horsebreeder and philanthropist. He served as the United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka from September 19, 1957 to October 2, 1958.
Maxwell Henry Gluck was born on November 4, 1899 in Commerce, Texas. He grew up in Sharon, Pennsylvania, where his parents owned a small store.
In 1929, he opened a women's store in New York City. It later became a chain known as the Darling Stores Corporation, with 150 stores in 27 states. Gluck served as its Chairman. In 1960, the Darling Stores Corporation merged with Grayson-Robinson Stores, which he purchased. Later, he served as Chairman of the A. S. Beck Shoe Corporation and Willoughby's Peerless Camera Stores.
He was appointed by President Dwight Eisenhower to serve as the United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka from September 19, 1957 to October 2, 1958.
Many suggested that Gluck's appointment to this post had more to do with his generous political contributions to the Republican campaign of 1956 than any political or diplomatic qualifications. Hofstadter supports this suggestion with an excerpt of questions raised by Senator Fulbright about his qualifications:
FULBRIGHT: What are the problems in Ceylon [Sri Lanka] you think you can deal with?
GLUCK: One of the problems are the people there. I believe I can - I think I can establish, unless we - again, unless I run into something that I have not run into before–a good relationship and good feeling toward the United States...
FULBRIGHT: Do you know our Ambassador to India?
GLUCK: I know John Sherman Cooper, the previous Ambassador.
FULBRIGHT: Do you know who the Prime Minister of India is?
GLUCK: Yes, but I can't pronounce his name.
FULBRIGHT: Do you know who the Prime Minister of Ceylon is?
GLUCK: His name is unfamiliar now, I cannot call it off.
Hofstadter also notes that Gluck resigned from his post about a year after his appointment.
In 1952, he purchased Elmendorf Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, where he bred thoroughbreds. He was the 1973 recipient of the P. A. B. Widener Award and the 1977 recipient of the Eclipse Award; both awards recognized him as the best horsebreeder in the United States.
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