John H. Woodbury Laboratories, a dermatological institute derived from the Woodbury Soap Company, served as the primary business platform for Benjamin Harrison Freedman between 1925 and 1937. As a partner with Samuel D. Leidesdorf, Freedman participated in the consumer products sector before transitioning into a career defined by political activism and controversial ideological public statements.
Early Career and Business Interests
Born on October 4, 1890, in Manhattan, Benjamin Harrison Freedman entered the business world in the 1920s. His professional activities included a twelve-year tenure as a partner in John H. Woodbury Laboratories. Beyond this dermatological institute, he also engaged in various investments for small businesses throughout the United States. While his entrepreneurial background provided him with initial prominence, his later years were characterized by extensive involvement in political advocacy and public lobbying efforts.
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In 1946, Freedman founded the League for Peace with Justice in Palestine, an organization used to disseminate his views through broadsheets and advertisements. Alongside his wife, Rose M. Schoendorf Freedman, he sponsored political campaigns aimed at influencing American policy in the Middle East. His name appeared on the letterhead of the Institute for Arab American Affairs, and he maintained associations with figures including Conde McGinley, the publisher of the periodical Common Sense. During the 1955 libel trial involving Rabbi Joachim Prinz, Freedman testified that he provided McGinley with financial backing totaling between $10,000 and $100,000.
Legislative Controversies and Public Testimony
Freedman frequently attracted attention from government committees, including the House Un-American Activities Committee. In 1950, he actively opposed the nomination of Anna M. Rosenberg for the position of United States Assistant Secretary of Defense. The Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee identified him as a vocal opponent of Zionism. In Senate committee hearings, he provided testimony regarding the influence of various right-wing political figures, such as Senator Joseph McCarthy, John Rankin, and Gerald L. K. Smith, during the campaign against the Rosenberg appointment.
Ideological Publications and Later Life
A convert from Judaism to the Roman Catholic Church, Freedman authored multiple texts detailing his personal theories, including Facts are Facts and Why Congress is Crooked or Crazy or Both. These writings often focused on historical and religious interpretations. He maintained his political activity until the mid-1970s. Freedman died in Garden City, New York, in May 1984, at the age of 93.
Fast facts
- Born: October 4, 1890, Manhattan
- Died: May 1984, Garden City
- Citizenship: United States
- Primary Occupation: Entrepreneur
- Religious Affiliation: Roman Catholic Church
- Notable Organization: League for Peace with Justice in Palestine
Questions readers ask
What was the nature of Benjamin Harrison Freedman's business career?
He was a partner in John H. Woodbury Laboratories from 1925 to 1937 and served as an investor for small businesses.
Which organizations did Freedman found?
He founded the League for Peace with Justice in Palestine in 1946.
