Herbert H. Lehman

Herbert H. Lehman is presented both as a politician with a substantial public career and as a figure in the novel’s account of the crisis surrounding Walter Winchell’s death. The narrative names him among the speakers expected at Winchell’s funeral, placing him within a public response to political violence without depicting him speaking or acting in the funeral scene.

Identity and Career

A biographical note identifies Lehman as a partner in Lehman Brothers, the banking house founded by his family. He entered New York state government as lieutenant governor under Franklin D. Roosevelt and succeeded Roosevelt as governor, serving from 1932 to 1942. The note later identifies him as a Democratic senator from New York, serving from 1949 to 1957.

Political Position

Lehman is described as a supporter of the New Deal and a strong interventionist. The biographical note also records that, as a senator, he was an early opponent of Joseph McCarthy. These details establish a political outlook opposed to isolationism and make his public alignment in the novel consistent with the interventionist position attributed to him.

Place in the Narrative

After Walter Winchell is killed at a political rally in Louisville, a radio bulletin reports that his body will be brought to New York City and lie in state at Pennsylvania Station. The bulletin names Lehman among the speakers scheduled for the funeral at Temple Emanu-El, alongside Fiorello La Guardia, Senator James Mead, and former president Franklin D. Roosevelt. It identifies Lehman as New York’s Jewish governor, emphasizing his public standing in the city’s mourning and political response. The episode gives him a prominent ceremonial role, but the available narrative does not report his remarks or describe a personal relationship with Winchell.