Leo Cherne

Leo Cherne (1912-1999) was an American lawyer, economist and businessman.

General Douglas MacArthur took Cherne to Japan at the end of World War Two to advise on the country's economic recovery.

Cherne became chairman of the International Rescue Committee in 1951, succeeding Reinhold Neibuhr.

Cherne debated Senator Joseph McCarthy on the radio in 1953. Although himself an anti-communist Cherne strongly challenged McCarthy's methods.

During the Hungarian Uprising of 1956, Cherne travelled to the Hungarian border.

Cherne was a friend of former CIA chief William Casey and served on the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board from 1973 to 1991. In that capacity, he helped to establish the Team B panel, headed by Richard Pipes which accused the CIA of under-stating Soviet military power in the late 1970s.

Cherne was a lifelong Democrat until 1980, when he joined Democrats for Reagan, because of the candidates's position on national security.

In 1984, Cherne was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan.

Cherne retired as Chairman of the IRC in 1991.

Affiliations

• Research Institute of America
• International Rescue Committee - Chairman 1951-1991
• Freedom House
• President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, Member 1973 - 1991, chairman during George H.W. Bush administration.

Connections

• William Casey