From a Shanghai ghetto to the U.S. Treasury: a century of survival

History · Published 20 October 2026 · Updated 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Imagine surviving the Nazi era in a Japanese-occupied ghetto, only to later manage the economic fate of the United States. W. Michael Blumenthal’s life is a masterclass in resilience, moving from a stateless refugee with $200 to the oldest living former U.S. Cabinet member.

Born in 1926 in Oranienburg, Germany, W. Michael Blumenthal fled Nazi persecution in 1939 at age 13. His family was forced into the Shanghai Ghetto, where he endured severe poverty and starvation. During the war, he worked at a chemical factory for $1 a week to feed his family. In 1947, he and his sister finally secured visas to the United States, arriving in San Francisco with only $200 and no established connections.

Blumenthal's path to power was built on grueling labor. He worked as a truck driver, night elevator operator, and a wax factory worker from midnight to 8 a.m. before earning degrees from UC Berkeley and Princeton. His career trajectory took him from the State Department under Kennedy and Johnson to becoming U.S. Secretary of the Treasury under Jimmy Carter in 1977. Despite his success, he famously accepted a massive pay cut, dropping his income from $473,000 to $66,000 to serve in the Cabinet.

His tenure was marked by complex diplomacy and economic struggle. He was the first American Cabinet officer to visit China following official recognition in 1949, leveraging his personal experience in Shanghai to build ties. While he fought high inflation and currency speculation, historians note he was often sidelined from the 'inner circle' of the Carter administration. After leaving office, he spent 17 years directing the Jewish Museum Berlin, documenting 2,000 years of history for the very culture he was forced to flee as a child.

Blumenthal remains a unique figure in American history, holding the distinction of being the oldest living former U.S. Cabinet member. His life serves as a bridge between the tragedies of the mid-20th century and the modern mechanisms of global trade and economic policy.

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