Martin Peretz

Martin H. Peretz, also known as Marty Peretz, (born December 6, 1938), is an American publisher. Formerly an assistant professor at Harvard University, he purchased The New Republic in 1974 and took editorial control soon afterwards. He retained majority ownership until 2002, when he sold a two-thirds stake in the magazine to two financiers. Peretz sold the remainder of his ownership rights in 2007 to CanWest Global Communications, though he retained his position as editor-in-chief. He is a member of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy's Board of Advisors.

Personal

Peretz is a graduate of the Bronx High School of Science. He received his B.A. degree from Brandeis University in 1959, and M.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University, going on to lecture in social studies. Additionally, Peretz has seven honorary doctorates, and in 1982 received the Jerusalem Medal.

Peretz is currently separated from Anne Labouisse Farnsworth Peretz, heiress to the Singer Sewing Machine fortune and daughter of H.R. Labouisse and Elizabeth Scriven Clark. Her wealth is widely credited as having given Peretz the means to acquire The New Republic. Peretz is a long-time friend and supporter of Al Gore. He is also a descendant of the Yiddish writer I. L. Peretz. He is the father of director Jesse Peretz and writer Evgenia Peretz.

Editorial stance

Under the leadership of Peretz, the magazine generally maintained liberal and neoliberal positions on economic and social issues, and assumed hawkish and strong pro-Israel stances in foreign affairs. Peretz has said "Support for Israel is deep down, an expression of America's best view of itself." Alexander Cockburn and Ken Silverstein report that Peretz said “I am in love with the state of Israel” In a profile of Peretz in American Prospect, CUNY journalism professor, Eric Alterman said

Nothing has been as consistent about the past 34 years of TNR as the magazine's devotion to Peretz's own understanding of what is good for Israel…It is really not too much to say that almost all of Peretz's political beliefs are subordinate to his commitment to Israel's best interests, and these interests as Peretz defines them almost always involve more war.

Peretz has long supported Democrats over Republicans, including being a major behind-the-scenes benefactor of Eugene McCarthy's primary presidential bid in 1968.

References

External links

• TNR biography
• "The Spine", Martin Peretz's blog at TNR
• "The Perpetually Perfervid Peretz," Slate
• "Marty Peretz's Word Power", Slate
• "My Marty Peretz Problem--And Ours", The American Prospect