Elliot E. Cohen

Elliot E. Cohen (March 14, 1899 – May 28, 1959) was the founder and first editor of Commentary.[1]

Elliot E. Cohen
Born	Elliot E. Cohen March 14, 1899 Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Died	May 28, 1959 (aged 60) New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Education	Yale University
Occupation	Writer, Editor
Employer	American Jewish Committee
Known for	Founding editor of Commentary

Background

While an undergraduate at Yale, Cohen contributed light verse to a campus humor magazine, The Yale Record.[2]

Career

Menorah Journal

In the 1930s, he was a co-editor of the Menorah Journal with Herbert Solow.[3][4]

Commentary

Cohen was founder-editor of Commentary, published by the American Jewish Committee (no longer affiliated) from 1945 until his death by suicide in 1959.[1]

During his tenure at Commentary, the magazine had a liberal point of view. His editorial position was filled by Norman Podhoretz in 1960, by Neal Kozodoy in 1995, and by John Podhoretz in 2009.

References

1. "EDITOR FOUND DEAD IN A PLASTIC BAG". New York Times. May 29, 1959.
2. Bronson, Francis W., Thomas Caldecott Chubb, and Cyril Hume, eds. (1922) The Yale Record Book of Verse: 1872-1922. New Haven: Yale University Press. pp. 77-78.
3. http://www.commentarymagazine.com/viewarticle.cfm/elliot-e--cohen-12135
4. Alterman, Eric (26 July 1998). "Inspiring Eggheads". New York Times. Retrieved 25 September 2011.

External links

• Commentary website
• New York Sun article on who attends the annual Commentary-hosted gathering
• More bio bits on Cohen and Commentary history
• Nathan Abrams, Commentary Magazine 1945-1959: 'A Journal of Significant Thought and Opinion. Bio on Cohen and Commentary's early history