Emile Despres

Emile Despres (21 September 1909 – 23 April 1973) served as an advisor on German Economic Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, 1944–1945. He was also a professor of economics at Williams College and Stanford University.

Background

Emile Despres was born on September 21, 1909, in Chicago, Illinois. His father was Emile Despres. His mother was Irma Rosenthal. His first cousin was Leon Despres. Upon his father's death, his mother married William J. Mack.

He attended schools in Chicago and the Riverdale Country School in New York. He graduated from Harvard University magna cum laude in 1930. In August 1947, Despres again "testified emphatically" for Marzani's loyalty before the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

During the McCarthy era, Despres was among a number of Federal employees alleged to be sources of information to the communist underground, including Lauchlin Currie, Harry Dexter White, V. Frank Coe, Robert C. Barnard, George A. Eddy, William Ludwig Ullman, Harold Glasser, Solomon Adler, and William Henry Taylor. Allegations were never substantiated.

Personal and death

Despres married Joanna Hitt Eakin in 1939 and had three children: Lani, John, and Charles.

Despres died in Portola Valley, California, on April 23, 1973.