David Niles
Encyclopedia
David K. Niles was a political advisor who worked in the White House from 1942–1951 for the administrations of Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman. Niles was one of only two Roosevelt aides retained by Truman upon his assumption of the presidency. Niles was deeply sympathetic to the Zionist hope of establishing a Jewish state
in their homeland in Palestine, and was important in providing access to the White House for American Zionists. Niles was said to be capable of bending the president's ear to Zionist arguments.
In 1947, President Truman awarded him the Medal for Merit.
Niles was the first of six children born to Russian Jewish immigrants Asher K. Neyhus and Sophie Berlin. He and his father kept the middle initial "K" to honor their heritage as kohanim
. While in attendance at Brimmer Grammar School, Niles became acquainted with author Edward Everett Hale
, who became a mentor to Niles as he "supplied the boy with reading material and urged him in his ambition to acquire knowledge".
He graduated from the prestigious Boston Latin School
in 1906.
Niles served as both the Associate Director and Director of Boston's Ford Hall Forum
(1921-1952), the Director of the American Business Census in Massachusetts
(1933-1934), a consultant, director, and assistant administrator of the Works Progress Administration
(1936-1939), Special Assistant to the Secretary of Commerce (1939-1940), as well as a consultant and advisor to the Office of Production Management and War Production Board before becoming a presidential advisor. Niles never married.
. These accusations are thought to have been largely motivated by antisemitism.
More recent allegations of Communist connections to Niles have arisen:
A Venona decrypted message from New York to Moscow reported on a plan to send a husband and wife team of NKVD
'illegals' to Mexico.
The message reads:
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in their homeland in Palestine, and was important in providing access to the White House for American Zionists. Niles was said to be capable of bending the president's ear to Zionist arguments.
In 1947, President Truman awarded him the Medal for Merit.
Niles was the first of six children born to Russian Jewish immigrants Asher K. Neyhus and Sophie Berlin. He and his father kept the middle initial "K" to honor their heritage as kohanim
Kohen
A Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
. While in attendance at Brimmer Grammar School, Niles became acquainted with author Edward Everett Hale
Edward Everett Hale
Edward Everett Hale was an American author, historian and Unitarian clergyman. He was a child prodigy who exhibited extraordinary literary skills and at age thirteen was enrolled at Harvard University where he graduated second in his class...
, who became a mentor to Niles as he "supplied the boy with reading material and urged him in his ambition to acquire knowledge".
He graduated from the prestigious Boston Latin School
Boston Latin School
The Boston Latin School is a public exam school founded on April 23, 1635, in Boston, Massachusetts. It is both the first public school and oldest existing school in the United States....
in 1906.
Niles served as both the Associate Director and Director of Boston's Ford Hall Forum
Ford Hall Forum
The Ford Hall Forum is the oldest free public lecture series in the United States. Founded in 1908, it continues to host open lectures and discussions in the Greater Boston area. Some of the more well-known past speakers include Maya Angelou, Isaac Asimov, Noam Chomsky, Alan Dershowitz, W. E. B...
(1921-1952), the Director of the American Business Census in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
(1933-1934), a consultant, director, and assistant administrator of the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
(1936-1939), Special Assistant to the Secretary of Commerce (1939-1940), as well as a consultant and advisor to the Office of Production Management and War Production Board before becoming a presidential advisor. Niles never married.
Allegations of communist connections
In 1943, Congressman Fred Bradley accused Niles of having Communist connections while involved with the Ford Hall ForumFord Hall Forum
The Ford Hall Forum is the oldest free public lecture series in the United States. Founded in 1908, it continues to host open lectures and discussions in the Greater Boston area. Some of the more well-known past speakers include Maya Angelou, Isaac Asimov, Noam Chomsky, Alan Dershowitz, W. E. B...
. These accusations are thought to have been largely motivated by antisemitism.
More recent allegations of Communist connections to Niles have arisen:
A Venona decrypted message from New York to Moscow reported on a plan to send a husband and wife team of NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
'illegals' to Mexico.
The message reads:
Through CAPITAN'S (Roosevelt’s) advisor David Niles –will take 3-4 days, will cost 500 dollars.... [A]round Niles there is a group of his friends who will arrange anything for a bribe. Through them TENOR (Michael W. Burd) obtains priorities and has already paid them as much as 6000 dollars. Whether NILES takes a bribe himself is not known for certain.Burd was a Soviet agent and an officer of the Midland Export Corporation in New York City.