Leo A. Berg
Encyclopedia
Leo A. Berg was the Mayor
of Akron, Ohio
, 1954-61. He was a delegate
to the Democratic National Convention
from Ohio in both 1956 and 1960. During his tenure, he served as the Chairman to the League of Mayors, bringing him to the US Capitol on a regular basis. His wife, Evelyn, and he traveled to Washington D.C. often, where they spent time with their friends, Jack and Jackie Kennedy. A 1962 study undertaken by the polling firm of Louis Harris
and paid for by the Democratic National Committee
considered the possibility of running Berg as a candidate for the congressional seat then held by Republican William H. Ayres, but ultimately concluded that Oliver Ocasek
would make a better candidate. Ocasek was defeated in the 1962 general election.
Leo's father, Jon Berg, emigrated from Germany
to the United States
before World War I
. Jon Berg was a fairly well known German inventor, with over 100 patents to his name. Among his patents were the switchtrack for the trolley, and a piece integral to the conversion of the gatling gun
to the machine gun
. Jon Berg taught his son Leo to speak German
fluently, something that Leo used to help further American goals in World War II
. Leo A. Berg assisted the American government in the Second World War by conducting voice-over-radio operations to the Germans.
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, 1954-61. He was a delegate
Delegate
A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level A delegate is a person who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization (e.g., a government, a charity, an NGO, or a trade union) at a meeting or conference...
to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
from Ohio in both 1956 and 1960. During his tenure, he served as the Chairman to the League of Mayors, bringing him to the US Capitol on a regular basis. His wife, Evelyn, and he traveled to Washington D.C. often, where they spent time with their friends, Jack and Jackie Kennedy. A 1962 study undertaken by the polling firm of Louis Harris
Louis Harris
Louis Harris is an American opinion polling entrepreneur, journalist, and author. He ran one of the best-known polling organizations of his time, Louis Harris and Associates, which conducted the Harris Poll.-Life and career:...
and paid for by the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
considered the possibility of running Berg as a candidate for the congressional seat then held by Republican William H. Ayres, but ultimately concluded that Oliver Ocasek
Oliver Ocasek
Oliver Robert Ocasek was an American politician of the Democratic party who served as President of the Ohio State Senate from 1979–1981 and serving as Senator from Summit County and the Twenty Seventh District from 1959 until 1986.A former high school principal, he won election over the incumbent...
would make a better candidate. Ocasek was defeated in the 1962 general election.
Leo's father, Jon Berg, emigrated from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
before World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Jon Berg was a fairly well known German inventor, with over 100 patents to his name. Among his patents were the switchtrack for the trolley, and a piece integral to the conversion of the gatling gun
Gatling gun
The Gatling gun is one of the best known early rapid-fire weapons and a forerunner of the modern machine gun. It is well known for its use by the Union forces during the American Civil War in the 1860s, which was the first time it was employed in combat...
to the machine gun
Machine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
. Jon Berg taught his son Leo to speak German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
fluently, something that Leo used to help further American goals in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Leo A. Berg assisted the American government in the Second World War by conducting voice-over-radio operations to the Germans.