Leonard C. Lewin
Encyclopedia
Leonard C. Lewin was an American writer, best known as the author of the bestseller The Report from Iron Mountain: On the Possibility and Desirability of Peace
. He also wrote Triage (1972), a novel about a covert group dedicated to killing people it considers to be not worth having around.
In the original 1967 publication, written at the suggestion of Victor Navasky
, Lewin was identified as the author of the introduction (only) to a purported government report that concluded that if a lasting peace "could be achieved, it would almost certainly not be in the best interests of society to achieve it." (Times obit) Some conspiracy theorists continue to believe that the book is an actual, top-secret government document, rather than a hoax
or satire
, despite Lewin's claims to the contrary. (Carvajal, 1996) While some, notably John Kenneth Galbraith
, have maintained the Report's legitimacy, Lewin successfully sued to establish his copyright
over the work in a case brought when the Report was published without the consent of Lewin or the original publisher, Dial Press (a division of Simon & Schuster). (The prospective publisher, the Liberty Lobby, had argued that as an authentic U.S. government document, the report was in the public domain
. The parties settled out of court with Liberty Lobby agreeing to pay Lewin an undisclosed sum and return over a thousand unsold copies.)
Lewin first claimed that the report was a hoax in 1972, writing that the Pentagon Papers
were "as outrageous, morally and intellectually" as his own satiric creation: "The charade is over. Some of the documents read like parodies of Iron Mountain, rather than the reverse." (Times obit)
. Before becoming a writer, he worked as a labor organizer in New England
and in his father's sugar refinery in Indianapolis
, Indiana
. He was twice married: first to Iris Zinn Lewin and later to poet, playwright and children's book author Eve Merriam
. Both marriages ended in divorce. Later, his "longtime companion" was Lorraine Davis.
The Report From Iron Mountain
The Report from Iron Mountain is a book published in 1967 by Dial Press which puts itself forth as the report of a government panel. The book includes the claim it was authored by a Special Study Group of fifteen men whose identities were to remain secret and that it was not intended to be made...
. He also wrote Triage (1972), a novel about a covert group dedicated to killing people it considers to be not worth having around.
In the original 1967 publication, written at the suggestion of Victor Navasky
Victor Navasky
Victor Saul Navasky is a professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He was editor of The Nation from 1978 until 1995, and its publisher and editorial director 1995 to 2005. In November 2005 he became the publisher emeritus...
, Lewin was identified as the author of the introduction (only) to a purported government report that concluded that if a lasting peace "could be achieved, it would almost certainly not be in the best interests of society to achieve it." (Times obit) Some conspiracy theorists continue to believe that the book is an actual, top-secret government document, rather than a hoax
Hoax
A hoax is a deliberately fabricated falsehood made to masquerade as truth. It is distinguishable from errors in observation or judgment, or rumors, urban legends, pseudosciences or April Fools' Day events that are passed along in good faith by believers or as jokes.-Definition:The British...
or satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
, despite Lewin's claims to the contrary. (Carvajal, 1996) While some, notably John Kenneth Galbraith
John Kenneth Galbraith
John Kenneth "Ken" Galbraith , OC was a Canadian-American economist. He was a Keynesian and an institutionalist, a leading proponent of 20th-century American liberalism...
, have maintained the Report's legitimacy, Lewin successfully sued to establish his copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
over the work in a case brought when the Report was published without the consent of Lewin or the original publisher, Dial Press (a division of Simon & Schuster). (The prospective publisher, the Liberty Lobby, had argued that as an authentic U.S. government document, the report was in the public domain
Public domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
. The parties settled out of court with Liberty Lobby agreeing to pay Lewin an undisclosed sum and return over a thousand unsold copies.)
Lewin first claimed that the report was a hoax in 1972, writing that the Pentagon Papers
Pentagon Papers
The Pentagon Papers, officially titled United States – Vietnam Relations, 1945–1967: A Study Prepared by the Department of Defense, is a United States Department of Defense history of the United States' political-military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967...
were "as outrageous, morally and intellectually" as his own satiric creation: "The charade is over. Some of the documents read like parodies of Iron Mountain, rather than the reverse." (Times obit)
Personal life
Lewin graduated from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. Before becoming a writer, he worked as a labor organizer in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
and in his father's sugar refinery in Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. He was twice married: first to Iris Zinn Lewin and later to poet, playwright and children's book author Eve Merriam
Eve Merriam
-Writing career:Merriam's first book was the 1946 Family Circle, which won the Yale Younger Poets Prize.Her book, The Inner City Mother Goose, was described as one of the most banned books of the time. It inspired a 1971 Broadway musical called Inner City and a 1982 musical production called Street...
. Both marriages ended in divorce. Later, his "longtime companion" was Lorraine Davis.