Pasvolsky, Leo (1893–1953)

Russian-born economist and government official. He was instrumental in organizing the United Nations (UN) and in drawing up its charter. He worked to get the USA to join the UN and attended the Bretton Woods Conference (1945).

Pasvolsky was born in Pavlograd, Russia. He moved to the USA in 1905. After completing his studies at Columbia University, he covered the Paris Peace Conference (1919) for two New York City newspapers. He joined the Institute of Economics (later part of Brookings Institution) (1922) and then became a special assistant to Secretary of State Cordell Hull (1934–46). He was director of international studies at Brookings Institution (1946–53).