Robert Lipshutz Papers

Robert J. (Bob) Lipshutz was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on December 27, 1921 to the son of a small business owner and the grandson of refugees who fled to America to escape Czarist oppression in Russia in the late 19th century. He was educated in the public schools of Atlanta graduating from Boys High School in 1939, in which year he entered the University of Georgia. At the University, Bob was very active in campus activities. Following his graduation for the University of Georgia Law School in 1943, he was admitted to the Georgia Bar. He then served as an officer in the United States Army for three years during World War II. In 1947, he began the private practice of law in his native city of Atlanta. Bob Lipshutz first gained national prominence as the National Campaign Treasurer and Legal Counsel for Jimmy Carter’s successful 196-1976 Presidential Campaign, both in the Primary Campaign and in the General Election. His most significant public post was Counsel to the President of the United States, a position held from January, 1977, to October, 1979. During his years as the Legal Counsel on the White House staff, he also was a close personal and professional adviser to President Jimmy Carter. As “The President’s Lawyer,” he was responsible for handling a broad spectrum of complex legal and political issues. In his role as advisor he was intimately involved with the President’s negotiations that led to the signing of the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. Bob was also active in the Jewish community serving for three years as the President of The Temple and President of the Atlanta Lodge of B’nai B’rith. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Atlanta Jewish Federation, was a co-chairman at the American Jewish Congress, and a trustee to the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. He passed away on November 6, 2010 in his hometown. He was 88 years old.