Philip Klutznick served as Chairman of the Conference of Presidents from May 1959 to May 1960.

Mr. Klutznick had a fruitful career in three worlds. In business, he was the founder and head of the Urban Investment and Development Company in Chicago, and was engaged in real estate development in the US and Israel.

In Jewish affairs, he served two terms as president of B’nai B’rith International (1953-1959), for which he traveled to southern states to discuss the organization’s support for school desegregation and the civil rights movement. He also served as chair of the American Housing Committee for Israel, president of the American Friends of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and president of the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture. In addition, he was Chairman of the United Jewish Appeal, and supported many other Jewish philanthropic organizations.

In public service, he held various Federal government posts under five presidents—as commissioner of the Federal Public Housing Authority (appointed by Presidents Roosevelt and Truman); member of the US delegation to the United Nations (President Eisenhower); US Ambassador to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (President Kennedy); and Secretary of Commerce (President Carter).

Mr. Klutznick passed away in 1999.