Trichome

Stephen Harmelin
White House Director of Speechwriting
In office
1964–1965
PresidentLyndon B. Johnson
Preceded by???
Succeeded byHarry McPherson
Personal details
Born
Stephen Joseph Harmelin

(1939-05-07) May 7, 1939 (age 85)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJulia Harmelin
Children2, including Alison
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania (BA)
Harvard University (JD)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Coast Guard

Stephen Joseph Harmelin (born May 7, 1939) is an American lawyer who specializes in corporate and transactional law. He is the co-chairman of the Philadelphia based law firm Dilworth Paxson LLP. He also served as the White House Director of Speechwriting and as a White House aide for President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1964 to 1965.

Early life and education[edit]

Harmlein was born to a Jewish family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Harmelin attended Central High School.[1] He later went on to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Law School.[2] He served in the United States Coast Guard.[3]

Career[edit]

Harmelin began practicing law in 1964.[2] From 1964 to 1965, Harmelin served as the White House Director of Speechwriting and as a White House Aide to President Lyndon B. Johnson.[4] Johnson tasked Harmelin with the creation of the White House Fellows program.[5] In 1970, Harmelin served as a Special Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney.[5]

Since 1965, Harmelin has worked as a lawyer at Dilworth Paxson LLP. In 1989, Harmelin was appointed by Pennsylvania Governor, Bob Casey Sr. as a Commissioner on the Board of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. He served in that role until 2002.[5] In 1992, he served as General Counsel for the Legislative Reapportionment Commission on behalf of the Pennsylvania State Senate and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[5] From 2007 to 2008, he worked as the receiver ad litem for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and recovered $170 million, the largest in the commission's history.[6] He also served as a member of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals Task Force to select counsel in certain lawsuits.[5]

Harmelin serves as a Trustee and General Counsel to the National Constitution Center.[6] Harmelin was awarded the Replansky Award by the Philadelphia Bar Association Corporate Law Committee for distinguished accomplishments in civics, law and professionalism.[6]

Personal life[edit]

Harmelin is the founder of the Philadelphia Constitution Foundation where he led a project to bring Magna Carta to Philadelphia in 1987 and 2001.[7] He also sits on the Board of the Barnes Foundation, the Atlantic Legal Foundation, the College of Physicians of Philadelphia and The Philadelphia Inquirer.[5][6][8] He appeared in the History Channel show Save Our History where he spoke about the National Constitution Center.[9]

Harmelin was close friends with former longtime Pennsylvania Senator, Arlen Specter. He served as the Treasurer for Specter's successful re-election campaign in 2004.[10]

References[edit]

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