Born in Nebraska to a Unitarian family, Theodore C. Sorensen registered for noncombatant service as a conscientious objector when he turned 18. On his application, he identified himself as a “peace maker.” The life he went on to lead, as President John F. Kennedy’s closest advisor and then as a prominent international lawyer, reflected that early self-description. Upon the publication of his best-selling memoir, Counselor, when he was 80 years old, Sorensen said that he hoped he would be remembered as “a servant of peace and justice.” A man of tremendous accomplishments, Sorensen’s impact and vision for peace and justice touched lives worldwide.
From his pivotal work in crafting President Kennedy’s letter that helped avert nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis to his efforts to shape Kennedy’s civil rights speeches and legislation, Sorensen had a devotion to world peace and justice for all. While best known for his White House years, after Kennedy’s death, Sorensen led a rich life devoted to the public good as a private attorney. As a partner at the New York law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP he helped emerging democracies embrace and carry out the principles of freedom. He served as a fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, Director of the Council on Foreign Relations, and board member of the Century Foundation. He passed away in October 2010.
Sorensen authored eight books, including his 1965 bestseller, Kennedy, and 2008 memoir, Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History, in which he shines new light on some of the most pivotal points in American history such as his involvement with the Cuban Missile Crisis, the space race and his very personal collaboration with John F. Kennedy to craft the most memorable speeches of the presidency.
Following is a complete list of his books: Decision-making in the White House: The Olive Branch or the Arrows, Kennedy, The Kennedy Legacy, Watchmen in the Night, Decision: John Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis, A Different Kind of Presidency, Why I am a Democrat, Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History
The Sorensen Center for International Peace and Justice, launched in 2014, fosters Sorensen’s legacy by nurturing students committed to practicing public interest law. In a few short years, the Sorensen Center has grown rapidly, providing guidance and support for a new generation of public interest lawyers. Over the past six years, the Center has grown its fellowship program from awarding six fellowships in 2015 to awarding 28 in 2020, with a total of over 80 Fellows protecting rights in our local and connected global communities. The Center has hosted countless programs, leaders, and scholars that have inspired and educated the students at CUNY School of Law, and beyond. The Center is committed to providing unique learning and growth opportunities for students and members of the community in an effort to further our collective fight for human rights around the world.
