Warren L. Miller
Warren L. Miller is a Member and former Chairman of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad, the agency of the U.S. Government charged with helping to protect and preserve memorials, historic sites, buildings, cemeteries, and other property in Central and Eastern Europe, including parts of the former Soviet Union, important to the foreign heritage of Americans. While Chairman, he negotiated on behalf of the United States 19 bilateral agreements concluded with governments of the region. These agreements provide for cooperation in preserving sites and commit governments to prevent discrimination against minority groups.
Mr. Miller was appointed to the Commission in 1992 by President George Bush. He was reappointed in 1996 by President Bill Clinton and was appointed Chairman by President George W. Bush in June 2001. As a Commission Member, Mr. Miller initiated and completed several important Holocaust projects, including funding the translation from Polish into English of Auschwitz 1940-1945, a highly acclaimed five-volume, 1799-page history of the concentration camp published by the State Museum at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The Museum dedicated the books in his honor. Mr. Miller has played a major role in the creation of numerous Holocaust memorials and related projects throughout Europe. Prominent examples include the “Little Camp” memorial at Buchenwald, Germany; the Rumbula memorial outside Riga, Latvia; the Kielce pogrom memorial, Poland; national Holocaust memorials in Bucharest, Romania, and Tirana, Albania; and the “Hidden Synagogue” restoration at Terezin, Czech Republic. In 1994, he was appointed as the only foreign national to serve on the Board of the German government entity in charge of the memorial sites at Buchenwald and Mittelbau-Dora.
Mr. Miller has spoken on the subject of Holocaust remembrance and anti-semitism throughout Europe and the United States. He has been a “Newsmaker” speaker at the National Press Club, has addressed a plenary session of the Parliament of Albania, a special session of the Senate of the Czech Republic, and a session of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of Romania. He has been a guest speaker at other national Holocaust commemorations in several European countries. In 2002, he was appointed by Secretary of State Colin Powell to be co-leader of the U.S. delegation to an international conference in Warsaw, Poland on the Museum of the History of Polish Jewry. Mr. Miller was awarded a knighthood by the President of Italy with the title of Commendatore of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy. He is the recipient of medals conferred by the Presidents of the Republic of Poland (Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit), the Republic of Latvia (Order of the Three Stars with the title of Commander), the Republic of Romania (National Order of Merit in Culture with the rank of Commander), the Republic of Bulgaria (Order of Madara's Horseman, First Class), the Republic of Albania (Medal of Gratitude), and the Republic of Croatia (Order of the Morning Star with the image of Marko Marulić). He was also awarded the Medal of the Senate of the Czech Republic. He was commencement speaker and recipient of an honorary doctorate degree for public service from Central Michigan University. He is a recipient of the equivalent of an honorary degree with the title “Tel Hai Dignitary” from Tel-Hai Academic College in Israel. He has received awards from B’nai B’rith International, the Mayor of the City of Vilnius, Lithuania, the Mayor of Bucharest, Romania, the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania, and the New York Council of the Society of American Registered Architects. The United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg (Brooklyn, NY) conferred upon him its National Leadership Award.
Mr. Miller has authored op-eds published in major newspapers in the United States and internationally. In 1987, Mr. Miller was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as a Member of the District of Columbia Law Revision Commission, on which he served for four years. Mr. Miller served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, where he prosecuted the most serious felony cases as a Senior Trial Assistant. He tried in excess of 100 jury trials in the United States District Court and briefed and argued more than 30 cases before the appellate courts. He has also been President of the Assistant United States Attorneys Association for the District of Columbia. Mr. Miller has lectured in criminal law and has also served on the Board of Advisors of the School of Public Affairs at American University.
Mr. Miller is a lawyer in private practice, and specializes in litigation and negotiation, white-collar criminal matters, and international and legislative advocacy. He has represented high-level government officials, Members of Congress and the judiciary, a foreign government, multinational corporations, and the U.S. Government as outside counsel. In these capacities, he has been lead counsel in several cases of national importance. Mr. Miller is a member of the Bars of the District of Columbia, Virginia, and the United States Supreme Court, as well as numerous United States Circuit and District Courts. He is given the highest rating (AV) by his peers in the Martindale and Hubbell Directory. Mr. Miller’s biography appears in Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in America, and Who’s Who in American Law.
Mr. Miller received his B.A. degree from American University (recipient of University Student Achievement Award) and his J.D. degree (with honors) from George Washington University. He was elected to membership in the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C. for being distinguished in Diplomacy and Public Service.
Public remarks
- Keynote Address – Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration; The Embassy of Italy; Washington, DC, January 27, 2011
- Presentation of Commission award to Stephen B. Jacobs; Washington, DC, November 30, 2010
- Rededication of Giurgiului Cemetery; Bucharest, Romania, November 1, 2010
- Presentation of Commission award to the Honorable Stuart E. Eizenstat; Washington, DC, April 20, 2010
- Session of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of Romania; Bucharest, Romania, October 8, 2009
- Dedication of Commemorative Plaque and Bust of Philip Mazzei; Poggio a Caiano, Italy, July 4, 2009
- “Holocaust Memorials and the Future of Holocaust Remembrance"; International Conference on Holocaust Era Assets Prague, Czech Republic, June 28, 2009
- Commencement Address and acceptance of Honorary Doctorate Degree of Public Service; Central Michigan University Mt. Pleasant, MI, May 9, 2009
- “Memory & Truth: How Holocaust Deniers Distort History and Endanger Us All”; The Foundation for Jewish Studies Washington, DC, January 13, 2009
- Signing of U.S.-Italy Bilateral Agreement; Palazzo Chigi, Rome, Italy, December 18, 2008
- Acceptance of Award; B’nai B’rith International Annual Policy Meeting New York, NY, December 8, 2008
- Feng Shan Ho Plaque Dedication Ceremony; Vienna, Austria, November 6, 2008
- Acceptance of Tel Hai Dignitary Award; Tel Hai Academic College, Israel, November 3, 2008
- Signing of U.S.-Montenegro Bilateral Agreement; Treaty Room - Department of State Washington, DC, October 16, 2008
- Acceptance of National Leadership Award; United Jewish Organizations New York, NY, March 16, 2008
- City University of New York; Institute for Holocaust Studies New York, NY, February 20, 2008
- Plenary Session of the Parliament of Albania; Tirana, Albania, January 29, 2008
- Council of Ministers National Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony; Tirana, Albania, January 29, 2008
- Acceptance of Medal of Gratitude from President of Albania; Tirana, Albania, January 28, 2008
- National Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony and acceptance of Medal of the Senate from President of the Senate; Senate of the Czech Republic; Prague, Czech Republic, January 25, 2008
- National Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony and Dedication of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli Plaque; Budapest, Hungary, April 15, 2007
- Dedication Ceremony of Memorial Commemorating Victims of the Kielce Pogrom; Kielce, Poland, July 4, 2006
- Synagogue Rededication Ceremony; Daugavpils, Latvia, April 11, 2006
- Acceptance of Order of the Morning Star from the President of Croatia; Zagreb, Croatia, October 7, 2005
- Presentation of Commission award to German Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger; Washington, DC, September 7, 2005
- Presentation of Commission award to Polish Ambassador Przemyslaw Grudzinski; Washington, DC, May 24, 2005
- 60th Anniversary of Liberation Ceremony of Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp; Nordhausen, Germany, April 11, 2005
- Signing of U.S.-Croatia Bilateral Agreement; Indian Treaty Room, The White House; Washington, DC, February 9, 2005
- Dedication of the Holocaust Markers in Malta and Baldas Townships; Latvia, December 19, 2004
- “U.S. Role in Fighting Anti-Semitism and Preserving Holocaust Sites in Europe”; University of Pennsylvania Law School Philadelphia, PA, October 26, 2004
- “Preserving Holocaust Sites in Europe"; Northern Hills Synagogue; Cincinnati, OH, September 29, 2004
- Signing of U.S.-Serbia and Montenegro Bilateral Agreement; Serbian Mission to United Nations; New York, NY, September 24, 2004
- “Holocaust Remembrance in Europe”; St.Louis Holocaust Museum and Learning Center; St. Louis, MO, September 20, 1994
- Anti-Semitism in Europe as it Affects Cultural Property; “Newsmaker” Series, National Press Club; Washington, DC, September 14, 2004
- “Preservation of Jewish Cultural Heritage and Memorializing the Holocaust"; Michigan Holocaust Memorial Center Farmington Hills, MI, September 8, 2004
- Signing of U.S.-Albania Bilateral Agreement; Indian Treaty Room, The White House; Washington, DC, July 12, 2004
- Signing of U.S.-Poland Bilateral Agreement; Indian Treaty Room, The White House; Washington, DC, May 11, 2004
- Keynote Address - Holocaust Remembrance Day; Florida Holocaust Museum; St. Petersburg, FL, April 18, 2004
- Signing of the U.S.-Hungary Bilateral Agreement; Budapest, Hungary, April 14, 2004
- Czech and Slovak-American Archival Materials Conference; Washington, DC, November 22, 2003
- Acceptance of Commanders Cross of the Order of Merit from the President of Poland; Embassy of the Republic of Poland; Washington, DC, July 8, 2003
- Signing of U.S.-Germany Bilateral Agreement; Indian Treaty Room, The White House; Washington, DC, May 19, 2003
- National Polish-American Jewish-American Council Meeting; Washington, DC, May 5, 2003
- Signing of U.S.-Estonia Bilateral Agreement; Tallinn, Estonia, January 16, 2003
- Signing of U.S.-Bulgaria Bilateral Agreement; Bulgarian Embassy; Washington, DC, December 5, 2002
- Rumbula Holocaust Memorial Dedication; Riga, Latvia, November 27, 2002
- Signing of U.S.- Lithuania Bilateral Agreement; Vilnius, Lithuania, October 15, 2002
- Signing of U.S.-Latvia Bilateral Agreement; Riga, Latvia, October 7, 2002
- Signing of U.S.-Bosnia and Herzegovina Bilateral Agreement; Sarajevo, Bosnia, July 2, 2002
- 59th Anniversary Commemoration of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising; Warsaw, Poland, April 19, 2002
- Buchenwald “Little Camp” Memorial Dedication; Weimar, Germany, April 14, 2002
- U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum “Little Camp” Memorial Program; Washington, DC, March 13, 2002
- Reception for Moldova Foreign Affairs Minister; Washington, DC, June 20, 2001
- Overview of the Holocaust; Landon School; Bethesda, MD, March 13, 1996
- 50th Anniversary Ceremony of Liberation of Buchenwald; Weimar, Germany, April 9, 1995
- Publication of the Buchenwald Report; U.S.Holocaust Memorial Museum; Washington, DC, April 4, 1995
Opinion-editorial articles
- "Preserving America's Heritage Abroad", The European Courier, November 18, 2010
- "Saluting a stand against Holocaust denial", JTA, July 12, 2010
- "Time to confront the past", Ha’aretz, June 26, 2009
- "Bravely honoring the truth", The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 29, 2009
- "Europeans still need Holocaust lessons", JTA, May 18, 2009
- "Bail out memory banks to quash Holocaust deniers", Palm Beach Post, February 26, 2009
- "Albania marks the Holocaust", The Washington Times, April 18, 2008
- "Preserve Memory of Shoah By Maintaining Memorials", Forward, July 6, 2007
- "The evil and the good done at Kielce", The Jerusalem Post, July 4, 2007
- "Remembering the Holocaust", The Washington Times, April 13, 2007
- "Reconciling with History", St. Petersburg Times, April 25, 2006
References
- Andrea Rockafellow; "Graduation Speakers Diverse" Central Michigan University April 22, 2009.
- U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Poland "Chairman Of The U.S. Commission For America's Heritage Abroad In Poland" 26 July 2006 U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Poland
- U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad May 2009
- Embassy of Italy - Holocaust Remembrance Day 2011