BLUM, LEON ), French politician, was born on April 9, 1872, in Paris, a member of an Alsatian Jewish family. In 1890 he entered the "Ecole Normale Superieure," taking his degree in philosophy. He also studied law, and in 1895 entered the Conseil d'Etat. In 1919, however, he was elected to the Chamber. Whilst still engaged in law he became prominent as a brilliant literary and dramatic critic. His first book, Nouvelles conversations de Goethe avec Eckermann, was published anony mously in 1902. He took part in the Dreyfus campaign with Jaures, whom he loved and admired. From 1905-14 he was dramatic critic on Comoedia and Le Matin. He joined the Socialist Party in 1899, but it was only during the World War and after that he became an active member. In 1919 he was returned for the Seine to the Chamber of Deputies and strenu ously opposed Poincare's policy concerning the occupation of the Ruhr.
When the Herriot ministry was in office (June 1924 to April 1925) he was the power behind the throne. The Government needed the support of the Socialists. Blum, the real leader of the Socialist group in the Chamber, was therefore able, without assuming any personal responsibility, to control policy to a large extent. After the fall of Herriot's ministry and under the suc cessive cabinets which had to deal with the financial crisis, his influence decreased. When Poincare constituted his Coalition Government (end of July 1926) Blum and his group went entirely into opposition. He opposed Poincare's measures and consistently criticized and attacked his policy.
On June 4, 1936, following the victory of the Left in the general elections in April and May, Blum formed a "front populaire" government composed of members of all the Left parties except the Communists, who, however, promised him their support. He resigned in June, 1937, after a defeat in the Senate.