The National Lawyers Guild was founded in Washington, D.C. at a convention held from February 19–22, 1937 at the Hotel Washington. Individuals particularly instrumental in the creation of the organization included Harold I. Cammer and George Wagman Fish, among others. Other founding members included Frank P. Walsh, Albert Wald, Morris Ernst, Jerome Frank, as well as the general counsels of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations. Another co-founder was Abraham Unger of New York City. Other charter members included John McTernan and Ben Margolis of Los Angeles. Another early member was Bartley Crum, defender of the Hollywood Ten. The first Executive Secretary of the organization was Mortimer Riemer. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a letter of support: