Antanas Olis: „Aš neturėjau laimės pamatyti Lietuvos“

Abstract

The article is dedicated to Antanas Olis (1898–1958), a Lithuanian American public and political figure, lawyer. It analyses the key moments of his life and activities, his influence in the political, public and cultural life of the emigre community. The article investigates the activities of Antanas Olis after Lithuania’s occupation by the Soviets when he actively joined political activities and made a special contribution in organising and participating in various political campaigns which sought to bring up the issue of Lithuania among Americans. Through his ties with Americans and his work in the national Republican Party group, Olis won his way to the broader horizons of the US politics in the attempt to draw attention to the case of the freedom of Lithuania. Keywords: Antanas Olis, USA, Chicago, Lithuanian diaspora, Nationalists, Republicans, political activities, Margutis, music. Summary The article is dedicated to Antanas Olis (1898–1958), a Lithuanian American public and political figure, lawyer. It analyses the key moments of his life and activities, his influence in the political, public and cultural life of the emigre community. Antanas Olis, who was the son of the prominent Lithuanian American businessman and public figure, the publisher and editor of the newspaper Lietuva Antanas Olsauskas, stood out as a highly ambitious and talented man. He was a lawyer, statesman, administrator, organiser of political and cultural events, talented musician and conductor. Antanas Olis, one of the leaders and ideologists of Lithuanian American Nationalists, a founder of the United Lithuanian Relief Fund of America (BALF) and vice president of the Lithuanian American Council (LAC), is still often mentioned as one of the Lithuanian American pioneers who made remarkable achievements and left his mark in the area of both Lithuanian and American politics. He was a member of the Republican Party, president and trustee of the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago, one of the major political bodies in Chicago. After Lithuania’s occupation by the Soviets, Olis actively joined political activities and made a remarkable contribution in organising and participating in various political campaigns which sought to draw the attention of Americans to the issue of Lithuania. Through his ties with Americans and his work in the national Republican Party group, Olis won his way to the broader horizons of the US politics, made frequent visits to Washington, cooperated with the US politicians, congressmen and senators in order to achieve the active approval of the US politicians and their support for the restoration of Lithuania’s independence.