Rosenberg Children Read in the Newspaper on June 19, 1953 That Their Parents Have One Day More to Live

On June 19, 1953, just one day before the scheduled execution of their parents, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, young Michael (10) and Robert (6) were photographed reading the devastating news. The Rosenbergs had been convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage, accused of passing atomic secrets to the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War. Their trial and execution became one of the most controversial moments in American history, fueling debates about justice, politics, and fear in an era defined by suspicion.

Michael Rosenberg, 10, right, and his brother, Robert, 6, sons of atom spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, read June 18, 1953 that their parents had one day more to live. The boys were at the home of friends in Toms River, N.J. The Rosenberg’s execution date had been delayed by a last-minute appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which turned a stay down. (AP Photo/Daily News)

After their parents’ execution, Michael and Robert were left orphaned and rejected by most of their relatives, who feared the stigma of being associated with the Rosenberg name. Salvation came when they were adopted by Abel and Anne Meeropol. Abel, a poet and teacher remembered for writing the haunting anti-lynching song “Strange Fruit,” gave the boys not just a home but a nurturing, politically aware environment that helped shape their future. They took the Meeropol surname and grew up determined to build meaningful lives out of a tragic beginning.

As adults, both brothers carved out paths that reflected both intellectual rigor and social commitment. Michael became an economist and professor, while Robert pursued law and later founded the Rosenberg Fund for Children, dedicated to supporting children whose activist parents face persecution. Together, they have spent their lives reassessing the case that defined their childhood—acknowledging Julius’s involvement in espionage while arguing passionately that their mother, Ethel, was unjustly convicted and executed with scant evidence. Their story stands as both a family tragedy and a testament to resilience in the shadow of history.

Ethel and Julius Rosenberg are seen during their espionage trial in New York. They were convicted on this day in 1951 and executed in 1953. (Associated Press)