Military officer, historian, educator, Massachusetts political figure. Captain, Office of the U.S. Military Government of Germany (OMGUS) (1945); Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), Massachusetts chairman (1955-57), national chairman (1959-62).
Papers (1945-1962) consist of analyses of German history and public opinion; notes, reports, and interviews with German officials and citizens about the Nazi era; and ADA records including correspondence, reports, administrative files, name files, and chapter files.
Oral History Interview (2002): Beer completed one interview for the John F. Kennedy Library, 11/7/2002. In this interview Beer discusses John F. Kennedy’s place in the larger Democratic Party and relationship with other Democratic politicians, his stand on social issues and social programs, his extramarital affairs and those of other politicians, and various academics involved with the Kennedy administration, among other issues.