Just like with any other organization, politics became an integral part of B’nai B’rith. One branch of this organization that was designed with the intention of participating in the political realm was the Anti-Defamation League. The Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith was founded in 1913 by Chicago lawyer, Sigmund Livingston, in order "to stop the defamation of the Jewish people...to secure justice and fair treatment to call citizens alike." This league played a key role in exposing cooperation by certain American enterprises with the Arab boycott of Israel. In 1977, B’nai B’rith influenced the U.S. government to enact legislation that barred future cooperation by Americans with such entities.

In addition, members of B’nai B’rith discussed political and social matters with several of the U.S. presidents. In 1947, B'nai B'rith members led by Henry Monksy, who was the B’nai B’rith President at the time, met with President Truman to discuss problems regarding veterans. Henry Monsky was chairman of the Interim Committee of the American Jewish Conference and president of B'nai B'rith in 1947. He was an important figure in the organization of the American Jewish Conference and served on the national organization's executive board for fifteen years. B'nai B'rith's membership and service program tremendously increased under Monsky's guidance.

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