Engler was born in the Bronx, New York City, United States to Jewish immigrants from eastern Europe.
He then served in the United States Army in World War IIand was among those involved in the liberation of Dachau.
[1][2] After World War II with funding from the GI bill he graduated with a Ph.D. in government from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
[1] Initially Engler worked under James G. Patton at the National Farmers Union (United States) and then he joined the faculty of Sarah Lawrence College where he was for 18 years.
[5] Other reviewers criticized Engler's overall methods, and letting his desires drive him to call things "undemocratic" that in fact expressed the will of the only defined and vocal interests of the public that were easily discernible.