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As a student, Wohlforth joined the youth section of [[Max Shachtman]]'s [[Independent Socialist League]] in [[1953]].<ref>[http://www.marxists.org/archive/higgins/1995/xx/prophetskids.htm Jim Higgins: The Prophet's Children (1995)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He broke with Shachtman in [[1957]] when the ISL moved rightward to merge with the [[Socialist Party of America]]. Later that year, Wohlforth and a minority of ISL members joined the [[Socialist Workers Party (US)|Socialist Workers Party]] which was the main Trotskyist group in the US at the time.<ref>[http://www.whatnextjournal.co.uk/Pages/////////Newint/Wohlforth.html The Prophet’s Children<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
As a student, Wohlforth joined the youth section of [[Max Shachtman]]'s [[Independent Socialist League]] in [[1953]].<ref>[http://www.marxists.org/archive/higgins/1995/xx/prophetskids.htm Jim Higgins: The Prophet's Children (1995)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He broke with Shachtman in [[1957]] when the ISL moved rightward to merge with the [[Socialist Party of America]]. Later that year, Wohlforth and a minority of ISL members joined the [[Socialist Workers Party (US)|Socialist Workers Party]] which was the main Trotskyist group in the US at the time.<ref>[http://www.whatnextjournal.co.uk/Pages/////////Newint/Wohlforth.html The Prophet’s Children<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


In the early 1960s when the SWP rejoined the [[International Secretariat of the Fourth International]] and developed a supportive attitude towards the [[Cuban Revolution]], a minority of members led by Wohlforth and [[James Robertson (Trotskyist)|James Robertson]] (another former ISL member) formed the ''Revolutionary Tendency'' within the SWP to put forward their views and were expelled in [[1964]] and aligned themselves with British Trotskyist [[Gerry Healy]] and his [[International Committee of the Fourth International]]. However, conflict broke out between Wohlforth and Robertson inside the SWP, with the former laying the evidenciary basis for claims of "party disloyalty" against the latter. Both groups were expelled by the SWP, and initially remained supportive of [[Gerry Healy]]. Wohlforth formed the American Committee of the Fourth International. Robertson and his followers formed the [[Spartacist League]], which Healy broke with in 1966. Wohlforth and his supporters remained loyal to Healy and formed the [[Socialist Equality Party (US)|Workers League]].<ref>[http://www.whatnextjournal.co.uk/Pages/////////Newint/Wohlforth.html The Prophet’s Children<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In the early 1960s when the SWP rejoined the [[International Secretariat of the Fourth International]] and developed an uncritical attitude towards the [[Cuban Revolution]], a minority of members led by Wohlforth and [[James Robertson (Trotskyist)|James Robertson]] (another former ISL member) formed the ''Revolutionary Tendency'' within the SWP. While Robertson left the SWP in 1962 and went on to form the Spartacist Group, later [[Spartacist League]], Wohlforth and his supporters remained within the SWP and fought for the perspective of the [[International Committee of the Fourth International]]. They were expelled in 1964 after demanding a discussion of the significance of the Sri Lankan LSSP's entry into the government of M. Bandaranaika. The US supporters of the ICFI formed the American Committee of the Fourth International, and in 1966 they formed the [[Socialist Equality Party (US)|Workers League]].<ref>[http://www.whatnextjournal.co.uk/Pages/////////Newint/Wohlforth.html The Prophet’s Children<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


In 1974, the ICFI discovered that Wohforth's partner, Nancy Fields, an active member of the Workers League, was raised by a relative who had worked for the CIA's computer division. The Workers League Political Committee and ICFI criticized the fact that neither Fields nor Wohlforth had revealed this to the League. In August 1974, the League's central committee suspended Fields from membership and removed Wohlforth as national secretary pending a commission of inquiry, in a unanimous vote that included Wohlforth's. Both left the League, and Wohlforth rejoined the SWP. An investigation conducted by the Workers League concluded that Fields did not have connections to the CIA, and the two were requested to resume their membership. However, they refused.<ref>''The Heritage We Defend'' by [[David North]]</ref>
Wohlforth now claims that the Workers League became a [[cult]], largely due to the domination and manipulations of Healy, of whom Wohlforth was an acolyte. In the 1970s Wohlforth's mentor turned against him by means of a whispering campaign alleging that he had connections with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]: Wohlforth's partner was alleged to be related to a CIA employee.<ref>[http://www.marxists.org/archive/higgins/1995/xx/prophetskids.htm Jim Higgins: The Prophet's Children (1995)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Wohlforth was expelled and briefly rejoined the SWP before moving to [[Mexico]] and joining the ''Partido Revolutionario Trajabadora'', part of the [[reunified Fourth International]].<ref>[http://www.whatnextjournal.co.uk/Pages/////////Newint/Wohlforth.html The Prophet’s Children<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Wohlforth now claims that the Workers League became a [[cult]], largely due to the domination and manipulations of its principal leader at the time, [[Gerry Healy]].


Wohlforth in recent years has been a member of the [[Democratic Socialists of America]]. In [[1994]] he published his memoirs, ''The Prophet's Children''. He subsequently co-authored ''[[On the Edge (book)|On The Edge: Political Cults of the Left and Right]]'' (2000) with Dennis Tourish. His former wife Nancy Wohlforth, is a vice president of the [[Office and Professional Employees International Union]] (OPEIU) and on the Executive Committee of the AFL-CIO. He is presently married to Joyce Gibrick.
Wohlforth in recent years has been a member of the [[Democratic Socialists of America]]. In [[1994]] he published his memoirs, ''The Prophet's Children''. He subsequently co-authored ''[[On the Edge (book)|On The Edge: Political Cults of the Left and Right]]'' (2000) with Dennis Tourish. His former wife Nancy Wohlforth, is a vice president of the [[Office and Professional Employees International Union]] (OPEIU) and on the Executive Committee of the AFL-CIO. He is presently married to Joyce Gibrick.

Revision as of 16:29, 14 August 2008

Timothy Andrew Wohlforth (born May 15, 1933) is a United States former Trotskyist leader. Since leaving the Trotskyist movement he has become a writer of crime fiction and of politically oriented nonfiction.

As a student, Wohlforth joined the youth section of Max Shachtman's Independent Socialist League in 1953.[1] He broke with Shachtman in 1957 when the ISL moved rightward to merge with the Socialist Party of America. Later that year, Wohlforth and a minority of ISL members joined the Socialist Workers Party which was the main Trotskyist group in the US at the time.[2]

In the early 1960s when the SWP rejoined the International Secretariat of the Fourth International and developed an uncritical attitude towards the Cuban Revolution, a minority of members led by Wohlforth and James Robertson (another former ISL member) formed the Revolutionary Tendency within the SWP. While Robertson left the SWP in 1962 and went on to form the Spartacist Group, later Spartacist League, Wohlforth and his supporters remained within the SWP and fought for the perspective of the International Committee of the Fourth International. They were expelled in 1964 after demanding a discussion of the significance of the Sri Lankan LSSP's entry into the government of M. Bandaranaika. The US supporters of the ICFI formed the American Committee of the Fourth International, and in 1966 they formed the Workers League.[3]

In 1974, the ICFI discovered that Wohforth's partner, Nancy Fields, an active member of the Workers League, was raised by a relative who had worked for the CIA's computer division. The Workers League Political Committee and ICFI criticized the fact that neither Fields nor Wohlforth had revealed this to the League. In August 1974, the League's central committee suspended Fields from membership and removed Wohlforth as national secretary pending a commission of inquiry, in a unanimous vote that included Wohlforth's. Both left the League, and Wohlforth rejoined the SWP. An investigation conducted by the Workers League concluded that Fields did not have connections to the CIA, and the two were requested to resume their membership. However, they refused.[4]

Wohlforth now claims that the Workers League became a cult, largely due to the domination and manipulations of its principal leader at the time, Gerry Healy.

Wohlforth in recent years has been a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. In 1994 he published his memoirs, The Prophet's Children. He subsequently co-authored On The Edge: Political Cults of the Left and Right (2000) with Dennis Tourish. His former wife Nancy Wohlforth, is a vice president of the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) and on the Executive Committee of the AFL-CIO. He is presently married to Joyce Gibrick.

References

  1. ^ Jim Higgins: The Prophet's Children (1995)
  2. ^ The Prophet’s Children
  3. ^ The Prophet’s Children
  4. ^ The Heritage We Defend by David North

See also

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