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Ralph Nader

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Ralph Nader
Personal details
Born (1934-02-27) February 27, 1934 (age 90)
Winsted, Connecticut
United States
Political partyIndependent
Green
Height300px
OccupationAttorney and Political Activist
Websitehttp://www.nader.org

Ralph Nader (born February 27, 1934) is an American attorney and political activist, who has promoted a wide range of issues, including consumer rights, feminism, humanitarianism, environmentalism and democratic government. Nader has been a staunch critic of American foreign policy in recent decades, which he views as corporatist, imperialist, and contrary to the fundamental values of democracy and human rights. His activism has played a large part in the creation of many governmental and non-governmental organizations, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Public Citizen, and several Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) including NYPIRG. The Atlantic Monthly, in its list of the "100 most influential Americans", ranked Nader 96: "He made the cars we drive safer; thirty years later, he made George W. Bush the president."[1] While several prominent historians of TIME magazine omitted Ralph Nader from their annual lists of the 100 most influential people, the National Review attributes the George W. Bush presidency to Democratic Party failure.[2]

Nader ran for President three times (in 1996, 2000 and 2004). In 1996 and 2000, he was the nominee of the Green Party, with Winona LaDuke as his vice-presidential running mate. In 2004, he ran as an independent with Green activist Peter Miguel Camejo as his vice-presidential nominee.

Life and early career

Nader was born in Winsted, Connecticut. His parents, Nathra and Rose Nader, were Lebanese immigrants. Nathra Nader was employed in a textile mill, and at one point owned a bakery and restaurant where he engaged customers in political discourse.

Nader graduated from Princeton University in 1955 and Harvard Law School in 1958.[3] He served in the United States Army for six months in 1959, then began work as a lawyer in Hartford, Connecticut. Between 1961 and 1963, he was a Professor of History and Government at the University of Hartford. In 1964, Nader moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked for Assistant Secretary of Labor, Daniel Patrick Moynihan. He also advised a United States Senate subcommittee on car safety. In the early 1980s, Nader spearheaded a powerful lobby against FDA approval of mass-scale experimentation of artificial lens implants. Nader also served as a faculty member at The American University Washington College of Law.

Clash with the automobile industry

Nader's first consumer safety articles appeared in the Harvard Law Record, a student putlication at Harvard Law, but he first clashed with automobile industry when The Nation published article in wrote in 1959 called "The Safe Car You Can't Buy."[4] In 1965, Nader wrote Unsafe at Any Speed, a study that purported to demonstrate that many American automobiles were unsafe, especially the Chevrolet Corvair and General Motors. GM tried to discredit Nader, hiring private detectives to tap his phones and investigate his past, and hiring prostitutes to trap him in compromising situations.[5][6] GM failed to uncover any wrongdoing, and never explained resorting to smear tactics instead of defending the car in the popular press, where the company had considerable corporate influence. GM's avoidance of technical journals makes more sense, as it was well known among auto engineers that the Corvair's swing axle suspension handled miserably.[7][8] Upon learning of GM's actions, Nader successfully sued the company for invasion of privacy, forced it to publicly apologize, and used much of his $284,000 net settlement to expand his consumer rights efforts. Nader's lawsuit against GM was ultimately decided by the New York Court of Appeals, whose opinion in the case expanded tort law to cover "overzealous surveillance".[9]

A 1972 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration safety commission report conducted by Texas A&M University ultimately exonerated the Corvair, declaring that the car possessed no greater potential for loss of control than its contemporaries in extreme situations.[citation needed] A different account, however, was given in John DeLorean's "General Motors autobiography", On a Clear Day You Can See General Motors, 1979 (published under the name of his would-be ghostwriter, J. Patrick Wright), in which DeLorean asserts that Nader's criticisms were valid. The specific Corvair design flaws were corrected in the last years of the Corvair's production, although by then the Corvair name was irredeemably compromised.

In his 1975 book Hit and Run: The Rise, and Fall of Ralph Nader, journalist Ralph de Toledano suggested that Nader had falsified and distorted evidence of faults with the Corvair. Mr. Nader sued de Toledano and the protracted case eventually was settled out of court, causing de Toledano's financial ruin.

Activism

Nader on NPR

Hundreds of young activists, inspired by Nader's work, came to DC to help him with other projects. They came to be known as "Nader's Raiders" who, under Nader, investigated government corruption, publishing dozens of books with their results:

In 1971, Nader founded the NGO Public Citizen as an umbrella organization for these projects. Today, Public Citizen has over 140,000 members and scores of researchers investigating Congressional, health, environmental, economic and other issues. Their work is credited with facilitating the passage of the Safe Drinking Water Act and Freedom of Information Act, and prompting the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Non-profit organizations

In 1980, Nader resigned as director of Public Citizen to work on other projects, forcefully campaigning against what he believed to be the dangers of large multinational corporations. He went on to start a variety of non-profit organizations:

Consumer advocacy, public interest, and civic action

File:Nader-sesame01.jpg
Ralph Nader (right) appears with Bob McGrath on a 1988 Sesame Street episode, singing "People in Your Neighborhood". For the episode, Nader included a verse about consumer advocates, unique for a song featuring mail men and firefighters. Nader has since criticized the types of sponsors the show has accepted, such as McDonald's and Discovery Zone.

Because his early work stressed consumer (and worker) protection from unsafe products, Nader is often referred to as a "consumer advocate". This description should not be misinterpreted to suggest that Nader is an advocate of consumption. On the contrary, his message of civic engagement (citizen activism in the public interest), like his harsh critique of "rapacious" corporations, calls for resistance to excessive consumerism. According to Nader, mass advertising creates artificial and often harmful desires.[citation needed] Nader's "consumer" should not be conceived as a free-spending shopper, but rather as an active participant in democratic institutions.[citation needed] For example, in criticizing television news as largely empty sensationalism, Nader acknowledges that most Americans may have been trained to behave as the passive "consumers" of what passes for news; Nader's call for engagement urges citizens to work together to organize community-based news production.[citation needed]

Presidential campaigns

Main article: Ralph Nader's Presidential Campaigns
1972
"Draft Nader" effort had no ballot line to offer, nor did Nader authorize his name to appear on any ballot until 1992.
1980
Although Nader took no interest in running in 1980, he expressed the opinion that a victory by Ronald Reagan would be preferable to the reelection of Jimmy Carter. As he saw it, "Reagan is going to breed the biggest resurgence in nonpartisan citizen activism in history." [10]
1990
Nader considered launching a third party around issues of citizen empowerment and consumer rights. He suggested a serious third party could address needs such as campaign-finance reform, worker and whistle-blower rights, government-sanctioned watchdog groups to oversee banks and insurance agencies, and class-action lawsuit reforms.
1992
Nader stood in as a write-in for "none of the above" in the 1992 New Hampshire Democratic Primary and received about 6,300 votes.[11][12] He was also a write-in candidate in the 1992 Massachusetts Democratic Primary, where he appeared at the top of the ballot.
1996
Nader was drafted as a candidate for President of the United States on the Green Party ticket during the 1996 presidential election. He was not formally nominated by the Green Party USA, which was, at the time, the largest national Green group; instead he was nominated independently by various state Green parties (in some areas, he appeared on the ballot as an independent).
2000
Nader ran actively in 2000 as candidate of the Green Party, which had been formed in the wake of his 1996 campaign. That year, he received 2,883,105 votes for 2.74% of the popular vote [1], missing the 5% needed to qualify the Green Party for federally distributed public funding in the next election.[13]
2004
Nader announced on December 24, 2003 that he would not seek the Green Party's nomination for president in 2004; however, he did not rule out running as an independent candidate. On February 22, 2004, Nader announced on NBC that he would indeed run for president as an independent, saying, "There's too much power and wealth in too few hands." His campaign ran on a platform consistent with the Green Party's positions on major issues, such as opposition to the war in Iraq. Due to concerns about a possible spoiler effect in 2000, many Democrats urged Nader to abandon his 2004 candidacy. The Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Terry McAuliffe, argued that Nader had a "distinguished career, fighting for working families", and "would hate to see part of his legacy being that he got us eight years of George Bush." He received 463,653 votes for 0.38% of the popular vote [2]. Nader replied to this in filmed interviews for the 2007 documentary An Unreasonable Man, by pointing out that, "Voting for a candidate of one's choice is a Constitutional right, and the Democrats who are asking me not to run are, without question, seeking to deny the Constitutional rights of voters who are, by law, otherwise free to choose to vote for me."
2008
In February 2007, Nader left the door open for another possible White House bid in 2008 and criticized Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton as "a panderer and a flatterer". Asked on CNN's Late Edition news program if he would run in 2008, Nader said, "It's really too early to say.... I'll consider it later in the year."[14] During a radio appearance when he was asked to describe the former First Lady, Nader said, "Flatters, panders, coasting, front-runner, looking for a coronation ... She has no political fortitude”.[15] He says that his decision to run will be influenced, especially if the Democratic Party chooses Hillary Clinton.[16] Some Greens have already started a campaign to draft his candidacy in their party's primary for the 2008 election.[17]
In June 2007 again hinted at a run, "You know the two parties are still converging -- they don't even debate the military budget anymore", Nader said in a 30-minute interview. "I really think there needs to be more competition from outside the two parties."

Personal finances and private life

Ralph Nader has lived a frugal and simple life even though he has a personal net worth of several million. He has never been married or had children. He has not owned a car since 1955, and has lived for decades in the same modest house in Georgetown.[citation needed]

According to the mandatory financial disclosure report that he filed with the Federal Election Commission in 2000, he then owned more than $3 million worth of stocks and mutual fund shares; his single largest holding was more than $1 million worth of stock in Cisco Systems, Inc. [3] The largest recipients of Nader's donations have included Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) and other non-profit organizations.

Pop Culture Appearances

  • Nader is very popular in the punk rock community with artists such as Patti Smith, The Buzzcocks, Hungry March Band, NOFX, and Partyline, with particular support from anarcho-punk circles with artists like Propagandhi, Thought Riot, and Jello Biafra.
  • Nader was one of the first people to be "roasted" on The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts, a regular feature of 1973-74 season of The Dean Martin Show.
  • The Greg Bear Science fiction novel Eon featured a large contingent of self-proclaimed "Naderites"--followers of Ralph Nader's environmental and humanitarian policy--centuries in the future.
  • On one of the program's most memorable episodes of the early nineteen seventies, Nader appeared together on the panel of The Mike Douglas Show with African-American comedy pioneer Moms Mabley.
  • Ralph Nader appeared in an episode of The Simpsons that aired after the 2000 presidential election in which he is portrayed as a clandestine member of the Springfield Republican Party and is thanked for all the fine work he has done for the Republicans. Nader appeared five times[citation needed] on the television show Saturday Night Live, hosting the show once, on January 15, 1977. He has also appeared on Da Ali G Show, where interviewer Ali G persuaded him to try out his rapping skills.
  • He is portrayed in Tom Robbins' 1980 novel Still Life with Woodpecker as Princess Leigh-Cheri's love interest. Nader was also mentioned in the Greg Bear novel Eon as having a significant role in world politics (as a martyr).
  • Ralph Nader also made a cameo appearance in the movie Fun with Dick and Jane (2005) opposite Jim Carrey and Téa Leoni. In the movie, Nader criticizes Carrey's character Dick Harper on a television show called "MoneyLife", about the financial and business dealings of Harper's company, Globodyne. Initially, Harper spills his drink on live television when the "Moneylife" host announces that Ralph Nader is on the air. Dick says, "Hey Ralph... Love your stuff" with Nader replying, "I wish I could say the same for you sir but I don't know how you sleep at night."
  • Nader is the subject of the satirical song "Nader: A Nuclear Saga" by The Prince, featuring lyrics by Comrade Freedom, in which Ralph Nader builds nuclear bombs to use on big business in order to obtain the presidency.

Works

Books

Nader at a book signing

Nader has authored, co-authored and edited many books, which include:

Articles

Selected speeches and interviews

Wikiquote has quotations related to Ralph Nader.
  • Bolohan, Scott (2007-2-16). "Nader critiques political apathy, personal values: Interview with Ralph Nader". The DePaulia. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  • Chowkwanyun, Merlin (2004-12-16). "The Prescient Candidate Reflects: An Interview with Ralph Nader". Counterpunch. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  • Nader, Ralph (1992-01-15). "Ralph Nader speaking at Harvard Law School". {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

RealVideo format.

Notes

  • An Unreasonable Man (2006). An Unreasonable Man is a documentary film about Ralph Nader that appeared at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.
  • Burden, Barry C. (2005). "Ralph Nader's Campaign Strategy in the 2000 U.S. Presidential Election."[4] 2005. American Politics Research 33:672-99.
  • Ralph Nader: Up Close This film blends archival footage and scenes of Nader and his staff at work in Washington with interviews with Nader's family, friends and adversaries, as well as Nader himself. Written, directed and produced by Mark Litwak and Tiiu Lukk, 1990, color, 72 mins. Narration by Studs Terkel. Broadcast on PBS. Winner, Sinking Creek Film Festival; Best of Festival, Baltimore Int'l Film Festival; Silver Plaque, Chicago Int'l Film Festival, Silver Apple, National Educational Film & Video Festival.
  • Ballard, J.G, "The Atrocity Exhibition" - there are frequently repeated references to Ralph Nader.
  • Bear, Greg, "Eon" - the novel includes a depiction of a future group called the "Naderites" who follow Ralph Nader's humanistic teachings.
  • Martin, Justin. Nader: Crusader, Spoiler, Icon. Perseus Publishing, 2002. ISBN 0-7382-0563-X

References

  1. ^ "The Top 100: The Most Influential Figures in American History." Atlantic Monthly, (December 2006) p.62.
  2. ^ National Review, "On Ralph Nader" by Jonah Goldberg (October 2000), and Deroy Murdock, (November 2000).
  3. ^ http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/president/candidates/nader.html
  4. ^ Mickey Z. 50 American Revolutions You're Not Supposed To Know. New York: The Disinformation Company, 2005. p.87 ISBN 1932857184
  5. ^ http://www.legalaffairs.org/issues/November-December-2005/scene_longhine_novdec05.msp
  6. ^ http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/safetyep.htm
  7. ^ http://www.autozine.org/technical_school/suspension/tech_suspension2.htm
  8. ^ http://members.aol.com/herald948/cc/
  9. ^ Nader v. General Motors Corp., 307 N.Y.S.2d 647 (N.Y. 1970).
  10. ^ http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20040308&s=chait030804
  11. ^ http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/04/07/0226242
  12. ^ http://www.ratical.org/co-globalize/RalphNader/RN01.15.92.html#start
  13. ^ http://www.hereinstead.com/Village-Voice--Ralph-Nader--Levine.html
  14. ^ "http://newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/2/4/172804.shtml Nader Leaves '08 Door Open, Slams Hillary". Reuters, February 5, 2007.
  15. ^ http://newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/2/16/111721.shtml?s=ic
  16. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070205/ts_alt_afp/usvote2008nader
  17. ^ http://www.draftnader.org/
Template:Succession footnote
Preceded by
(none)
 Green Party Presidential candidate
1996 (4th), 2000 (3rd) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Reform Party Presidential candidate
2004 (a) (3rd) 		Succeeded by
—

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