The
S~heer
COllIpaign
Serge Lang, Columbia University
".. . another Watts would not be the worst thing that could happen to
Oakland. The worst thing would be for the present poverty and inequality
to continue."
"What we are trying to do in Vietnam is to force the people to abandon
the course that they have chosen because we don't particularly like that
course."-ROBERT SCHEER
In 1966, Robert Scheer, the young ultra-liberal managing editor of
Ramparts
magazine, campaigned as a "peace" candidate
in
the Demo–
cratic Congressional Primary in Berkeley, California. Shunning traditional
party lines, Mr. Scheer spoke candidly and specifically about the major
issues: the war in Vietnam and the poverty program. He approached them
not only from a national viewpoint, but also as they concerned his own
district. Although Mr. Scheer did not win the nomination, the campaign
was a success in that, for the first time, a group backing a single candidate
endorsed by and endorsing no other political figure was able to poll a
significant percentage of the votes cast.
This book captures the highly spirited campaign through the challenging
and 'eloquent speeches of Mr. Scheer, the author's interviews with various
precinct workers, editorials from the press and appendices filled with
notices, slogans, posters and other materials used in the campaign. This
straightforward and extremely readable account of an 'exciting campaign
will be invaluable to anyone interested in concrete action rather than
passive disapproval of current policy. The lengthy appendices will serve as
a handbook for political action by persons other than professional politicians.
801
x 11, illustrated
pre-publication price: $3.95
w.
A. BENJAMIN, INC.
One Park Avenue, New York, N. Y. 10016
; w.
;';;HAMIN. INC., One
p:;~;nue.
New
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