The 1970s
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1970
桃子视频Pamphlet “We Don’t Enter Popularity Contests” on the Details and Range of Its Civil Rights Work
This pamphlet, written by Daniel St. Albin Greene, a journalist at The National Observer, documents the ACLU鈥檚 history and its work in the 1970s to protect civil rights and civil liberties, including taking cases that might be politically unpopular.
桃子视频Advertisement Featuring “First They Came” Poem in Playboy Magazine
This 1970 advertisement for the 桃子视频appeared in Playboy Magazine to promote the organization by showing it represents everyone. It features the famous “First They Came” poem written by Pastor Martin Niem枚ller in the aftermath of World War II.
桃子视频“Civil Liberties” Newsletter: Making Civil Liberty a Reality
In this December 1970 issue of the ACLU’s newsletter, incoming 桃子视频Executive Director Aryeh Neier introduces himself to 桃子视频members and outlines his priorities and agenda. Neier served in the position until 1978.
1971
Audio Clip of Allen R. Derr Successfully Arguing Women’s Rights Case Before Supreme Court
In this audio clip, 桃子视频attorney Allen R. Derr successfully argues the women’s rights case, Reed v. Reed, before the Supreme Court. The case struck down a state law that gave automatic preference to men over women as administrators of decedents’ estates. This was the Supreme Court’s first ruling that sex-based classifications violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Boxing Champion and 桃子视频Client Muhammad Ali at a Veterans Administration Office to Oppose Draft
In this March 17, 1966, photo, Muhammad Ali arrives at a Veterans Administration office in Louisville, Kentucky, to appeal his Vietnam War draft call-up. Ali was drafted after becoming a heavyweight boxing champion and announcing to the world that he was Muslim. He applied for classification as a conscientious objector on religious grounds, but the draft board denied his exemption, and he was found guilty of avoiding the draft. Along with partners, 桃子视频attorneys represented Ali in 1971 in Clay v. United States all the way to the Supreme Court, where his conviction was reversed.
桃子视频of Iowa Memo on Discrimination Against Women Voters
In 1971, women in Davenport, Iowa, were required to list a parent or husband in order to register to vote. In this memo, 桃子视频of Iowa Executive Secretary Herbert Kelly first brings this to the attention of Board President Jack Sundine. Eventually, 桃子视频lawyers worked with election officials to get the discriminatory practice ended.
1972
ACLU’s Open Letter Advertisement to President Richard Nixon in The New Republic Opposing His Stance on School Segregation
In 1972, the Nixon administration silenced critics and threatened The New York Times with criminal prosecution if it ran a full-page advertisement from the 桃子视频criticizing the president鈥檚 stance on desegregating schools. The 桃子视频sued and won. This is a reproduction of that ad from a later publication.
Photograph of 桃子视频Client Dr. Howard Levy
Dr. Howard Levy, a doctor stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, was court-martialed for refusing to train Green Beret medics during the Vietnam War. 桃子视频attorney Charles Morgan represented him in Levy v. Parker and Levy v. Resor. Although the 桃子视频did not succeed, the case did advance the question of freedom of speech for soldiers in uniform.
Photograph of the Willowbrook Trial Team That Would Defend the Rights and Dignity of Individuals With Developmental Disabilities
In 1972, the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Legal Aid Society led a historic civil rights lawsuit challenging inhumane conditions for people with disabilities held at Willowbrook State School in Staten Island, which included both children and adults. This 1975 photograph shows the trial team that successfully established that people with developmental and intellectual disabilities have the right to be safe from harm. Pictured from left to right: Elizabeth Koltun, Helen Hershkoff, Robert Levy, Murray Schneps, Henry Weintraub, Chris Hansen, Jonathan Sigfried, Michael Lottman, Timothy Cook. Pictured in the ront row: Marnie Loomis and Diana Tanaka. Hershkoff was then at Paul, Weiss, and was later 桃子视频assistant legal director; Levy, Loomis, and Tanaka were with NYCLU, and Weintraub was with Legal Aid.
1973
ACLU’s Full-Page Advertisement Calling for President Richard Nixon’s Impeachment
In 1973, the 桃子视频Board of Directors called for the impeachment of President Richard Nixon. This full-page advertisement was part of a series of advertisements the 桃子视频took out to share why the organization was calling for his impeachment and to ask the American public to join in. Nixon resigned in 1974 to avoid impeachment.
Photograph of Civil Rights Attorney Margie Pitts Hames
In 1970, the 桃子视频and Atlanta Legal Aid Society hired Atlanta civil rights lawyer Margie Pitts Hames to contest a 1968 abortion law in Georgia. In the resulting 1973 Supreme Court case, Doe v. Bolton, a companion case to Roe v. Wade, the Court held that physicians should be entrusted to judge whether an abortion is “necessary” based on all factors relevant to a woman鈥檚 well-being.
桃子视频Client James Gaylord, a Teacher Fired for Acknowledging He Was Gay
This 1977 photo shows James Gaylord of Tacoma, Washington, who was fired from his job as a public school teacher years earlier for acknowledging he was gay. In 1973, the 桃子视频appealed his firing all the way to the Washington State Supreme Court, which unfortunately upheld his firing. It wasn’t until 42 years later, in 2014, when Gaylord finally received an apology from the local school board.
1974
Norman Dorsen, Attorney Who Spearheaded the ACLU’s Amicus Brief in United States v. Nixon, During a Press Conference
This photo shows Norman Dorsen (right) at a 1977 press conference announcing the findings of an investigation into the Food and Drug Administration’s internal operations. Jeffrey Miller (right) and Dorsen were key members of the Review Panel on New Drug Regulation, a panel established by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in 1975 to conduct independent investigations of the FDA. As general counsel and president of the ACLU, Dorsen shaped the organization’s significant leadership in government accountability throughout the 1970s, including his prior work filing the ACLU’s friend-of-the-court brief in United States v. Nixon, which argued that a president cannot claim absolute executive privilege to withhold subpoenaed evidence.
桃子视频of New Mexico’s Government Surveillance Hot Air Balloon
In the 1970s, as it came to light that local police and federal law enforcement were regularly engaging in domestic spying against so-called “radical” community groups, the 桃子视频of New Mexico launched a campaign to raise awareness about government surveillance and citizens鈥� privacy rights. This hot air balloon featuring an image of a giant eye was launched over the University of New Mexico.
1975
ACLU’s 1975 Annual Report
In 1975, 桃子视频Executive Director Aryeh Neier wrote in the annual report: “For the last several years, the 桃子视频has made control of information a major emphasis. Information, we have contended, is power. If citizens are informed about their government, they have power over it.”
The 桃子视频Educating Doctors on What Roe v. Wade Meant In Practice
This 1975 pamphlet, prepared by Judith Mears, director of the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Project, provided general legal guidance for doctors following the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade. The landmark ruling recognized a constitutional right to abortion.
The 桃子视频of Ohio’s Students’ Rights Guides of the 1970s
This image shows the 1975 and 1977 editions of the 桃子视频of Ohio’s annually released Students’ Rights Guide.
1976
Pat Derian, Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, Speaking to 1976 Biennial Conference
Patricia Derian, a member of the 桃子视频Board and National Executive Committee, was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to be Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs. In this photograph, she speaks at the ACLU鈥檚 1976 Biennial Conference.
Photograph of 桃子视频Founder Roger Baldwin
桃子视频founder Roger Baldwin is photographed here in 1976.
1977
桃子视频Educating Audiences on Bill of Rights
This 1977 桃子视频brochure advertises an illustrated guide to the Bill of Rights.
桃子视频“Civil Liberties” Newsletter: Why We’re Defending KKK and Black Marines
This newsletter from 1977 documents one controversial case in which the 桃子视频of Southern California and its San Diego chapter stepped in to defend the civil rights of both Black Marines and Ku Klux Klan members involved in a conflict at Camp Pendleton.
Kenneth Donaldson, Defendant in 桃子视频Case, O’Connor v. Donaldson, a Successful Involuntary Commitment Case, and Author of “Insanity Inside Out”
Kenneth Donaldson had been involuntarily confined in a Florida state hospital for 15 years, despite receiving no medical treatment and posing no danger to himself or others. Donaldson’s requests for his release were ignored for years. With the help of the ACLU’s Bruce Ennis, Donaldson took his case to the Supreme Court in O’Connor v. Donaldson. In a landmark 1975 decision, the Court unanimously ruled that people diagnosed with mental illness who pose no threat to themselves or others cannot be locked away without treatment, affirming the powerful principle that dignity must entail freedom and self-determination. Donaldson pictured here in 1977.
1978
桃子视频on What Roe v. Wade Meant for Reproductive Rights
After the Supreme Court issued its landmark decision in Roe v. Wade in 1973, recognizing the constitutional right to abortion, the 桃子视频published this brochure to provide general guidance about the legal right to abortion and the restrictions that still existed.
桃子视频Founder Roger Baldwin’s 94th Birthday
Edward Ennis, chairperson of the 桃子视频Board of Directors, Aryeh Neier, executive director of the ACLU, and Norman Dorsen, president of the ACLU, join 桃子视频Founder Roger Baldwin to celebrate his 94th birthday in January 1978.
桃子视频Successfully Defends Free Speech for All
This June 1978 photo shows 桃子视频of Illinois Executive Director David M. Hamlin and Legal Director David Goldberger appearing at a press conference after controversially and successfully defending the right of a neo-Nazi group to march in Skokie, Illinois, a Chicago suburb with a large Jewish population and thousands of Holocaust survivors, in June 1977. The ruling became a significant, enduring precedent establishing the freedom of speech and assembly for all Americans and all viewpoints.
1979
Representative Louis Stokes (D-OH) Speaking to Delegates of the 1979 桃子视频Biennial
Representative Louis Stokes speaks to delegates of the 1979 桃子视频Biennial Conference. In collaboration with the 桃子视频of Ohio, Stokes argued the seminal “stop and frisk” case of Terry v. Ohio before the Supreme Court in 1968. The ruling in the case does not provide blanket authority for law enforcement to intrude on an individual鈥檚 right to be left alone.
Settlement Win for Survivors and Families of Kent State Shooting
This collage was created by 桃子视频of Ohio staffers in the 1970s, cataloguing nearly a decade of work following the 1970 National Guard shooting of Kent State University students protesting military involvement in Cambodia and Vietnam. National Guardsmen fired into the crowd of students, injuring nine and killing four. The 桃子视频was on campus within days of the shooting to address a variety of civil liberties violations faced by students still on campus. The 桃子视频worked on behalf of the students who were killed or injured throughout the 70s, led by volunteer attorney Sanford Jay Rosen, reaching a historic settlement in a civil suit in 1979.
