ABSTRACT
In September 1959, when the old “slid” 1 adopted the name Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), I undertook to build a new organization based on action and education, affirming economic democracy and identifying in the indigenous radical tradition of “our founders” Upton Sinclair, Jack London, Clarence Darrow, and progressives like “Fighting Bob” La Follete, after whom I’m named. [Ed. note: Al’s given first name is Robert.] From June 1960, I was SDS president and also on staff, though sometimes fired.
