Tom Hayden - A Conversation
- originally conducted Nov. 2008 -

The Interview

Where were you born?
Detroit.  Grew up in Royal Oak.

What was it like growing up? Did your parents encourage/push you to question/express your opinions on things?   
It was a time of quiet well being.  My parents were very mainstream, no strong opinions on any political matters, at least none that I knew about.

What was SDS and what sparked the idea of founding it?
Students for a Democratic Society.  Sparked by rise of sit in movement in the South, but also a response to apathy on campuses.   

What was the US like, back in the 60s? We take a lot for granted, now. What was different? (Rights, opinions, etc.)
After WW2 and Korea there was a widespread feeling that things were getting better, and that we were number one.  Beneath the surface, the Civil Rights movement was starting in places like Little Rock and Montgomery.  The Beat Generation poets were questioning conformity on a cultural level.  These were precursors of the 60s to come.

Was there a particular famous person (writer, poet, etc) who influenced you when you were younger?
Writers like Albert Camus, James Baldwin and C. Wright Mills.     

For more about these authors, click here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Camus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_Wright_Mills

Was there a particular “non-famous” person who  influenced you when you were younger (relative, friend, etc.)     
The young black students going to jail for civil rights.    

What was the political/social climate like just before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago?
By that point, everything was turbulent and polarized.

What happened at the Democratic National Convention?  
The Democrats chose to back the Vietnam War and Johnson’s candidate, though 40 percent were opposed.  The authorities refused to grant permits for anything, so it was 5 days of unpredictable confrontations.
Click here to find out more about the Convention:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Democratic_National_Convention

During the riots, many people were hit and ended up badly injured. Did you really get arrested for letting the air out of someone’s tires?  
I was arrested twice.  Once for that and once for trying to enter a hotel at someone’s invitation.    

Why did they hold a trial for the Chicago 8? What were you guys accused of?
Two charges, conspiracy and specific acts.

How did you feel sitting in the courtroom knowing you (Chicago 8) were right and that everything that was happening to you was wrong? How did it make you feel? What was going on inside your head?
I was pretty alienated and expecting the worst.  To cope, I threw myself into being like a third trial lawyer, preparing witnesses, etc.

When talking about the Chicago 8 being a conspiracy, Abbie Hoffman said, “We can’t even decide on lunch!” How different were you all, exactly?
We were united against Nixon and the war, divided in emphasis between counter-culture and anti-war.

Is there a particular song that you found inspiring during the whole crisis?
Many. Phil Ochs: “I Ain’t Marchin’ Anymore”
Here's Phil Ochs' Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Ochs

Suddenly, we hit the 70's and, surprisingly, all seemed "back to normal". How did this happen? Did the problems just disappear, or was it all just a phase that young people were going through at that age?
Actually the "Long Sixties" continued until 1975, when the US lost the Vietnam War and Nixon had been driven into resigning.  There are several reasons for the sixties ending, the most important was that we won major reforms on most issues, so naturally the activist base of things lost energy.

Society has changed a lot since that time. Is there anything that you see kids of today doing that you would never have been allowed to do when you were a kid, things that we take for granted?
18 year old vote, environmentalism, relative racial integration, rock concerts, YouTube, You name it

Though you were all protesting against "the establishment", many of you are now a part of it. Why do you think this is? The popular phrase was  "Don't trust anyone over 30." A lot of you are now over 60.
Natural flow of life.  Change still tends to be driven by the young.

We feel that the problems of today are pale in comparison to those of the 60's. Do you agree? Should we be more vocal about the problems we are facing today?
It was worse in the Sixties.  But the problems of poverty and violence remain chronic, not much change.

How did the generation that cared so much about others turn into the "Me, me, me!" generation? How can this be the same people?
It's not.

On November 4th, Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech as the President Elect of the United States in the same park you protested in 40 years ago. Can you express in words the feeling you had when you heard him speak that day?
I've always liked Barack.  Go to my website for many articles on this subject.

So what are you up to now? What causes are dear to your heart?
Ending the multiple wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan.  Redefining the war on terrorism and drugs in less military ways.  Becoming much more involved in Latin America's issues since 40% of California is Latino.  Shifting rapidly from oil-based to renewable-based future.