Roger Baldwin

Roger Nash Baldwin (January 21, 1884 – August 26, 1981) was one of the founders of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). He served as executive director of the ACLU until 1950.

Early life and education

Baldwin was born in Wellesley, Massachusetts, the son of Lucy Cushing and Frank Fenno Baldwin. He attended Harvard University, where he was influenced by the teachings of George Santayana and William James.

Career

After graduating from Harvard, Baldwin moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he taught sociology and worked as a social worker. During this time, he became involved in the Socialist Party of America and the Industrial Workers of the World.

In 1917, Baldwin and Crystal Eastman founded the National Civil Liberties Bureau (NCLB), the precursor to the ACLU. The NCLB provided legal assistance to conscientious objectors during World War I. In 1920, the NCLB was reorganized into the ACLU, with Baldwin serving as its first executive director.

During his tenure as executive director, Baldwin was involved in numerous landmark cases, including the Scopes Trial, the Sacco and Vanzetti case, and the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.

Later life and death

Baldwin retired from the ACLU in 1950 but remained active in the civil liberties movement. He died in 1981 at the age of 97.

Legacy

Baldwin's contributions to the ACLU and the broader civil liberties movement have had a lasting impact. His work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which he received from President Jimmy Carter in 1981.

See also

• List of civil rights leaders
• History of the American Civil Liberties Union

External links

• ACLU biography of Roger Baldwin