Title: Leonard Cizewski Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1984-1990

Creator:

• Cizewski, Leonard, 1952-

Call Number: M90-370; Audio 1871A

Quantity: 2.6 cubic feet (7 archives boxes), 16 tape recordings, 42 photographs, and 13 negatives

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Papers of Leonard Cizewski, a Madison, Wisconsin peace activist, primarily documenting his activities for Trade for Peace Inc. and the Dane County Pledge of Resistance, two groups that protested U.S. policy in Nicaragua after the imposition of the U.S. trade embargo in 1985 upon the importation of stamps, coffee, and handicrafts. In 1987 government officials raided Cizewski's home and confiscated files and goods; thereafter the protest concentrated on First Amendment Rights issues. Trade for Peace ceased operation with the end of the embargo in 1990.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-m90370

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Leonard Cizewski was born in Chicago in 1952. In 1981 he settled in Madison, Wisconsin, where he worked as a nurse. In Madison he continued his earlier peace activities by becoming involved in Witness For Peace and Central American issues. In 1984 Cizewski traveled to Nicaragua as part of the Wisconsin-Illinois delegation for Witness For Peace. In 1985 he was active in protesting against the deployment of the Wisconsin National Guard in Honduras. Cizewski was also part of the Dane County Pledge of Resistance, a local chapter of a national organization formed in 1984-1985 to oppose U.S. foreign policy in Central America. In May 1985 the Reagan Administration imposed a trade embargo against Nicaraguan goods. The Dane County chapter of Pledge of Resistance responded by organizing a Trade for Peace sub-committee to carry out acts of civil disobedience against the embargo. Leonard Cizewski was the prime organizer of Trade for Peace, which functioned as an autonomous organization between 1985 and 1990. During this time he ran the organization out of his home.

The goal of Trade for Peace was to raise public awareness and overturn the embargo. Toward this end, the group carried out acts of civil disobedience centered around two tactics: the symbolic importation of illegal Nicaraguan goods and the sale of these goods at press conferences and via direct mail order. Trade For Peace usually imported its merchandise through Canada, but it also relied on supplies from travelers to Nicaragua. Initially TFP imported and sold only stamps, but as the group developed, coffee beans and arts and crafts items were also sold. Trade for Peace also held annual news conferences and sales on the anniversary of the embargo.

Trade For Peace consisted of a core group of about twelve members and twelve additional supporters. By the end of its existence it had a mailing list of 600 individuals throughout the country.

From 1985 to 1987 Leonard Cizewski made several contacts with Central American activists and importers in Canada. In March 1987, he traveled to Canada to arrange for the importation of 150 pounds of Nicaraguan coffee beans. These beans were roasted and therefore substantially changed and legal under the terms of the embargo.

In 1987, Peter Flaherty of the conservative Citizens For Reagan became aware of Trade For Peace, and he contacted the U.S. Justice Department and urged that TFP be prosecuted. In March 1988, Trade For Peace received notification that unless it ceased its activity federal charges would be brought. Trade For Peace continued its activities in defiance of the embargo. On August 30, 1988, six customs agents raided Cizewski's home and seized his Trade For Peace business files and Nicaraguan goods. Trade For Peace reacted by forming a defense fund, hiring an attorney, and contacting the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU filed a suit for civil forfeiture of confiscated goods. Later the customs office offered to drop the charges if Trade For Peace ceased its importation activities. TFP accepted the offer and thereafter concentrated on activities protected by the First Amendment. In March 1990, the U.S. Attorney closed the criminal investigation after the Sandinistas lost the Nicaraguan election and the embargo was lifted by President Bush. Trade For Peace then held a news conference and disbanded. The Dane County Pledge of Resistance merged with the Wisconsin Witness for Peace organization.

Since the dissolution of Trade For Peace Cizewski, who continues to reside in Madison, has been less active in social/political issues, although he did participate in the AIDS Memorial Project in 1992, as well as various school board campaigns.

The papers are arranged as TRADE FOR PEACE (TFP) and DANE COUNTY PLEDGE OF RESISTANCE (DCPOR) papers. The TFP papers are further divided as Activity, Publicity, Correspondence, Legal, and Financial papers; the DCPOR papers are subdivided into National Guard deployment papers, organizational records, and publicity.

These papers document Leonard Cizewski's activities for Trade For Peace and to a lesser extent his activities in the Dane County Pledge of Resistance. Because he was the prime organizer of Trade for Peace the files better reflect his activities in this organization. Indeed, the collection offers substantial insight into Cizewski's involvement in TFP from its inception until its dissolution in 1990. The records reflect his involvement in the Dane County Pledge of Resistance only until 1987.

The strengths of the collection center around Cizewski's correspondence with various social action groups and the documentation of how TFP developed these contacts and initiated acts of civil disobedience. The collection documents both internal and external activities, and it provides insight into this social/political action group.

The organizational activity folders offer a good run of meeting notes from 1985 to 1990. Moreover, the Preliminary Work file offers evidence of TFP's inception - why it was started, its goals, and its assessment of the potential risks. The publicity files, which are a highlight of the collection, illustrate campaigns to raise awareness about the embargo and symbolically protest through the importation of goods. The collection includes newsclippings about Trade For Peace, photographs, mostly by Liz Chilsen, of various news conferences as well as an extensive collection of audio tapes. Of particular note is a radio debate with Peter Flaherty of the conservative group Citizens For Reagan. The clippings document the national media attention Trade For Peace attracted after the August 30, 1988 raid.

The Activity files also offer insight into TFP's connection with other social action groups and projects concerning Central American issues. Moreover, the collection offers an insight into Cizewski's ideas about U.S. policy in Central America through the publication of an article that appeared in The Progressive magazine.

The correspondence files provide direct evidence of Trade For Peace's contacts in Canada such as Jeff House, an attorney who handled the dealings with Bridgehead Trading, Inc. in Canada and the importation of coffee beans. In addition, files on Carmen Albrecht and Friends in the Peace Movement offer important documentation about TFP's efforts to raise awareness of the embargo. In order to fund the purchase of stamps and coffee Trade For Peace solicited loans and grants from various groups and individuals. Kathleen Kelly and Karl Meyer are two such individuals who worked with Trade for Peace.

The legal files explicate the nature of the raid on Cizewski's home and the support received from the ACLU. In addition Box 4 contains examples of items seized in the raid and later returned.

TFP's financial condition is documented in the complete run of tax returns. In addition, the financial files also help explicate attempts to secure grants from national and local organizations.

The DANE COUNTY PLEDGE OF RESISTANCE series provides limited information about Leonard Cizewski's involvement. Of particular note is his open letter that attempted to heighten awareness among soldiers about U.S. policy in Central America. In addition, the collection includes Cizewski's article “The Wisconsin National Guard and Central America”, and some correspondence with elected officials. The DCPOR had a hotline for information on U.S. policy in Central America. Records of the hotline messages are complete for 1985-1987. Financial information about the group is contained in a file of pledge forms. These forms also contain some interesting comments about Central American policy.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Leonard Cizewski, Madison, Wisconsin, 1990. Accession Number: M90-370

Processing Information

Processed by Scott R. Lien, archives intern, 1996.

M90-370	Series: Trade For Peace Inc.
	Activity
	Organizational records
Box   1 Folder   1-2	Committee, 1988-1989
Box   1 Folder   3	Grass Roots Peace Directory form, 1987
Box   1 Folder   4-9	Meeting notes, 1985-1990
Box   1 Folder   10	Non-profit organizations report, 1987
Box   1 Folder   11	Phone tree, 1986
Box   1 Folder   12	Preliminary work, 1985
Box   1 Folder   13	Public supporter lists, 1988
Box   1 Folder   14	Mailing lists, 1983
	Publicity
Box   1 Folder   15	Advertisements, 1988
Box   1 Folder   16	Anonymous writing on August 30, 1988 Raid
Box   1 Folder   17	Article by Leonard Cizewski, The Progressive, 1989
Box   1 Folder   18	“Breaking The Embargo A Step by Step Guide,” by Leonard Cizewski, undated
Box   1 Folder   19-23	Clippings, 1985-1990
Box   1 Folder   24	International publicity
Box   1 Folder   25	Leaflet, 1988
Box   1 Folder   26	Media list, 1990
Box   1 Folder   27-29	News conferences, 1986-1988
Box   1 Folder   30	News releases, 1988
Box   2 Folder   1	Pamphlets, 1986-1987
Box   2 Folder   2	Photo ready price cards, 1986
Box   2 Folder   3	Press release, 1990
Box   2 Folder   4	Price lists, 1986-1989
Box   2 Folder   5-8	Publicity, 1986-1989
Audio 1871A	Audio Recordings of Radio Broadcasts Physical Description: Cassette tapes
1871A/1-2	APA Embargo Hearings (WORT), 1989 September 25
1871A/3	Trade for Peace, 1986 March 7
1871A/4	Trade for Peace (Pacifica), 1988 May 9
1871A/5	Pacifica story on TFP/Leonard on WORT (Breakfast Special), 1988 August 31, September 2
1871A/6	Leonard on NPR, 1988 September 4
1871A/7	"Second Opinion," Trade for Peace, WORT-FM, 1989 April 5
1871A/8	Betty Cheuning, "Second Opinion," Trade for Peace, 1989 April 5
1871A/9	APA Nicaragua debate, 1989 June 1
1871A/10	"A Public Affair," Cizewski v. Flaherty, WORT-FM, 1989 June 1
1871A/11	Jeff on WORT/Beatrice Tucker talk, 1989 June 26
1871A/12	Leonard Cizewski, Trade for Peace radio interview, KPFA, 1989 November 3
1871A/13	"Morning Edition," Packard/Nicktrade, 1990 February 27
1871A/14	TFP on WORT, Jeff and Paola
1871A/15	Alex Winter
1871A/16	[unidentified]
M90-370	Art, Coffee, and Stamp Importation / Sales
Box   2 Folder   9	Art
Box   2 Folder   10	Asentamiento project, 1986
Box   2 Folder   11	Chicago 1988 action
Box   2 Folder   12	Photographs and slides of craft objects
Box   2 Folder   13	Sales announcements
Box   2 Folder   14	Sales instructions
Box   2 Folder   15	Stamp sale orders
	Relations with similar groups
Box   2 Folder   16	Coalition of Madison Alternative Trading organizations
Box   2 Folder   17	Dane County Religious Committees, 1988
Box   2 Folder   18	National Lift the Embargo Campaign, 1988
Box   2 Folder   19	Nicaraguan Friendship Project, 1986
Box   2 Folder   20	Nukewatch, 1987
Box   2 Folder   21	Seeds For Peace Partnership
Box   2 Folder   22	U.S.-Nicaragua Friendship Conference, 1986 June
Box   2 Folder   23	Wisconsin-Central America Friendship
Box   2 Folder   24	Wisconsin Coordinating Committee on Nicaragua, 1988
Box   2 Folder   25	Witness For Peace, 1987
	Correspondence
Box   2 Folder   26-31	General, 1985-1990
	Art, Coffee, and Stamp Importation
Box   3 Folder   1	Advertisements, 1986-1989
Box   3 Folder   7	Albrecht, Carman, 1985-1987
Box   3 Folder   2	Anglican Church / Canada
Box   3 Folder   3	Art importation, 1988
Box   3 Folder   4	Banks - Canada, 1988
Box   3 Folder   5	Barter
Box   3 Folder   6	Bridgehead Trading, Inc. (Canada), 1985-1988
Box   3 Folder   8	Canada trip, 1987
Box   3 Folder   9	Coffee imports, 1987-1988
Box   3 Folder   10	Deltronic Trading Corporation, 1987-1988
Box   3 Folder   11	Fonesca Coffee Imports, 1987
Box   3 Folder   12	Foreign trading contacts, 1986-1989
Box   3 Folder   13	House, Jeff, 1988-1989
Box   3 Folder   14	Kelly, Kathleen, and Karl Meyer, 1988-1989
Box   3 Folder   15	New Society Products
	With other Social / Political Action Groups
Box   3 Folder   16	Elected officials, 1988
Box   3 Folder   18	Friends in the Peace Movement (Quakers), 1985-1988
Box   3 Folder   19	Latin American Working Group (LAWG), 1985-1987
Box   3 Folder   20	Invitation letter, 1986
Box   3 Folder   21	Lawrence Trade for Peace, 1989
Box   3 Folder   22	Madison Monthly Meeting of Friends, 1987-1988
Box   3 Folder   23	Media, 1989
Box   3 Folder   24	Milwaukee Pledge of Resistance
Box   3 Folder   25	National Consultation of Nicaraguan Network and Confronting Political / Economic Destabilization Workshop, 1988
Box   3 Folder   26-27	National Pledge of Resistance
Box   3 Folder   28	Neighbors regarding August 30, 1988 raid
Box   3 Folder   29	Nicaragua Ministry of Presidency (Spanish), 1987
Box   3 Folder   30	Organizations, 1986
Box   3 Folder   31	Potential distributors
Box   3 Folder   32	Pastors for Peace
Box   3 Folder   33	Project Peacemakers, 1985-1987
Box   3 Folder   34	San Francisco Pledge of Resistance, 1989
Box   3 Folder   17	Sharp, Fred (photographer), 1987-1988
Box   3 Folder   35	Witness For Peace, 1985-1988
	Legal
	General
Box   3 Folder   36	ACLU material
Box   3 Folder   37	FOIA Material
	Correspondence
Box   3 Folder   38	Canadian attorneys
Box   3 Folder   39	Items seized in August 30, 1988 raid
Box   3 Folder   40	FOIA
Box   3 Folder   41	Items returned
Box   3 Folder   42	Legal
Box   3 Folder   42a	Omnibus Trade Bill
Box   3 Folder   43	Trade For Peace testimony
Box   3 Folder   44	U.S. Attorney
Box   3 Folder   45	U.S. Customs
Box   4 Folder   1	Retained material (by U.S. Customs) Note: Includes envelopes, pamphlets, literature
Box   4 Folder   2	Stamp samples
	Financial
Box   5 Folder   1	Arts and Crafts and Coffee loans, 1988
Box   5 Folder   2	“First Dollar”
Box   5 Folder   3-4	Fund appeal information, 1988
Box   5 Folder   5	Grant proposals, 1987-1989
Box   5 Folder   6-9	Income tax, 1985-1988
Box   5 Folder   10	Logs, 1986
Box   5 Folder   11	Receipts, 1986-1989
Box   5 Folder   12	Sales tax information,
Box   5 Folder   13	Seller's permits
	Series: Dane County Pledge of Resistance	⇧
	National Guard deployment issue
Box   5 Folder   14	Clippings and publicity, 1985-1986
Box   5 Folder   15	Correspondence, 1984-1986
Box   5 Folder   16	Correspondence with elected officials, 1984-1986
Box   5 Folder   17	Meeting with Governor Earl and press releases, 1986
Box   5 Folder   18	Open letter project, 1985
Box   5 Folder   19	“The Wisconsin National Guard and Central America” / by Leonard Cizewski, 1986
	Organizational records
Box   5 Folder   20	Cizewski notes on U.S. policy
Box   5 Folder   21	Correspondence, 1984-1986
Box   5 Folder   22-23	Hotline, 1985-1987
Box   5 Folder   24	IFCC meeting, 1986 November 15
Box   5 Folder   25	Meeting notes
Box   6 Folder   1-5	Membership list
Box   6 Folder   6	Madison Council resolution, 1984
Box   6 Folder   7	National POR newsletters
Box   6 Folder   8	Neighborhood group material
Box   6 Folder   9	Pledge contacts
Box   6 Folder   10	Pledge forms
Box   6 Folder   11	Pledge handbook
Box   7 Folder   1	Senate campaign notes, Kasten v. Garvey, 1986
Box   7 Folder   2	Steering Committee notes and memos, 1984-1986
	Publicity
Box   7 Folder   3	Clippings, 1984-1986
Box   7 Folder   4	Press releases and press committee notes, 1985-1986
	Series: Photographs	⇧
PH Box   15	Pledge of Resistance publicity and rally
PH Box   15	Peace for Trade publicity and events