Series: 4: Tape Recordings

Boston SDS conference on university reform, 1962 December 1-7

Panel, 1962 December 2
Scope and Content Note: Peter Countryman, Executive Secretary of the Northern Student Movement (NSM), speaks regarding the relationship of the student movement to the black civil rights movement. Discussion follows. Approximate running time: 30 minutes.

Panel (continued); and Tom Hayden
Scope and Content Note: Continued question and answer period. Then Tom Hayden discusses how university reform is important to a general radical political movement. Approximate running time: 30 minutes.

Tom Hayden (continued); Paul Brest; Todd Gitlin
Scope and Content Note: Tom Hayden continues discussion of university reform. Then Paul Brest, a law student, outlines activities of HUAC and maintains that radical groups, by excluding admitted communists, only contribute to undermining of civil liberties. Todd Gitlin follows and speaks on how to build a base for and attract people to the peace movement. Approximate running time: 60 minutes.

Steve [Max?]
Scope and Content Note: Speaks on the realignment of traditional Democratic Party ranks and how radicals can use this for their own advantage. He also reviews programs of various leftist organizations and the current national political situation. Approximate running time: 30 minutes; thereafter the reel continues with opera excerpts.

“New Left Day” at the June 1963 SDS National Convention, Pine Hill, New York

Hayden speaks on SDS
Scope and Content Note: In a tape apparently made for prospective SDS members and others interested in the organization, Tom Hayden speaks on the history of SDS, the role of the peace and civil rights movements, the scope of the New Left, and the Student League for Industrial Democracy. Approximate running time: 25 minutes.

Hayden (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Hayden continues his history of SDS, and tape runs out before he finishes. Approximate running time: 25 minutes.

Tom Hayden concludes unidentified, undated speech

NSM Conference, 1964

Harlem Action Group; folk songs; and Paul Goodman
Scope and Content Note: After Hayden's talk, the rest of this track concerns the NSM conference. The Vice President of Harlem Action Group is interviewed regarding on-going rent strike, 1963-1964. Group singing of folk songs. Paul Goodman questions the goals of tutorial programs for ghetto residents in which the NSM is involved, and criticizes the entire educational system; his controversial remarks spark a lively discussion. Approximate running time (including Hayden): 60 minutes.

Goodman (continued); Block; Spike
Scope and Content Note: Paul Goodman discussion continues. NSM leader Steve Block speaks about the development, philosophy, and present programs of the NSM. Dr. Spike, Director of the Council of Churches' Commission on Race and Religion, speaks about the Commission's goals and activities. Approximate running time: 60 minutes.

Spike (continued); folk songs; Americus demonstration and racial discussion
Scope and Content Note: Dr. Spike concludes. Alan Rebeque conducts group singing of folk songs. People from Americus, Georgia, are interviewed regarding instances of police brutality and harassment at a civil rights demonstration in Americus on September 9, 1963; there is also a statement on the demonstration from Julian Bond, head of SNCC's Communications Division. Group discusses the philosophy and activities of NSM, stressing relationship between white, middle class students and the black community. Approximate running time: 60 minutes.

Discussion (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Discussion of what sorts of civil rights activities college students could profitably engage in. Approximate running time: 60 minutes.

Goodman discussion (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Paul Goodman discussion continues, but is sometimes hard to hear because of baby crying. Approximate running time: 60 minutes.

Goodman discussion (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Paul Goodman discussion continues. Approximate running time: 2 minutes.

June 1964 SDS National Convention, Pine Hill, New York

Gitlin, Aronowitz, and Flacks
Scope and Content Note: Todd Gitlin, SDS president, introduces, Stanley Aronowitz and Dick Flacks, who speak on the future of the New Left and analyze the role of radical groups in American society . The sound frequently fades into inaudibility. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

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Gitlin, Horton, Melman
Scope and Content Note: Todd Gitlin, introduces a panel discussion of “The Radical Heritage.” The speech of Don West, a professor at the Un iversity of Maryland, is not recorded due to a mechanical failure of the recorder. Myles Horton of the Highlander Folk School in Tennessee describes the failure of past radical movements and points to the critical role of the black civil rights movement in providing a focal point for the New Left. Seymour Melman, a professor at Columbia University, discusses the role of the radical in providing viable alternatives to Establishment policies and considers how to convert industry to peace-time uses. A question and answer period follows in which the validity of the above speakers' assumptions and conclusions is weighed. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

Individual speakers summarize position papers that they hope the convention will adopt
Scope and Content Note: The speakers include Dick Flacks, Larry Gordon, Steve Max, Don McKelvey, Paul Potter, and Jim Williams. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

March on Washington, April 17, 1965, and SDS National Council Meeting, 1965 April 17-19
Scope and Content Note: This series of tapes concerns the April 17, 1965 March on Washington and the April 17-19, 1965 SDS National Council meeting. An unidentified SDS-er re-recorded them and occasionally provides explanatory information. He recorded the council meeting before the march, and this order has been retained.

Vietnam workshop at council meeting, 1965 April 17 or 18
Scope and Content Note: The tape starts in the middle of a discussion of anti-war strategy, in which the participants consider the formulation of a press release, civil disobedience, organizing techniques, and the role of SDS. Much of this tape is inaudible due to background noises. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

Vietnam workshop discussion (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

Vietnam workshop (continued); and plenary session of council meeting, 1965 April 18
Scope and Content Note: A small amount of further discussion of anti-war strategy is followed by a recording of the beginning of a plenary session of the National Council. Various workshop proposals are presented to the session, including the relocation of the SDS National Office, a trip by U.S. students to North Vietnam, free universities, and the press release of the Vietnam workshop. Most of the debate concerns this statement to the press and how it will affect the direction of SDS. Occasionally background noises make this tape difficult to hear. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

Plenary session (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Speakers include George Brosi, Clark Kissinger, and Paul Booth. The discussion mainly concerns anti-war activities and the direction of SDS. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

Plenary session (continued), 1965 April 18-19
Scope and Content Note: More discussion of anti-war strategy; speakers include George Brosi, Todd Gitlin, Steve Max, and Clark Kissinger. An unidentified SDS-er interviews Larry Gluckman, a new SDS member, regarding his reasons for joining SDS. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

Plenary session (continued)
Scope and Content Note: The discussion centers on the following topics: the organization of regional offices, the relocation of the SDS National Office, democracy within SDS, and if SDS members should drop out of school. Speakers include Clark Kissinger, Paul Potter, and Paul Booth. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

National Council meeting (continued), 1965 April 19
Scope and Content Note: Discussed are the relocation of the National Office, a credentials report, a PREP report, and the hiring of Carl Oglesby to do research. Speakers include Paul Booth, Clark Kissinger, Todd Gitlin, Carl Oglesby, and Lee Webb. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

National Council meeting (continued)
Scope and Content Note: More debate on hiring Carl Oglesby to do research and on the setting up of a Research, Information, and Publication Project (RIP). There is also discussion of the report of the workshop on the free university. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

Vietnam workshop (continued), 1965 April 18
Scope and Content Note: This tape records the discussion until 8 p.m., when the person recording the session left. Topics considered include the free university and goals of university reform, a U.S. student trip to North Vietnam, and education within SDS. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

National Council meeting (continued), 1965 April 19
Scope and Content Note: On the remainder of the tape (about half), an unidentified person recorded unidentified amateurs, mainly children, singing American and German folksongs; these songs were recorded to help others teach them. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

Folksinging (continued); and Vietnam workshop (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Folksinging, then the person re-recording these tapes included discussion of anti-war strategy from the April 18, 1965 Vietnam workshop which he forgot to record earlier. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

Vietnam workshop (continued), 1965 April 18
Scope and Content Note: Vietnam workshop continues with debate on Vietnam strategy, thrust of SDS activities for summer 1965, and civil rights community organizing. This is also the beginning of the re-recording of the March on Washington, April 17, 1965. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

March on Washington, 1965 April 17
Scope and Content Note: This is also the beginning of the re-recording of the March on Washington, April 17, 1965. There are interviews with folksinger Joan Baez, Mrs. Tristan Coffin (whose husband wrote The Armed Society), an unidentified member of Women Strike for Peace, and other demonstrators regarding the reasons for their participation in the march. Background noises of the march and of the folksinging at the Sylvan Theatre at the base of the Washington Monument sometimes drown out the interviews. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

March on Washington (continued)
Scope and Content Note: More folksinging and speeches at the Sylvan Theatre, including the following speakers: Mel Fredericks, folksinger Pete Seeger, SNCC leader Robert Parris, journalist I.F. Stone, Yale history professor Staughton Lynd, and Senator Ernest Gruening (D-Alaska). Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

March on Washington (continued)
Scope and Content Note: More speeches and folksinging at the Sylvan Theatre, including the remainder of Senator Gruening's speech as well as the presentation of folksinger Judy Collins, Mrs. Carol King's reading of a statement of Cleveland community project worker Mrs. Ira Pierce, and remarks of SDS president Paul Potter and of folksinger Joan Baez. This is followed by sounds of the marchers moving toward the Congress. The tape concludes with a recording of a meeting held to plan acts of civil disobedience in protest against the war; these acts are planned for the weekend. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

Meeting on acts of civil disobedience (continued); and locality meeting
Scope and Content Note: Meeting on acts of civil disobedience (continued) then a locality meeting at the SDS office where spring and summer anti-war strategy is discussed. Approximate running time: 65 minutes.

Electoral Campaign Institute, 1966 June 20-22
Scope and Content Note: These tapes concern the Electoral Campaign Institute held by the National Conference for New Politics (NCNP), June 20-22, 1966. The purpose of this institute was to train election organizers. Most of those in attendance were SDS members who had attended an SDS National Convention the week before. Dan Rothenburg, an NCNP organizer, gives the introductions.

Robert Scheer, June 21, 1966
Scope and Content Note: Robert Scheer, a radical-liberal from California, discusses his 1966 election campaign in the 7th Congressional District and the political situation in the Berkeley-Oakland area. A question and answer period follows. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

[blank]

Discussion of Scheer campaign (continued); and Eric Mann
Scope and Content Note: Scheer campaign discussion. Then Eric Mann, a leader of SDS's Newark (New Jersey) Community Union Project (NCUP), analyzes community organizing and electoral politics in Newark. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

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Mann, 1966 June 21 (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Newark politics discussion continues. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

Schneider, 1966 June 22
Scope and Content Note: Michael Schneider, director of the 6th Congressional District (California) Democratic Council, speaks on California politics and the 1964 Willie Brown congressional campaign. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

[blank]

Schneider (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Schneider speech followed by a question and answer period, June 22, 1966. Approximate running time: 60 minutes.

[blank]

John Mayer, 1966 June 20
Scope and Content Note: John Mayer [spelling uncertain], Massachusetts SDS-er, discusses the 1966 Thomas Adams Senatorial campaign. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

Clark Kissinger, 1966 June 22
Scope and Content Note: Clark Kissinger, former SDS National Secretary and aldermanic candidate in Chicago's 49th District, speaks regarding the Daley machine and community and election organizing in Chicago. Approximate running time: 90 minutes.

Kissinger (continued); and Michigan discussion
Scope and Content Note: Clark Kissinger's speech, followed by a group discussion of the benefits and failures of the NCNP's Electoral Campaign Institute. Then an unidentified speaker talks regarding Michigan politics and the Kavanaugh [spelling uncertain] Senatorial campaign. Approximate running time: 60 minutes.

Dan Rothenburg, an NCNP organizer, discusses the conference so far - its purposes, membership, and success
Scope and Content Note: Approximate running time: 30 minutes.

[blank]

The Pragmatic Warriors
Scope and Content Note: A documentary tape recording prepared by SDS's Radical Education Project from selected television news reports dating from September 1965 to August 1966 regarding the war in Vietnam, especially its impact on the Americans taking part in it and on the Vietnamese people. A list of sources for this tape follows this record of tapes in the collection. Approximate running time: 50 minutes.

[blank]

SDS National Convention, after 1966
Scope and Content Note: Discussion of whether members of the Communist or Progressive Labor Parties should be excluded from SDS and of factionalism within SDS. Approximate running time: 90 minutes (Side 1); 3 minutes (Side 2).

Telephone conversation, 1968, between two unidentified SDS-ers
Scope and Content Note: One in the Chicago National Office and one in the California Regional Office, in which organizational and personal matters are candidly discussed. It shows how SDS members related to one another and tried to place personal problems in a total political context. Approximate running time: 8 minutes.

Telephone conversation
Scope and Content Note: Probably made between August 7-11, 1968, between Mike Klonsky of the Chicago National Office and an unidentified Los Angeles civil rights worker regarding the atmosphere in the Los Angeles black community and police activity following a Black Panther-police shoot-out and a ghetto riot. There is noise throughout this tape, and the tape runs out before the conversation ends. Approximate running time: 8 minutes.