David+G.+-+SSC+-+FA10

Ralph Nader Born in Winsted, Connecticut on February 27, 1934

Growing up, his parents owned a restaurant where people gathered and talked politics. Was taught to value social justice and learned from a young age to be an active participant in the American democratic system. Parents were very influential, Nader's mother convinced the local senator to build a dam to protect the town from floods. Nader's father claimed "If you do not use your rights, you will lose your rights."

Received an AB magna cum laude from the Woodrow Wilson School of International Affairs Princeton University, with a major in East Asian studies in 1955

Received a LLB with distinction from Harvard Law School in 1958

Traveled through Latin America, Africa and Europe and gained first hand witness of the time’s great social struggles while interviewing world leaders as a freelance journalist

Wrote "The Safe Car You Can't Buy", and "Unsafe at Any Speed" to document safety defects in U.S. cars and criticize the automobile industry’s safety practices. "Unsafe at Any Speed" went on to be a best seller.

Sued GM for invasion of privacy and received $425,000 to invest funds for projects aimed at strengthening civil society

Research on auto safety and lobbying in Washington helped push Congress to pass the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act in 1966

Lobbied for a number of other acts including the Wholesome Meat Act and the Freedom of Information Act

Helped found the Center for Study of Responsive Law ( CSRL ). It was a non-profit organization staffed mostly by college, graduate, and law students. The students became known as “Nader’s Raiders” and studied and issued reports on a variety of consumer issues.

Founded many organizations including the Public Interest Research Group ( PIRG ), the Center for Auto Safety, Public Citizen, Clean Water Action Project, the Disability Rights Center, the Pension Rights Center, the Project for Corporate Responsibility and The Multinational Monitor

Bibliography

About Ralph Nader. Nader '08 Gonzalez. 

Shaker, Genevieve, Ralph Nader: Ally of the American Citizen-Consumer.

Nader, Ralph. //The Nader Page//. Web. 09 Jan. 2011. .

Nader, Ralph. The Ralph Nader Reader.