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GUEST: Tom Hayden, former state assembly and senate representative, member of the “Chicago 8,” co-author of several books including Voices of the Chicago Eight
A Generation on Trial

While the Green Party convention was in Chicago this past weekend, the windy city was the site of a much more explosive party convention 40 years ago. The 1968 Democratic Party Convention in Chicago was the flashpoint of anti-Vietnam war protest resulting in police riots, and an ensuing conspiracy trial that gave voice to the tumultuous cultural, social and racial politics of the time. Eight men were arrested and tried: Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines, Lee Weiner, and Bobby Seale. The infamous trial lasted months and was reported regularly on the nightly news. In an effort to preserve the history of the trial, Tom Hayden, who went on to serve in the California State Assembly and the State Senate, has co-authored a new book called Voices of the Chicago Eight: A Generation on Trial. The book includes writings by Hayden, as well as the transcript of a play by Frank Condon and Ron Sossi based on actual court transcripts.