Ralph Nader
American consumer advocate and lawyer, born 1934; wrote Unsafe at Any Speed.
At a glance
Main ideas
Designed-in danger, Watchdog citizenship, Against nuclear power
See all 3Criticism
The 2000 election, Gay rights
See all 2Books to start with
Unsafe at Any Speed
Connections
Also on this page: Key facts · Links · Sources · Related pages
- Nader is a lawyer and activist for consumer protection, the environment and government reform.
- His 1965 book Unsafe at Any Speed helped bring the 1966 National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
- He led the "Nader's Raiders" investigations and founded advocacy groups including Public Citizen and the Center for Auto Safety.
- He ran for president four times, in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008.
Why it matters
- His work made consumer safety a political cause and helped shape modern US regulation of cars and products.
Key facts
- Born
- 27 Feb 1934, Winsted, Connecticut1
- Education
- BA, Princeton (1955, magna cum laude); LLB, Harvard Law School (1958)1
- Founded
- Public Citizen (1971); the Center for Auto Safety; the Critical Mass Energy Project (1974)1
- Elections
- Presidential candidate with the Green Party in 1996 and 2000 and as an independent in 2004 and 20081
- 2000
- 2,883,105 votes, 2.74 percent of the popular vote1
- GM case
- Sued General Motors for invasion of privacy after it had him investigated; he received $425,0001
- Books
- Author or co-author of more than two dozen books1
Main ideas
Criticism
Books to start with
The line under a date fills as it gets older: empty when new, full at 2 years.
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The designed-in dangers of the American automobile.
Connections
Writes
Links
Sources
Last checked against its sources today
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How recent
The line under a date fills as time passes: empty when new, then one equal share each for a day, a week, a month and a year. For episodes and other items it is full at 2 years; for "last checked", at a year. A striped line means the date is known only to the month or year.