The Trial of the Chicago 7: The Official Transcript

Republished fifty years later to coincide with the release of the Academy Award-nominated film of the same title written and directed by Aaron Sorkin with an all-star cast, this is the classic account of perhaps the most infamous, and definitely the most entertaining, trial in recent American history.In the fall of 1969 eight prominent anti-Vietnam War activists were put on trial for conspiring to riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. One of the eight, Black Panther cofounder Bobby Seale, was literally bound and gagged in court by order of the judge, Julius Hoffman, and his case was separated from that of the others. The activists, who included Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and Tom Hayden, and their attorneys, William Kunstler and Leonard Weinglass, insisted that the First Amendment was on trial. Their witnesses were a virtual who's who of the 1960s counterculture: Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary, Arlo Guthrie, Judy Collins, Norman Mailer, among them. The defendants constantly interrupted to protest what they felt were unfair rulings by the judge. The trial became a circus, all the while receiving intense media coverage. The convictions that resulted were subsequently overturned on appeal, but the trial remained a political and cultural touchstone, a mirror of the deep divisions in the country. The Trial of the Chicago 7 consists of the highlights from trial testimony with a brief epilogue describing what later happened to the principal figures.

About the Author :
Mark L. Levine is a lawyer, writer, and teacher who practiced corporate banking and publishing law in New York City for over forty years. He is also an experienced voter protection lawyer. His previous books include Negotiating a Book Contract and The Complete Book of Bible Quotations. A graduate of Columbia College, NYU School of Law, and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, he has taught at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and Zicklin School of Business/Baruch College. Mark L. Levine is a lawyer, writer, and teacher who practiced corporate banking and publishing law in New York City for over forty years. He is also an experienced voter protection lawyer. His previous books include Negotiating a Book Contract and The Complete Book of Bible Quotations. A graduate of Columbia College, NYU School of Law, and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, he has taught at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and Zicklin School of Business/Baruch College. Mark L. Levine is a lawyer, writer, and teacher who practiced corporate banking and publishing law in New York City for over forty years. He is also an experienced voter protection lawyer. His previous books include Negotiating a Book Contract and The Complete Book of Bible Quotations. A graduate of Columbia College, NYU School of Law, and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, he has taught at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and Zicklin School of Business/Baruch College. George McNamee is Chairman of Plug Power, a pioneer of the hydrogen economy. He has served as venture investor and board member of emerging growth companies including iRobot. In 2011, he was the first history major awarded the Yale Science and Engineering Association Distinguished Service Award. He served on the board of the New York Stock Exchange and is a Trustee of The American Friends of Eton College. He is a 1969 graduate of Yale University. George McNamee is Chairman of Plug Power, a pioneer of the hydrogen economy. He has served as venture investor and board member of emerging growth companies including iRobot. In 2011, he was the first history major awarded the Yale Science and Engineering Association Distinguished Service Award. He served on the board of the New York Stock Exchange and is a Trustee of The American Friends of Eton College. He is a 1969 graduate of Yale University. George McNamee is Chairman of Plug Power, a pioneer of the hydrogen economy. He has served as venture investor and board member of emerging growth companies including iRobot. In 2011, he was the first history major awarded the Yale Science and Engineering Association Distinguished Service Award. He served on the board of the New York Stock Exchange and is a Trustee of The American Friends of Eton College. He is a 1969 graduate of Yale University. Daniel Greenberg is head of pro bono at Schulte Roth & Zabel, a major New York law firm. From 1994 to 2004, he was attorney-in-chief of the Legal Aid Society. Prior to that he was director of clinical programs at Harvard Law School after being a legal services lawyer on New York's Lower East Side. He is a former president of the New York City chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. Danny received his law degree from Columbia in 1969. Daniel Greenberg is head of pro bono at Schulte Roth & Zabel, a major New York law firm. From 1994 to 2004, he was attorney-in-chief of the Legal Aid Society. Prior to that he was director of clinical programs at Harvard Law School after being a legal services lawyer on New York's Lower East Side. He is a former president of the New York City chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. Danny received his law degree from Columbia in 1969. Daniel Greenberg is head of pro bono at Schulte Roth & Zabel, a major New York law firm. From 1994 to 2004, he was attorney-in-chief of the Legal Aid Society. Prior to that he was director of clinical programs at Harvard Law School after being a legal services lawyer on New York's Lower East Side. He is a former president of the New York City chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. Danny received his law degree from Columbia in 1969. Dylan Thomas was born in Swansea, Wales on 27 October 1914. In 1934 his first book of poetry, Eighteen Poems appeared, followed by Twenty-five Poems in 1936, Deaths and Entrances in 1946 and in 1952 his final volume, Collected Poems. He also published many short stories, wrote filmscripts, broadcast stories and talks, did a series of lecture tours in the United States and wrote Under Milkwood, the radio play.During his fourth lecture tour of the United States in 1953, a few days after his 39th birthday, he collapsed in his New York hotel and died on November 9th at St. Vincent's Hospital. His body was sent back to Laugharne, Wales, where his grave is marked by a simple wooden cross.In June 1994, his wife, Caitlin Thomas, died in Italy, where she had spent most of the years of her life after the death of Dylan Thomas. Her body is buried next to his. Christopher Jackson recently starred as Benny in the Tony Award-winning musical, In the Heights and TV shows such as White Collar, Nurse Jackie, and Gossip Girl. As a composer and songwriter, he has written for the iconic television series Sesame Street, lending his music and lyrics to blockbuster songs "I Love My Hair" and "What I Am" performed by Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas. He also has written songs for A-list artists such as LL Cool J, Ne-Yo, Mario, Sean Kingston and many others. George Newbern is an Earphones Award-winning narrator and a television and film actor best known for his roles as Brian MacKenzie in Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride Part II, as well as Danny in Friends. As a voice actor, he is notable for his role as Superman on the Cartoon Newtork series Static Shock, Justice League, and Justice League Unlimited. He has guest starred on many television series, including Scandal, The Mentalist, Private Practice, CSI: Miami, and Numb3rs. He holds a BA in theater arts from Northwestern University. J. K. Simmons is an American actor and voice talent. He has had roles in four Broadway productions and has had many roles in television series, including the role of police psychiatrist Dr. Emil Skoda on three incarnations of Law & Order. He has appeared in three Spider-Man movies and is also known for his role in Juno. Besides his audiobook narrations, he has done voice-over work for major television commercials. Norbert Leo Butz is an American actor, singer, and narrator best known for his work in Broadway theater. He is a two-time winner of the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and is one of only nine actors ever to have won the award twice as lead actor. Aaron Sorkin is a writer, producer, and director who has worked in film, television, and theater. He first gained attention for his play A Few Good Men, a major success on Broadway, which he later adapted into an acclaimed movie. He is the author of many screenplays including Malice, The American President, Charlie Wilson's War, The Social Network (winner of an Academy Award for best-adapted screenplay), and Moneyball. His well-known work in television includes the highly acclaimed The West Wing, which won nine Emmy Awards in its first season alone, and The Newsroom. Sorkin made his directorial debut with Molly's Game, which he adapted from a memoir by Molly Bloom (and which was nominated for an Academy Award for best-adapted screenplay). In 2018 Sorkin's adaptation of Harper Lee's classic To Kill a Mockingbird premiered on Broadway, and was nominated for nine Tony Awards. Aaron Sorkin is a writer, producer, and director who has worked in film, television, and theater. He first gained attention for his play A Few Good Men, a major success on Broadway, which he later adapted into an acclaimed movie. He is the author of many screenplays including Malice, The American President, Charlie Wilson's War, The Social Network (winner of an Academy Award for best-adapted screenplay), and Moneyball. His well-known work in television includes the highly acclaimed The West Wing, which won nine Emmy Awards in its first season alone, and The Newsroom. Sorkin made his directorial debut with Molly's Game, which he adapted from a memoir by Molly Bloom (and which was nominated for an Academy Award for best-adapted screenplay). In 2018 Sorkin's adaptation of Harper Lee's classic To Kill a Mockingbird premiered on Broadway, and was nominated for nine Tony Awards.

Review :

"A sometimes hilarious, often disturbing, and always engrossing slice of documentary history."

"Completely fascinating."

"J. K. Simmons anchors this dramatization...The combative and willful ignorance of the judge comes through in Simmons's gruff delivery. The production values of this audiobook are stellar. There are full sound effects. When characters speak simultaneously, listeners are able to discern each voice. This dramatic work is a perfect way for listeners to experience this important historical document...Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award."

"Journalism at its best."

"The transcript, edited by three lawyers, gives a nearly blow-by-blow account of the principal moments in the proceedings, which are both entertaining and sobering."