Tribute to Michael Harrington

In 1955 Mike came up to Brandeis to confer with the ten members of the progressive political club. There was plenty of left-minded political passion on the campus, but few saw hope for active politics in those Eisenhower years. Mike brought us more optimistic news. Speaking with a tremendous flow of energy, information, and analysis, he told us his travels had convinced him that a coalition of farmers and workers was about to rise again and dominate the 1956 elections.

Coming from Indiana, where these same signs had eluded me, I had my doubts. Perhaps I was young and snotty enough to think that the nuts and bolts of organizing were more boring than the lofty historical theories that passed about me day and night.

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