For the Record

The question is why? Why has Daniel Ellsberg, who admits to having leaked top secret government documents to the New York Times, picked Leonard Boudin as one of his two lawyers? Consider Boudin’s record. Made his first national splash as lawyer for Soviet espionage agent Judith Coplan. Associated with National Lawyers Guild and Emergency Civil Liberties Union, both cited as Communist fronts by congressional committees. Has been denied passport by State Dept, as suspected Communist himself (which he denies). His law firm, Rabinowitz and Boudin, has represented Castro Cuba, was forced under protest to register as agent of foreign government. Has been counsel for Paul Robeson, contributed to political campaign of identified Communist Robert Treuhaft (Jessica Mitford’s husband). Defended Dr. Spock in Boston Five case; is counsel for the Harrisburg Eight. His daughter Kathy is wanted by FBI in connection with explosion of a West 11th St. (Manhattan) townhouse a year ago in which several Weathermen were killed. Why, of all the lawyers in America, Leonard Boudin?

Some old leftist standbys back in the news. Jessica Mitford (The American Way of Death) is suing Massachusetts Commissioner of Correction John Fitzpatrick for refusing to let her see two prisoners for a book she is doing on U.S. prisons. . . . Rehabilitation of Paul Robeson, also cited in past as a Communist, under way with a) a documentary on his life “The House I Live In,” scheduled for release this fall, b) a biography by Lloyd L. Brown in the works at Alfred A. Knopf. . . . Already going the rounds, “Angela Like It Is,” a documentary interview with Angela Davis in which panelists who include Communists and Panthers discuss “the prison system, political repression, racism, and the Angela Davis frame-up” according to Daily World. . . . Doing land-office business among the young, says the Guardian: A Child’s Garden of “Grass” “which tells you everything you always wanted to know about getting stoned.” Lots of bookstores won’t stock it; it’s banned in state of Washington, and reportedly has sold 400,000 copies.

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The question is why? Why has Daniel Ellsberg, who admits to having leaked top secret government documents to the New York Times, picked Leonard Boudin as one of his two lawyers? Consider Boudin’s record. Made his first national splash as lawyer for Soviet espionage agent Judith Coplan. Associated with National Lawyers Guild and Emergency Civil Liberties Union, both cited as Communist fronts by congressional committees. Has been denied passport by State Dept, as suspected Communist himself (which he denies). His law firm, Rabinowitz and Boudin, has represented Castro Cuba, was forced under protest to register as agent of foreign government. Has been counsel for Paul Robeson, contributed to political campaign of identified Communist Robert Treuhaft (Jessica Mitford’s husband). Defended Dr. Spock in Boston Five case; is counsel for the Harrisburg Eight. His daughter Kathy is wanted by FBI in connection with explosion of a West 11th St. (Manhattan) townhouse a year ago in which several Weathermen were killed. Why, of all the lawyers in America, Leonard Boudin?

Some old leftist standbys back in the news. Jessica Mitford (The American Way of Death) is suing Massachusetts Commissioner of Correction John Fitzpatrick for refusing to let her see two prisoners for a book she is doing on U.S. prisons. . . . Rehabilitation of Paul Robeson, also cited in past as a Communist, under way with a) a documentary on his life “The House I Live In,” scheduled for release this fall, b) a biography by Lloyd L. Brown in the works at Alfred A. Knopf. . . . Already going the rounds, “Angela Like It Is,” a documentary interview with Angela Davis in which panelists who include Communists and Panthers discuss “the prison system, political repression, racism, and the Angela Davis frame-up” according to Daily World. . . . Doing land-office business among the young, says the Guardian: A Child’s Garden of “Grass” “which tells you everything you always wanted to know about getting stoned.” Lots of bookstores won’t stock it; it’s banned in state of Washington, and reportedly has sold 400,000 copies.