Ralph Nader is a renowned American political activist, author, lecturer, and attorney, celebrated for his tireless efforts in consumer protection, environmentalism, and government reform. Born on February 27, 1934, to Lebanese immigrant parents, Nader's journey to prominence began in the 1960s with the publication of his groundbreaking book, "Unsafe at Any Speed", which exposed the automotive industry's deplorable safety record and led to the passage of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act in 1966.
Nader's academic background includes attendance at Princeton University and Harvard Law School, where he developed a passion for consumer advocacy. His first major success came in 1965 with the publication of "Unsafe at Any Speed", a highly influential critique of American automobile manufacturers' safety records. This was followed by the formation of "Nader's Raiders", a group of volunteer law students who investigated the Federal Trade Commission, ultimately leading to its overhaul and reform.
Throughout the 1970s, Nader leveraged his growing popularity to establish various advocacy and watchdog groups, including the Public Interest Research Group, the Center for Auto Safety, and Public Citizen. He targeted several notable companies, including General Motors and Ford, with his critiques of their safety records. Two of his most famous targets were the Chevy Corvair and the Ford Pinto.
Nader made four bids to become President of the United States, running with the Green Party in 1996 and 2000, the Reform Party in 2004, and as an independent in 2008. In each campaign, he emphasized his commitment to highlighting underreported issues and advocating for electoral reform. During his 2000 candidacy, he received nearly three million votes, but also faced controversy over allegations that his campaign contributed to Republican candidate George W. Bush's victory over Democratic candidate Al Gore.
As a Nieman Fellow twice over, Nader has authored or co-authored over two dozen books and was the subject of a documentary film, "An Unreasonable Man", which premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. He has been repeatedly recognized as one of the "100 Most Influential Americans" by publications such as Life, Time, and The Atlantic, and has been described by The New York Times as a "dissident".
