Ralph Nader Biography

Politician, author, lawyer, consumer advocate. Born on February 27, 1934, in Winsted, Connecticut. A pioneer in the field of consumer advocacy, Ralph Nader has emerged as a leading independent politician, having made three presidential bids. He earned his undergraduate degree at Princeton University in 1955, and then enrolled at Harvard Law School. After graduating in 1958, Nader established a law practice in Hartford, Connecticut.

Convinced that automobile injuries were often due to unsafe vehicle design, he wrote Unsafe at Any Speed (1965), which aroused public interest and led to the passage of the 1966 National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. He was chiefly responsible for the passage of the 1967 Wholesome Meat Act, imposing federal standards on slaughterhouses.

His professional associates, known (sometimes derisively) as "Nader's Raiders" published reports on many subjects, including baby food, insecticides, mercury poisoning, radiation dangers, pension reform, and coalmine safety. He founded the Center for Responsive Law, Public Citizen Inc, and other groups. Idealistic and modest, he became known for spartan personal habits and long working hours.

His many books include The Menace of Atomic Energy (1977), Who's Poisoning America? (1981), Good Works (1993), and No Contest (1996).

In 2000, Nader made his first bid for the U.S. presidency. He ran on the Green Party ticket and was accused of taking votes away from Democrat Al Gore in a very close election. Nader was called an election "spoiler" by some since Gore ended up losing the key state of Florida by only 537 votes.

Ignoring the harsh criticism, Nader ran for president again in 2004 as an independent. He announced in February 2008 that he's running for president as a third-party candidate. With Matt Gonzalez as his vice-presidential running mate, Nader has gotten their ticket on the ballot in 45 states, and they are running as write-in candidates in the remaining states.

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