Victor Rabinowitz, 96, Leftist Lawyer, Dies

[Eugene]

Source: New York Times

Victor Rabinowitz, 96, Leftist Lawyer, Dies

By DOUGLAS MARTIN
Published: November 20, 2007

Victor Rabinowitz, a leftist lawyer whose causes and
clients over nearly three-quarters of a century ranged
from labor unions to Black Panthers to Cuba to Dashiell
Hammett to Dr. Benjamin Spock to his own daughter,
died on Friday at his home in Manhattan. He was 96.

His son Peter announced the death.

For much of his career, Mr. Rabinowitz teamed up with
the lawyer Leonard B. Boudin, who died in 1989, to
defend clients like Julian Bond, Daniel Ellsberg, Paul
Robeson, the Rev. Philip Berrigan, Rockwell Kent and
Alger Hiss. The pair did not take the espionage case of
Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, only because they were
already defending someone else accused of being a spy.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/20/nyregion/20rabinowitz.html?em&ex=1195707600&en=b84b31ca97262830&ei=5087%0A

[T Wolf]

1. The Slimes shows its bias in the headline. Do they ever refer to a conservative

as right-wing? No. But leftist is used more than liberal and progressive combined.

The sooner the old, corporate media is destroyed and replaced by independent sources, the better off we all will be.

[fascisthunter]

2. Time to Take that Back Too

Just a few years ago, folks were backing away from the word liberal. Now people wear it on their sleeves.

[Withnail]

3. Problem with obit headline?

I'm not sure what your disagreement with the headline is. Is it because you think they were being pejorative?

[Robbien]

4. When have you ever seen a headline describing someone as rightist?

Or the headline describing anyone of the right as anything other than just their name and/or occupation?

[Withnail]

10. I agree, but

The headline in question was not meant to be a pejorative and my dad (as I am Victor's son) would have been proud to be identified as a leftist lawyer. In fact, his memoirs title bears that out. The family had no problem with the obit title at all.
Best,

Mark

[Progressive Friend]

5. Salute - this man put his entire life into defending progressives targeted by Washington

That is very admirable that he did not leave the Communist Party during the height of the McCarthyist repression (when the party was forced underground and the leadership were imprisoned). Today's left needs more brave individuals like him.

[entanglement]

6. Victor Rabinowitz - a fine Marxist of the old school and a fine lawyer too

You will be missed, comrade.

[Socal31]

7. Errr....

Communistunderground.com not taking any new members? Since when does progressive = communist? Some people on here scare me...

[blueraven95]

8. I believe the point is

that he did not compromise his political beliefs even though there was so much intense pressure to do so.

[Withnail]

12. Now vs. Then

Let's also not forget that being a "Communist" in the 1940's and 50's was a lot different from being one in the 1980's, at least in terms of the images and policies the word evoked. Many brilliant, creative and proud Americans were members of the Party and just being so doesn't mean they were in sympathy with Stalin's policy or the totalitarian dictatorship the Soviet Union was becoming. In fact, the CPUSA's blind loyalty to the USSR was one of the reasons my father left the party.

-Mark

[blueraven95]

14. that is absolutely correct

There is nothing inherently evil in communism, the way people have been taught. I personally believe it is a flawed system, but it was developed and supported by very intelligent people who were looking for a better way of life.

[ret5hd]

9. Be scared of me then. I think he was a great man.

[Withnail]

11. Thanks for all the kind words!

On behalf of the Rabinowitz family, thanks for all the kind words posted here! He was indeed a kind, honest and dedicated man of integrity and he will be missed. He was and remains, my hero.

Best,

Mark

[burrowowl]

13. He was a great man and a great lawyer

May he rest in peace.