Libel and academic freedom : a lawsuit against political extremists / by Arnold M. Rose ; foreword by Paul A. Freund.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rose, Arnold M. (Arnold Marshall), 1918-1968.

Contributor:

Freund, Paul A. (Paul Abraham), 1908-1992.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Koch, Gerda, 1903-.

Koch, Gerda.

Physical Description:

ix, 287 p.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Minneapolis : University of Minnesota Press, [1968]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Libel and Academic Freedom was first published in 1968.Described as a "Communist collaborator" and a "security risk" in the literature of a right-wing extremist group, Arnold M. Rose brought suit on charges of libel against those who made the statements, Gerda Koch and others. In this book, Mr. Rose, who was a professor of sociology at the University of Minnesota and president-elect of the American Sociological Association at the time of his death this year [1968], presents an account of the trial, which took place in Hennepin County District Court in Minneapolis in November, 1965. He also provides a thoughtful discussion of the various issues and events related to the trial and traces, as background, the history of right-wing extremist movements in this country.As Professor Rose makes clear, the significance of the case went beyond the question of personal libel because of the particular circumstances involved. For one thing, the basis of the controversial statements lay in his scholarly work as co-author of the book An American Dilemma with Gunnar Myrdal and Richard Sterner. Thus the issue of academic freedom was at stake. Another important consideration was the fact that, during part of the time the statements were made, Professor Rose was a member of the Minnesota state legislature and thus was a public official in the eyes of the law, a fact of special significance in connection with libel law. Also, there was the question of the kind of coverage which the local newspapers gave to the events leading up to the trial, and of a larger attack that was developing against the university. The author discusses all of these aspects of his case and points to some pressing problems in our society which he believes are highlighted by his own experience.The distinguished legal scholar Paul A. Freund, former Carl M. Loeb University professor, Harvard Law School, writes a foreword.

Contents:

Intro

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

1. OVERVIEW: Big Issues Mirrored in Little Events

2. A STUDY: "America's Single Most Important Domestic Problem

3. THE RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS: An Upper Midwest Variation

4. THE UNIVERSITY: Professorial Dignity and Student Ribaldry

5. THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE: The Political Response

6. THE IRRESPONSIBLE PRESS: A Deeper Problem

7. THE LAW OF LIBEL: A Right Decision and Dangerous Dicta

8. THE TRIAL, I: The Defense Becomes a Prosecution

9. THE TRIAL, II: The Defense Defeats Itself

10. THE TRIAL, III: The Jury Renders Judgment

EPILOGUE: Lessons from a Lawsuit

APPENDIXES

I. Documents Written by Gerda Koch and Introduced as Plaintiff's Exhibits

II. Bills Introduced into the Minnesota State Legislature on Which Rose Was Co-Author

III. Letter Sent by the Faculty Legal Protection Committee

IV. Paul B. Hurley Letter and Interrogatories

NOTES

INDEX

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

V

W

Y.

Notes:

An account and analysis of the law suit of Arnold Rose vs. Gerda Koch and others, heard in Hennepin County District Court.

Bibliographical references included in "Notes" (p. 269-279) and index.

ISBN:

9780816669295

0816669295

OCLC:

899266604