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Carl Oglesby Obituary
Oglesby died at his home in Montclair, N.J. Todd Gitlin, a friend and fellow activist who went on to write several books, said Oglesby had been fighting lung cancer that spread throughout his body.
Born in 1935 and an undergraduate at Kent State University, Oglesby was years older than Gitlin and other '60s student radicals he befriended and was living a much straighter life at the time he met them. He was married, with three children, and was working for a defense contractor. But while studying part-time at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, he was so disgusted by the Vietnam War and so taken with the then-emerging Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and the soc iety with him, that he soon became its president and most memorable orator.
"The only other person who compared to him was Martin Luther King," Gitlin says. "He had the mastery of vivid phrases and also the power of mobilizing people."
Oglesby's power and idealism peaked in November 1965 with his speech at an early, and massive, anti-war rally in Washington. In an address titled "Let Us Shape the Future," Oglesby spoke as a disillusioned patriot and radicalized liberal who opposed not just the war, but much of American foreign policy since the end of World War II and the free enterprise system he believed demanded endless conflict. He was equally critical of Republican and Democratic presidents as victims, and enablers, of the corporate state and insisted the country's founders would have been on his side.
"Our dead revolutionaries would soon wonder why their country was fighting against what appeared to be a revolution," he declared to ever growing applause
In his most memorable phrase, he challenged those who called him anti-American: "I say, don't blame me for that! Blame those who mouthed my liberal values and broke my American heart."
Gitlin noted that part of Oglesby's appeal was his own story, one millions could relate to. He wasn't an Ivy leaguer or angry rich kid. He grew up working class, from the Midwest, in Akron, Ohio, and had far more experience than his fellow activists. He also knew how to communicate, having briefly tried an acting career in New York in his 20s and also attempting to write a novel.
But the '60s proved an unfulfilled dream from which he never recovered, Gitlin says. By the end of the decade, King and Robert Kennedy had been killed, the Vietnam War was still on and Oglesby was being thrown out of the organization he helped make famous. Violent activists such as the Weathermen dismissed Oglesby as a "hopeless bourgeois liberal." Oglesby labeled the Weatherman's politics as "road r age and comic book Marxism."
"He suffered greatly from that, maybe more than anyone else of the older crown, from being targeted by the Weathermen as a bad guy," Gitlin said. "He used to say that the Weatherman were like the children of his generation, dismantling what had been achieved."
In recent years, Oglesby became obsessed with the assassination of President Kennedy. He wrote the books "Who Killed JFK?" and "The JFK Assassination" and contributed an afterword to Jim Garrison's "On the Trail of the Assassins." In 2008, his memoir "Ravens in the Storm" was published. He also recorded music and taught at Dartmouth College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Copyright © 2011 The Associated Press
Memories and Condolences
for Carl Oglesby
34 Entries
George Johnson
November 1, 2011
I didn't know Carl personally, so I knew him mostly from the podium. He was one of the best of the New Left, and certainly inspired me every time I heard him. He also wrote and sang one of the greatest anti imperialist songs of all time: the little-noticed but profound Le Chinoise. He made us better than we were, and we are less now that he is gone.
Linda Miller Abbott
September 20, 2011
As a 1970 graduate of Revere High School and an anti-Vietnam War activist, I was proud to tell people that the most successful graduate of Revere was Carl Oglesby. He was an inspiration to many of us of that generation and I am sorry to hear of his passing.
September 19, 2011
Sorry for the loss of a good man. I wanted to get some tips and to learn from one of the best. I would like to hear from you. [email protected] Oglesby (Dubuque, Iowa)
maxi Thomp
September 16, 2011
Sorry for your loss.
Maxi
Marilynn
September 16, 2011
Oglesby family. Hold onto those wonderful memories that you have of Carl and may, they bring you a smile when you need it most. My sincere condolences to the family of Mr. oglesby.
Gene Bathe
September 16, 2011
May you find the truth and peace now that you fought for throughout your live. Rest in peace.
JOHN O. GOFF
September 16, 2011
I REMEMBER CARL OGLESBY FROM THE 60'S,,VERY INTERESTING PERSON WITH SOME VERY GOOD IDEAS.
I'M SORRY TO HEAR OF HIS PASSING.
MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF CARLS...WHILE MANY PEOPLE STOOD AROUND AND DID NOTHING,
AT LEAST YOU TRIED IN YOUR PEACEFUL
WAY, AT LEAST YOU TRIED. GOD BLESS YOU CARL AND REST IN PEACE.
Joanne Salvato
September 15, 2011
I was a member of the SDC and to this day I have been discriminated against, when "they check your records" Thank;s Carl .I will continue to honor you. Generation 1968
September 15, 2011
My heart goes out to the Oglesby family. May the God of all comfort be with you as you cope with your loss.
Jeff Sokolow
September 15, 2011
Thanks, Carl, for always speaking truth to power and being a moral influence to a generation.
Ric Stoliker
September 15, 2011
As a former SDS chapter president...let me just say...as our system endures recession after recession and war after war...SDS..we knew best!! God keep you Carl..there are NO plutocrats in heaven!!!
A Proud Mother
September 15, 2011
Keep lighting candles to show others
the right way...Psalm 119:105
Tom Smith
September 15, 2011
May the God of all comfort, comfort the family and friends of Carl Oglesby. Psalm 34:18 assures us that the God of all comfort is near those broken at heart and the one crushed in spirit he saves.
Jon Weintraub
September 15, 2011
Carl's influence as a guest in residence at Urbana, IL in the late '80s was profound. He called them like he saw them, and followed where his values and his perceptions led him without regard for anyone's sacred icons. How many in politics today can say the same?
Larry Larsen
September 15, 2011
RIP Carl, You helped shape a nation of active, aware young people, who grew and shared you dreams with many more people than you realize. We are all suffering this loss. Deepest condolences to the family.
Louis Akin
September 14, 2011
This is a loss to America. The old America that died four decades ago.
John McAuliff
September 14, 2011
Carl's voice spoke to and liberated a generation. His and our work is far from done.
John McAuliff
September 14, 2011
My condolences to Carl Oglesby's family. May his good works be his legacy.
Beth
September 14, 2011
My sincere condolences to the Oglesby family. May the words found at Job14:13-15 bring you comfort.
D Beckett
September 14, 2011
To the Family of Mr.Oglesby,I am truly sorry for your loss. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to you. God made a wonderful promise in Isaiah 2:4 and Psalm 72:12-14,that(under His Kingdom)mankind will be free from all threat of war and all corrupt rulers and oppression will be rid of. May you find comfort in God`s promises.
Phil Elkins
September 14, 2011
Thank you for all your good hard work.
September 14, 2011
One of our true heroes has died. Heartbreaking.
September 14, 2011
My sincere condolence to the Oglesby family
Mary Smith
September 14, 2011
My sincere condolences to the family on the loss of your loved one. God cares and will comfort you. His words of comfort are written at Psalms 34:18.
Donald Meinshausen
September 14, 2011
His contributions in thought and art to the New Left as well as to the libertarian movement are beyond calculation. We are all proud to have read, listened to and known him
Pennelope Rivers
September 13, 2011
To the family please accept my sincere condolences during your time of lost. To Carl R.I.P.
R Golay
September 13, 2011
To the the family of Carl Oglesby - May God give you peace and comfort through his word and the Lord Jesus Christ during this time of sorrow, I know that he will be missed by many.
rick erickson
September 13, 2011
I did not know Carl well but his writngs inspired me and i first met him in Austin ,Texas at an SDS convention. Later, when i was in jail for anti-work stuff at Kent State, we coresponded. He was very gracious and supportive. Just my brief encounter with Carl in the early 70's gave me a life long respect for this man. I offer my condolences to his freinds and family. He has carried us forward to a more human world.
September 13, 2011
Gone but not forgotten, like the SDS. His words ring as true today as then. Condolences to his family. stephen hartford
Kathy Gordon
September 13, 2011
R.I.P. Carl
Dawn Meredith
September 13, 2011
I have been fortunate to call Carl one of my closest friends since 1973. His love and friendship was unwavering through the decades. I just got off the phone with a mutual friend - Harvey Yazijian- and we are both still stunned by how fast all of this was. I spoke just weeks ago with Carl and he was upbeat and had so enjoyed his trip back to Cambridge and re-connecting with so many old pals.
My thoughts and prayers are with Aron, Shay and Caleb today- his wonderful kids.
I thank Barbara- his partner of the last three years -for loving and taking care of "our" Carl. A brilliant light has gone out, but he will remain in our hearts forever. RIP dear friend. My life was made better by knowing you.
Dawn
steven stancia
September 13, 2011
R.I.P.
September 13, 2011
To the Family. Please accept my sincere condolences during this time of your loss. May you find comfort in knowing that God "is near to those broken at heart and those
Martin Wise
September 13, 2011
R.I.P.
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