Brandeis, the Ralph Nader of the early twentieth century, was known as the "People's Attorney" for his continuous crusades on behalf of the public and later for his outstanding service as a Supreme Court justice (1916-1938). The problems he confronted and wrote about could have leaped from today's newspapers: corruption in government, persistent poverty and inequality, conflicts between majority rule and minority rights, movements to limit free speech and the right to privacy, the social costs of excessive political or corporate power, the tension between Federal power and states' autonomy, the primacy of education, and the responsibility of citizens to their community.
These selections from Brandeis's speeches, letters to family and colleagues, newspaper interviews, articles, and judicial opinions offer us the essence of Brandeis's genius and allow us to appreciate the range and relevance of his ideas for America today.
