How Long Ago It Seems

Remember the Chicago Seven? Well, they were seven men accused, under a somewhat dubious conspiracy statute, of plotting to cross state lines to disrupt the 1968 Democratic Convention. They stirred up demonstrators and helped lead street protests against the Chicago police that often turned violent. One of their leaders was Jerry Rubin, field marshal of the yippies. Remember the yippies? Well, they were the Youth International Party (YIP).

Six years ago a New York Times editorial described the trial of "the Chicago Seven" as "the shame of American justice"--and many Americans agreed. Last week Rubin, 37, now promoting his newest book, Growing (Up) at 37, confessed in a guest column in the Chicago Sun-Times, courtesy of Columnist Bob Greene, that he and his co-defendants were "guilty as hell. Guilty as charged." Explained Rubin: "Let's face it. We wanted disruption. We planned it." But, added Rubin, " 'guilty' does not mean 'wrong.' "

The trial's semi-retired judge, Julius Hoffman, 80, who had handed down 123 contempt citations to the defendants for such actions as blowing a kiss to the jury, felt triumphant: "I've been vindicated."

It all seems a long time ago--except perhaps for Hubert Humphrey. Had it not been for the chaos in Chicago, which convinced many TV watchers that the Democratic Party was run by a bunch of radicals, H.H.H. just might have edged out Richard Nixon for the presidency in 1968.

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