the republican fdr, the democrat norman thomas as the socialist and the communist candid. the crisis that for the negro in america, if we had to choose the best choice for us would be first earl browder and second norman thomas. but we recognized that there had been very little chance of getting elected. the other two, we will go with roosevelt. it is true, and it is sort of their reports to the new deal that they did not take that. it did not take racial politics very seriously at the time. last question. >> eleanor roosevelt, how influential lushy in regards to the new deal and the politics involved? >> well, in most respects in most respects we have to say she was a peripheral figure. she was not involved in any of the major initiatives, even social security. she was pursuing her own agenda, and one might almost say that when she did have an influence it was a native influence command that was in the creation of resettlement communities, particularly a community in west virginia. eleanor roosevelt had this idea where she had been in cocaine with this idea and if you cou

norman thomas as the socialest and earl broader as the communist candidate. and for the negro in america if we had to choose, the best choice for us would be, first, earl browder and second, norman thomas. but we recognize that they have very little chance of getting elected, so among the other two we're going to go with roosevelt. all right? but it is true, and it is sort of a reproach to the new deal that they did not take that, they didn't take racial politics very seriously at the time. last question. >> yes. raised about eleanor roosevelt. how influential was she in regards to the new deal and the politics involved? >> well, in most respects she was -- the question is about eleanor roosevelt and her influence on the new deal. in most respects we have to say she was a peripheral figure. she was not involved in any of the major initiatives, even social security. she was, she was pursuing her own agenda, and one might almost say that when she did have an influence, it was a negative influence. and that was in the creation of resettlement communities, partic

and the critics have said for the negro in america if we had to choose for us would be second norman thomas but we recognize little chance of getting elected so among the other two but it is true and it is a different approach so they didn't take racial politics very seriously at the time. >> last question. >> the point was raised about eleanor roosevelt. how influential was she with the new deal and -- >> in most respects was a peripheral figure. she was not involved in any of the major initiatives in the security and to speak to [inaudible] delauro roosevelt had this idea and she had been inculcated with this idea that if you could import farmers to an ideal collective community, provide them with barnes, schools for the children, houses you would be able to create one something. it was in the death of the coal mining district. the land was not very good, but this was the first project so it got a lot of conversation and really needed it and it affected was pretty much a disaster overspend on the house is the imported houses to the district from new england that turned out to not to be in

i heard speeches by people like norman thomas. he was a famous socialists. a huge demand in cds. -- a huge man in his 80's. it seemed like his body was held together by wire. he staggered up to the podium. a powerful voice came out. i was inspired by the anti- nuclear speakers that i heard. the civil-rights speakers that i heard. that is a strong part of my upbringing. >> the knock on professors is that they come from the right -- left side of the political system. >> at the university of illinois, you visit the college of engineering, a fair percentage of them to vote -- do vote democratically. to call them on the left would be a stretch. even in own department, in english, there are some colleagues that voted for ronald reagan and george bush. they make no secret of it. it is the most progressive discipline around. it is not universally on the left. what people need to understand is that people's political identification with the democratic or republican party does not say much about what they do in the classroom. if an engineer votes democratic are republ

norman thomas as a socialist and earl broader as the communist candidate. and the crisis said, you know, for the knee grow in america if we had to choose the best choice for us would be, first, earl browner and then -- but we recognize they have very hitting chance of getting elections, so we're to go ahead with roosevelt. but it is true and it is sort of ap approach that they didn't take racial politics very seriously at the time. last question. >> yes. the point was raised about eleanor roosevelt. how influential was she in regards to the new deal and the politics involved? >> well, in most respects she was -- the question is about eleanor roosevelt ander influence -- and her influence on the new deal. in most respects we have to say he was a peripheral figure. he's not involved in any of the nationtives -- initiatives, each social security. she was pursuing her own dreams. where she did v.a. an influence, it was a negative influence, and that was in the creation of resettlement communities. eleanor roosevelt had this idea where she'd been inculcated with