Republished fifty years later to coincide with the release of the Academy Award–nominated film of the same title written and directed by Aaron Sorkin with an all-star cast, this is the classic account of perhaps the most infamous, and definitely the most entertaining, trial in recent American history.
In the fall of 1969 eight prominent anti-Vietnam War activists were put on trial for conspiring to riot at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. One of the eight, Black Panther cofounder Bobby Seale, was literally bound and gagged in court by order of the judge, Julius Hoffman, and his case was separated from that of the others.
The activists, who included Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and Tom Hayden, and their attorneys, William Kunstler and Leonard Weinglass, insisted that the First Amendment was on trial. Their witnesses were a virtual who’s who of the 1960s counterculture: Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary, Arlo Guthrie, Judy Collins, Norman Mailer, among them.
The defendants constantly interrupted to protest what they felt were unfair rulings by the judge. The trial became a circus, all the while receiving intense media coverage. The convictions that resulted were subsequently overturned on appeal, but the trial remained a political and cultural touchstone, a mirror of the deep divisions in the country. The Trial of the Chicago 7 consists of the highlights from trial testimony with a brief epilogue describing what later happened to the principal figures.
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“J. K. Simmons anchors this dramatization…The combative and willful ignorance of the judge comes through in Simmons’s gruff delivery. The production values of this audiobook are stellar. There are full sound effects. When characters speak simultaneously, listeners are able to discern each voice. This dramatic work is a perfect way for listeners to experience this important historical document…Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile
“A sometimes hilarious, often disturbing, and always engrossing slice of documentary history.”
— New York Times“Completely fascinating.”
— Chicago Tribune“Journalism at its best.”
— Boston Globe“The transcript, edited by three lawyers, gives a nearly blow-by-blow account of the principal moments in the proceedings, which are both entertaining and sobering.”
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Don Hagen has been behind the microphone since fifth grade. He is a nine-time winner of the Peer Award for narration/voice-over and twice winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award. He has also been heard in radio and television commercials and documentaries. In addition to his freelance voice work, he is a member of the audiobook narration team at the Library of Congress.
Daniel Green is the award-winning author of the End Time Saga. He is inspired by the works of George R. R. Martin, Steven Pressfield, Bernard Cornwell, and George Romero and is a proud member of the Horror Writers Association. Although a midwesterner for life, he now lives on the East Coast.
Bishop T. D. Jakes is one of the world’s most widely recognized pastors and a New York Times bestselling author of over thirty books. Named by Time magazine as “America’s Best Preacher,” his message of healing and restoration is unparalleled, transcending cultural and denominational barriers. Jakes is the founder and senior pastor of The Potter’s House, which has a congregation of over thirty thousand. His weekly television outreach, The Potter’s House, and his daily television program, The Potter’s Touch, have become favorites throughout America, Africa, Australia, Europe, and the Caribbean. Jakes lives in Dallas with his wife, Serita.
George Newbern is an Earphones Award–winning narrator and a television and film actor best known for his roles as Brian MacKenzie in Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride Part II, as well as Danny in Friends. As a voice actor, he is notable for his role as Superman on the Cartoon Newtork series Static Shock, Justice League, and Justice League Unlimited. He has guest starred on many television series, including Scandal, The Mentalist, Private Practice, CSI: Miami, and Numb3rs. He holds a BA in theater arts from Northwestern University.
Norbert Leo Butz is an American actor, singer, and narrator best known for his work in Broadway theater. He is a two-time winner of the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and is one of only nine actors ever to have won the award twice as lead actor.
J. K. Simmons is an American actor and voice talent. He has had roles in four Broadway productions and has had many roles in television series, including the role of police psychiatrist Dr. Emil Skoda on three incarnations of Law & Order. He has appeared in three Spider-Man movies and is also known for his role in Juno. Besides his audiobook narrations, he has done voice-over work for major television commercials.
Christopher Jackson recently starred as Benny in the Tony Award-winning musical, In the Heights and TV shows such as White Collar, Nurse Jackie, and Gossip Girl. As a composer and songwriter, he has written for the iconic television series Sesame Street, lending his music and lyrics to blockbuster songs “I Love My Hair” and “What I Am” performed by Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas. He also has written songs for A-list artists such as LL Cool J, Ne-Yo, Mario, Sean Kingston and many others.
January LaVoy, winner of numerous awards for narration, was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine in 2019. She is an American actress best known for her character Noelle Ortiz on the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live. In addition to working extensively in narration and television, including roles on Law & Order and All My Children, she has worked on and off Broadway as well as in regional theater.