Dr. Benjamin Spock (1903-1998)

Spock was a notable writer and activist in the antiwar movement. Best remembered as the author of best-selling child care books since 1946, Dr. Spock also served briefly as a naval psychiatrist and as co-chair of the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy. He supported Lyndon Johnson in 1964 as the peace candidate, but he became increasingly vocal against the war in Vietnam after the Johnson escalation. His advocacy of draft resistance and involvement in the March on the Pentagon (1967) marked his first notable antiwar activities.

Early in January 1968, Spock was among the "Boston Five", activists arrested for urging draft resistance and encouraging violation of the Selective Service Act. Though we was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison, an appeal in federal court reversed his conviction under the First Amendment. In 1972, Spock ran as the presidential candidate under the Pacifist People's Party.