Rennie Davis and the Guru

Abstract

At the height of the Chicago Seven (originally Eight) trial in 1969 the defendants came to our suburban synagogue to raise money and plead their cause. Almost a thousand people filled our auditorium to meet them and hear from each. They were by turns reckless {Abbie Hoffman), touching (John Froines), strong (Tom Hayden), stoned (Jerry Rubin), humorous (Lee Weiner) and intellectual (David Dellinger). But the chief spokesman, the one who stated their views most brilliantly and persuasively that night and often later, was Rennie Davis. Coming from a background of the 4-H Club and the Boy Scouts of America, middle-American Davis was the model of committed radical activist. Less flamboyant than most of the others, he often seemed more focused and more professional. Indeed, he was so courageous that some on the far Left rumored that he was a plant from the FBI.