Tribute to Michael Harrington

I first encountered Michael in 1976 when he spoke at Wesleyan University. The audience was peppered with people like myself who wanted, more than anything else, not to be “social democrats.” Unable, or unwilling, to comprehend his politics, we badgered Michael with hostile questions.

Years passed before I understood how deeply radical Michael was, and by then I was working closely with him in DSA. By then, I understood not only how thoroughgoing a transformation of capitali...