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Informationen zum Autor Clarence Darrow (1857-1938) had one of the most influential legal careers in American history. He is renowned for his landmark defenses in the 1924 Leopold/Loeb thrill-killing case and the so-called Scopes monkey trial of 1925, where the debate over evolution first surged to national attention. He was notable as a friend to the underdog, a leading member of the American Civil Liberties Union, and a distinguished speaker on agnosticism, liberalism, and free thought. Edward J. Larson is Russell Professor of American History and Talmadge Chair of Law at the University of Georgia. He is the author of six books, including Evolution: The Remarkable History of a Scientific Theory , published by Modern Library, and Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America’s Continuing Debate Over Science and Religion , for which he won the 1998 Pulitzer Prize in History. Jack Marshall is an adjunct professor of legal ethics at American University and the president and founder of ProEthics, Ltd., which conducts ethics seminars across the country. His articles and commentary have appeared in The Federal Lawyer, Everyday Law, Trial , and The Weekly Standard. Klappentext The celebrated American lawyer Clarence Darrow was renowned for his spirited, ruthlessly logical defense of populist causes and controversial ideas. Even today, Darrow's words continue to frame public discussion about our civil liberties and our religious and civic life. In this timely volume, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Edward J. Larson and ethicist Jack Marshall assemble a broad and rich collection of the iconic lawyer's words and writings-opening statements, trial arguments, lectures-accompanied by excerpts from his memoir and annotated with expert commentary. These selections showcase the mesmerizing power of Darrow's passions and ideals, which have lost none of their impact or immediacy with the passage of time.chapter 1 Lectures, Speeches, and Addresses Autobiographical Introduction From Clarence Darrow, The Story of My Life, Chapter 5, “I Make a Hit” (1932) I came to Chicago in 1888. Soon after my arrival I joined the Single Tax Club, and took part in the second Grover Cleveland campaign, then going on. This club met regularly every week for several years. In due time I realized that at every meeting the same faces appeared and reappeared, week after week, and that none of them cared to hear anything but a gospel which they all believed. It did not take long for Single Tax to become a religious doctrine necessary to salvation. But, the Single Tax Club furnished a forum for ambitious young lawyers to win a hearing in; and I generally participated in the debates, which led to my speaking at ward meetings and other public gatherings from time to time. . . . One night I was asked to speak at a West Side meeting, called to discuss some civic problem. The leading speaker was William B. Mason, who was at that time a state senator, and afterwards became a United States senator. I had long wanted the newspapers to notice my existence, but the reporters refused to even look at me. I entered the theater through the back door and noted with joy that the place was packed. In front of the stage were a half-dozen or more newspaper reporters that gladdened my heart. Easily I sized up the situation and felt that my time had come. After a few preliminaries I was introduced amidst loud calls for Mason. I looked around and over at the audience, trying to gain their attention. The eyes can be very useful for quelling an audience or forcing people to focus on a speaker. I made my speech. I feel sure that it was not very bad. Probably not bad enough. I could see that the audience was waiting for William B. Mason, so I took no chances in delaying them too long. But the one thing that forcibly impressed me while I spoke was that not one of the newspaper men wrote a single line...
