Abbie Hoffman and the Yippies FBI Files

Description

Abbie Hoffman: Activist, Anarchist, and Chicago Seven Defendant

• 1936: Abbot Howard “Abbie” Hoffman is born.
• 1960s-1970s: Abbie Hoffman is a prominent activist and anarchist, co-founding the Youth International Party (YIP, also known as Yippies).
• 1968:Abbie Hoffman’s political activities and anarchist actions lead to him becoming the subject of an FBI security investigation and surveillance. The FBI investigates him under anti-riot laws and as a domestic security threat.
• Abbie Hoffman plays a leading role in anti-war protests at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
• Following the Chicago protests, Abbie Hoffman and seven others (initially known as the “Chicago Eight”) are charged by the federal government with conspiracy, inciting to riot, and other charges related to anti-Vietnam War activities. The defendants include Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines, and Lee Weiner.
• Late 1960s – Early 1970s: The “Chicago Seven” trial takes place, lasting nearly five months. This trial attracts national attention, exposing deep political and cultural divisions. The defendants use the courtroom to critique American society and challenge governmental authority, while the judge displays open contempt for the defendants, leading to concerns about the judiciary’s fairness.
• 1971: A Department of Justice bulletin covers the appeal of Abbie Hoffman’s conviction for flag desecration (United States v. Abbie Hoffman).
• 1968-1977: The FBI compiles over 11,400 pages of files on Abbie Hoffman and the Youth International Party, documenting their activities and the FBI’s investigation.
• Date not specified (likely during the Nixon Administration, 1969-1974): The Nixon Administration generates 54 pages of files referring to Abbie Hoffman, mostly concerning attempts to link him to George McGovern. These files include memos to and from H.R. Haldeman, Douglas Hallett, Noel Koch, and Pat Buchanan.
• 2008: Bruce A. Ragsdale, Director of the Federal Judicial History Office, Federal Judicial Center, creates a report titled “The Chicago Seven 1960s Radicalism in the Federal Court,” which covers the Chicago Conspiracy Trial.

Cast of Characters

• Abbot Howard “Abbie” Hoffman (1936-1989): A prominent American political and social activist, anarchist, and counter-culture figure of the 1960s and 1970s. He co-founded the Youth International Party (YIP, or Yippies) and was one of the “Chicago Seven” (originally “Chicago Eight”) defendants charged with conspiracy and inciting to riot following the 1968 Democratic National Convention protests. He was the subject of extensive FBI surveillance and investigations.
• Jerry Rubin: One of the “Chicago Seven” defendants, charged alongside Abbie Hoffman with conspiracy and inciting to riot related to the 1968 Chicago protests.
• David Dellinger: One of the “Chicago Seven” defendants, charged with conspiracy and inciting to riot in the federal government’s case related to the 1968 Chicago protests.
• Tom Hayden: One of the “Chicago Seven” defendants, charged with conspiracy and inciting to riot in the federal government’s case related to the 1968 Chicago protests.
• Rennie Davis: One of the “Chicago Seven” defendants, charged with conspiracy and inciting to riot in the federal government’s case related to the 1968 Chicago protests.
• John Froines: One of the “Chicago Seven” defendants, charged with conspiracy and inciting to riot in the federal government’s case related to the 1968 Chicago protests.
• Lee Weiner: One of the “Chicago Seven” defendants, charged with conspiracy and inciting to riot in the federal government’s case related to the 1968 Chicago protests.
• H.R. Haldeman: A Nixon Administration official mentioned in files concerning attempts to link Abbie Hoffman to George McGovern. (Likely H.R. “Bob” Haldeman, Nixon’s Chief of Staff).
• Douglas Hallett: A Nixon Administration official mentioned in files concerning attempts to link Abbie Hoffman to George McGovern.
• Noel Koch: A Nixon Administration official mentioned in files concerning attempts to link Abbie Hoffman to George McGovern.
• Pat Buchanan: A Nixon Administration official mentioned in files concerning attempts to link Abbie Hoffman to George McGovern. (Likely Patrick J. Buchanan, political advisor to President Nixon).
• George McGovern: A political figure whom the Nixon Administration allegedly attempted to link to Abbie Hoffman. (Likely Senator George McGovern, a prominent Democratic politician and anti-war advocate).
• Bruce A. Ragsdale: Director of the Federal Judicial History Office at the Federal Judicial Center, who authored the 2008 report “The Chicago Seven 1960s Radicalism in the Federal Court,” detailing the Chicago Conspiracy Trial.

Abbie Hoffman and the Yippies FBI Files

11,600 pages of material.

Abbot Howard “Abbie” Hoffman (1936-1989) , 1960s and 70s activist and anarchist, was co-founder of the Youth International Party (YIP a.k.a. Yippies) and one of the “Chicago Seven.”

FBI Files

11,443 pages of files, dating from 1968 to 1977, covering Abbie Hoffman and the Youth International Party (YIP a.k.a. Yippies).

Abbie Hoffman was a political and social activist. He was the subject of an FBI security investigation and surveillance due to his political activities and anarchist actions. The FBI investigated Hoffman under anti-riot laws and as a domestic security threat. The files in this release range from 1968 to 1977 and cover Hoffman’s role as a leader in the Yippie Party (Youth International Party), his role in anti-war protests at the 1968 Democrat National Convention in Chicago, and his subsequent trials as one of the “Chicago Eight” conspiracists.

Nixon Administration Hoffman Related Files

54 pages of Nixon Administration files referring to Abbie Hoffman. Contains memo to and from H. R. Haldeman, Douglas Hallett, Noel Koch and Pat Buchanan. Mostly concerning attempts to link Hoffman to George McGovern

United States Attorney Bulletin – United States v. Abbie Hoffman (1971)

A Department of Justice bulletin covering the appeal of Hoffman’s conviction for flag desecration.

Chicago Eight Indictment – United States vs. David T. Dellinger, et al

The Chicago Seven (originally Chicago Eight, also Conspiracy Eight/Conspiracy Seven) were seven defendants, Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines, and Lee Weiner, charged by the federal government with conspiracy, inciting to riot, and other charges related to anti-Vietnam

The Chicago Seven 1960s Radicalism in the Federal Court by Federal Judicial Center

A report created in 2008 by Bruce A. Ragsdale Director, Federal Judicial History Office, Federal Judicial Center, covering the Chicago Conspiracy Trial.

Abstract:

The trial of political activists accused of inciting riots during the Democratic National Convention of 1968 attracted national attention and exposed the depths of political and cultural divisions at a crucial moment in the nation’s history. The trial of the “Chicago Seven” became a defining event in public debates about the Vietnam War, the student protest movement, and the fairness of the federal judicial process.

The defendants and their lawyers used the courtroom as a platform for a broad critique of American society and an almost anarchic challenge to the legitimacy of governmental authority. The judge in the case displayed open contempt for the defendants, and his own unorthodox behavior threatened public confidence in the judiciary. The nearly five-month long trial illustrated the contentious and often theatrical nature of public affairs during the late 1960s and early 1970s.