Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions

The Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions (CSDI) "was founded by Robert Maynard Hutchins and was based in Santa Barbara, California, from 1959 to 1987. During that time it brought together many of the most capable and distinguished minds of the times to discuss vital issues facing American society of the day. Political and academic leaders, scientists, social scientists, legal scholars, journalists, theologians, labor and community leaders focused on topics such as peace and war, democracy, dissent, community action, ecology and the environment, elections and the electoral process, immigration, international relations, law and order, the media, race and ethnicity, and religion. Prominent participants included Senator Alan Cranston, Upton Sinclair, Milton Friedman, Mortimer Adler, Cesar Chavez, Aldous Huxley, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, Sander Vanocur, and Gunner Myrdal among many others."

For information of their Journal, and other archival information.

History of the Center.

In 1987 the Center "passed on its name and mailing list to New Perspectives Quarterly, a Los Angeles-based small-circulation journal published by Stanley Sheinbaum, once an economics fellow on the center's staff."

1987 Board of Directors

 * George David Kieffer - Chair
 * Robert A. Huttenback - Vice Chair
 * Robert J. Abernethy
 * Daniel G. Aldrich, Jr. - Ex Offcio
 * Tom Bradley
 * Glenn Campbell
 * Don L. Gevirtz
 * Roger L. Horton - Chief Finanical Officier
 * Vesta Hutchins
 * Michael Kantor
 * Joseph M. Kitagawa
 * Robert Lagomarsino
 * Morris L. Levinson
 * Donald McDonald]] - Ex Offcio - Acting Director
 * Charles T. Manatt
 * Parker C. Montgomery
 * A. E. Keir Nash - Ex Offcio
 * Marc B. Nathanson
 * Frederick M. Nicholas
 * Monroe Price
 * Omer L. Rains
 * Sally K. Ride
 * Douglas Schmidt - Secretary

(Obtained from The Center Magazine, Vol 20 (1), Jan/Feb, 1987)

1985 Board of Directors

 * Allen Weinstein - President
 * George David Kieffer - Chair
 * Robert A. Huttenback - Vice Chair
 * Robert J. Abernethy
 * Daniel L. Bazelon
 * Tom Bradley
 * William E. Brock III
 * Glenn Campbell
 * Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.
 * Mathea Falco
 * Dante B. Fascell
 * Don L. Gevirtz
 * Timothy S. Healey
 * Roger L. Horton - Chief Finanical Officier
 * Vesta Hutchins
 * Max M. Kampelman
 * Michael Kantor
 * Peter G. Kelly
 * Bernard Kirtman
 * Joseph M. Kitagawa
 * Robert Lagomarsino
 * Morris L. Levinson
 * Paul J. Manafort, Jr.
 * Charles T. Manatt
 * Parker C. Montgomery
 * Edward A. Morris
 * Marc B. Nathanson
 * Frederick M. Nicholas
 * Monroe Price
 * Carroll Pursell
 * Omer L. Rains
 * Douglas Schmidt - Secretary

(Obtained from The Center Magazine, Vol 18 (1), Jan/Feb, 1985)


 * M. Gerald Bradford - Administrative Director
 * Jeffrey D. Wallin - Program Director

(Allen Weinstein and many other new 'democratic' director joined the Center in early 1984 - see May/June 1984 issue of The Center Magazine)

1979 Board of Directors
Harry S. Ashmore
 * Maurince Mitchell - President
 * Peter Tagger - Secretary and Treasurer
 * Barbara R. Green - Assistant Secretary
 * Sibyl Holder - Assistant Treasurer
 * Morris L. Levinson - Chair
 * Joseph Antonow
 * Marshall Bennett
 * Ramsey Clark
 * James H. Douglas, Jr.
 * Harold C. Fleming
 * Frank Gibney
 * Vesta Hutchins
 * Albert E. Jenner, Jr.
 * Phillip M. Klutznick
 * Edward Lamb
 * Eulah C. Laucks
 * Frances McAllister
 * George A. McAlmon
 * Maurice Mitchell
 * Stewart Mott
 * Paul Newman
 * Frederick M. Nicholas
 * Seniel Ostrow
 * Bernard Rapoport
 * Maurine Rothschild
 * Ralph W. Tyler
 * Marvin L. Warner
 * Bernard Weissbourd

(Obtained from The Center Magazine, Vol 12 (1), Jan/Feb, 1979)

Related Sourcewatch articles

 * Harry S. Ashmore
 * Walter H. Capps
 * John Cogley
 * Thomas E. Cronin
 * Paul R. Ehrlich
 * Frank K. Kelly
 * David Krieger
 * Maurice B. Mitchell
 * Gunnar Myrdal
 * Public Affairs Institute
 * Stanley C. Hatch
 * Fund for the Republic
 * Chester F. Carlson - major funder
 * Linus Pauling