Alexander, Robert, 1945-

Ann Arbor, Michigan political activist and campaign worker on behalf of Human Rights Party and Democratic Party candidates.

From the description of Robert Alexander papers, 1970-1983. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34423623

Robert Alexander was born in 1945 and grew up in Berkeley, a suburb of Detroit. He studied Asian American history at the University of Michigan, earning his B.A. in 1966. Following his graduation, Alexander joined the Peace Corps. For two years he worked in South India in a poultry program. In 1968 he returned to the United States. From 1968 to 1971 he taught elementary school, first in southwest Kentucky, and then in Detroit's inner city. At the same time Alexander completed his M.A. in Education at Wayne State University (1970). He then moved to Ann Arbor and for four years worked at the University of Michigan in the International Student Orientation Program. Afterwards, he became a sixth grade teacher at Kaiser Elementary School in Willow Run.

As was common among students in the mid-1960's, Alexander became caught up in politics while he was at the University of Michigan. In 1964 at age nineteen, Alexander campaigned for the Ann Arbor Democratic Party. He was not active in politics again until 1971, when he joined the Human Rights Party.

The Human Rights Party (HRP) originated in 1970 when thirty-five leftist dissidents, disgusted with the Democratic Party, met in a Southfield motel to establish their own socialist democratic party. In 1972, the HRP merged with the Ann Arbor leftist organization, the Radical Independent Party (founded 1971).

The HRP was composed of a core of radical activists who sought to bring about a socialist society through the democratic electoral process. It was a statewide party, led by Zolton Ferency, one of the maverick ex-Democrats. However, the main strength of the HRP was in Ann Arbor, due to the student population. Following extensive voter registration efforts (the voting age was lowered to eighteen in 1971), the HRP elected two of its members to the Ann Arbor City Council. Thus the City Council found itself debating such issues as gay and women's rights, day care centers, decriminalization of prostitution and marijuana and the Vietnam War.

Despite this initial success, in subsequent years the HRP was weakened by dissipating student activism and a renewal of spirit in the Democratic Party. It was also rend by internal quarrels over election strategies and debates on the effectiveness of third party politics.

However, in 1974 the HRP managed to pull itself together and elect another Councilwoman. In the same election, Robert Alexander was the HRP candidate for State Representative in the 53rd District. He was defeated by Perry Bullard. After this election, the HRP elected no more candidates and in 1977 it quietly merged with the Socialist Party USA.

Alexander was disillusioned with the electoral abilities of the HRP before its ultimate demise. In April 1975 he returned to the Democratic Party and became involved in the Fred Harris for President campaign. Alexander was one of three state coordinators for Harris. At the same time, he was a volunteer on the campaign to send Ed Pierce to the State Congress. In 1977, he worked for Al Wheeler, running for Mayor of Ann Arbor. The following year Alexander was elected to the Executive Committee of the Democratic Party of Washtenaw County, and he was the state campaign coordinator for both Zolton Ferency (for Governor), and Ed Pierce (for State Senate). In 1980, deciding that Ferency was not "electable," Alexander worked for Pierce for Governor, against Ferency. Again he was a campaign coordinator.

From the guide to the Robert Alexander Papers, 1970-1983, (Bentley Historical Library University of Michigan)