nader, ralph

An American lawyer of the twentieth century and a leading advocate for consumers. Nader became prominent in the 1960s with his book Unsafe at Any Speed, which accused the automobile industry of producing dangerous cars. Later, Nader attacked unsanitary conditions in the meat packing industry and called for more attention to railroad and airline safety.

Note: Nader initially was known for his focus on immediate and concrete concerns; however, in the 1990s he increasingly called for basic changes in the ways in which business is conducted, and in 2000 he ran for president as the candidate of the Green Party.

Note: Nader's assistants, often university students, are known as “Nader's Raiders.”