Benjamin Spock

Released
Date of birth:02. 05. 1903
Date of death:1998
Age:94† Deceased
Gender:Male
Race:White
Era:1960s
State:New York
Support
Anti-War Boston Five
Benjamin Spock

Biography

Dr. Benjamin Spock, the famous pediatrician and author of "The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care," was one of the "Boston Five," indicted in January 1968 for conspiracy to aid, abet, and counsel young men to resist the draft during the Vietnam War, after publicly supporting draft resistance in the statement "A Call to Resist Illegitimate Authority." Convicted in June 1968 and sentenced to two years in prison, he remained free on his own recognizance pending appeal; in 1969 the court of appeals reversed the convictions, acquitting Spock outright on First Amendment grounds. He served no time and continued as a leading antiwar organizer.

Case

Charges: Conspiracy to counsel, aid, and abet draft resistance.
Sentence: Two years, but he was freed pending appeal and served no time; the conviction was overturned in 1969. Verdict as recorded: Yes — convicted in June 1968; the conviction was reversed on appeal in 1969 (acquitted). Charges as recorded: Conspiracy to counsel, aid, and abet draft resistance during the Vietnam War (the "Boston Five" case).
Convicted: Yes

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