Ira Glasser
Encyclopedia
Ira Saul Glasser was the fifth executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
from 1978 to 2001.
, New York in 1938. He earned a graduate degree in mathematics from Ohio State University
.
. From 1963 to 1967, he was the editor of Current magazine. In 1967, Glasser joined the New York Civil Liberties Union
as associate director. In 1970 he became the NYCLU's executive director, in which capacity he served until he became the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in 1978.
from a " 'mom and pop'-style operation concentrated mainly in a few large cities to a nationwide civil liberties powerhouse." Indeed, at the end of Glasser's presidency the ACLU maintained staffed offices in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico
; when he became director in 1978, only about half of the states had staffed offices. Glasser raised the ACLU's annual income from $4 million in 1978 to $45 million in 1999.
Although the ACLU had protected civil liberties solely through litigation, Glasser expanded the scope of ACLU's activities through lobbying
and public education programs.
Glasser retired in 2001; he was succeeded as executive director of the ACLU by Anthony D. Romero.
In his retired life, Glasser serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the Drug Policy Alliance
.
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
from 1978 to 2001.
Early years
Ira Glasser was born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York in 1938. He earned a graduate degree in mathematics from Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
.
Early career
In the early 1960s, Glasser taught mathematics at Queens College (CUNY) and Sarah Lawrence CollegeSarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College is a private liberal arts college in the United States, and a leader in progressive education since its founding in 1926. Located just 30 minutes north of Midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County, New York, in the city of Yonkers, this coeducational college offers...
. From 1963 to 1967, he was the editor of Current magazine. In 1967, Glasser joined the New York Civil Liberties Union
New York Civil Liberties Union
The New York Civil Liberties Union is an civil rights organization in the United States. Founded in 1951 as the New York affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, it is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization with nearly 50,000 members across New York State.NYCLU's stated mission is to...
as associate director. In 1970 he became the NYCLU's executive director, in which capacity he served until he became the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in 1978.
Executive director
The ACLU website credits Glasser with transforming the American Civil Liberties UnionAmerican Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
from a " 'mom and pop'-style operation concentrated mainly in a few large cities to a nationwide civil liberties powerhouse." Indeed, at the end of Glasser's presidency the ACLU maintained staffed offices in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
; when he became director in 1978, only about half of the states had staffed offices. Glasser raised the ACLU's annual income from $4 million in 1978 to $45 million in 1999.
Although the ACLU had protected civil liberties solely through litigation, Glasser expanded the scope of ACLU's activities through lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
and public education programs.
Glasser retired in 2001; he was succeeded as executive director of the ACLU by Anthony D. Romero.
In his retired life, Glasser serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the Drug Policy Alliance
Drug Policy Alliance
The Drug Policy Alliance is a New York City-based non-profit organization, led by executive director Ethan Nadelmann, with the principal goal of ending the American "War on Drugs"...
.
Publications
- Doing Good: The Limits of Benevolence (co-author, 1978)
- Visions of Liberty: The Bill of Rights for All Americans (1991)
- BUSTED: The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters (narrator) - Produced by Flex Your RightsFlex Your RightsFlex Your Rights is a 501 educational non-profit organization that aims to "educate the public about how basic Bill of Rights protections apply during encounters with law enforcement". To accomplish this, Flex Your Rights creates and distributes media that explains individuals' legal rights...