Norman Lear

Norman Lear (born July 27, 1922) is an American television writer and producer who produced such popular 1970s sitcoms as All in the Family, Sanford and Son and Maude.

Political and Cultural Activities

In addition to his success as a TV producer and businessman, Lear is an outspoken supporter of First Amendment and liberal causes. Taking a less active role in his TV productions in 1978, he soon turned his eyes to political activism, founding People for the American Way in 1981. People for the American Way ran a number of campaigns about religion in politics, and in 1987 helped lead the campaign to keep Robert Bork off of the Supreme Court. In 2005, Republican Arlen Specter -- who in 1987 sided with Democrats to keep Bork off the bench -- has said that Bork's "originalist interpretation" of the United States Constitution could theoretically proscribe racial segregation even within the United States Congress.

Related Topics:
First Amendment - Liberal - People for the American Way - 1981 - Religion - Politics - 1987 - Robert Bork - Supreme Court - Republican - Arlen Specter - Democrats - Originalist interpretation - United States Constitution - Racial segregation - United States Congress

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Lear later founded the Business Enterprise Trust in 1989, an educational program that used annual awards, business school case studies and videos to cast a spotlight on exemplary social innovations in American business. He also founded the Norman Lear Center at the USC Annenberg School for Communication in 2000, a multidisciplinary research and public policy center dedicated to exploring the convergence of entertainment, commerce and society.

Related Topics:
Business Enterprise Trust - Norman Lear Center - USC - Annenberg School for Communication

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In 2001, Lear and his wife Lyn purchased a Dunlap broadside -- a rare, original copy of the Declaration of Independence -- for $8.1 million. Not a document collector, Lear stated in a press release and on The Today Show the following day that his intent was to tour the document around the United States so that the country could experience its "birth certificate" first-hand.

Related Topics:
Dunlap broadside - Declaration of Independence - The Today Show - United States

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That summer, Lear and Rob Reiner executive-produced a filmed, dramatic reading of the document -- the last project filmed by famed cinematographer Conrad Hall -- on July 4, 2001 at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The film, introduced by Morgan Freeman, features the Declaration of Independence being performed aloud by Kathy Bates, Benicio Del Toro, Michael Douglas, Mel Gibson, Whoopi Goldberg, Graham Greene, Ming-Na, Edward Norton, Winona Ryder, Kevin Spacey, and Renée Zellweger. The film was directed by Arvin Brown and scored by composer John Williams.

Related Topics:
Rob Reiner - Cinematographer - Conrad Hall - July 4 - Independence Hall - Philadelphia - Morgan Freeman - Declaration of Independence - Kathy Bates - Benicio Del Toro - Michael Douglas - Mel Gibson - Whoopi Goldberg - Graham Greene - Ming-Na - Edward Norton - Winona Ryder - Kevin Spacey - Renée Zellweger - Arvin Brown - John Williams

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The document traveled throughout the United States, visiting several presidential libraries, dozens of museums, as well as the 2002 Olympics, Super Bowl XXXVI, and the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia. Through the end of 2004, it was part of the Declaration of Independence Road Trip and the Declare Yourself campaigns.

Related Topics:
2002 Olympics - Super Bowl XXXVI - Live 8 - Philadelphia - Declaration of Independence Road Trip - Declare Yourself

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