Abbie Hoffman

Abbie Hoffman was at the vanguard of the 1960s counterculture movement, which questioned traditional social norms and customs. “Never trust anyone over 30” became his motto, and he lived by it until his death in 1989. A prolific writer and political activist, Hoffman is remembered for becoming one of the best-known icons of the ’60s hippie underground. He is probably best known for his role in founding the Youth International Party (YIP), also known as the “Yippies”. The organization was a quasi-political party with leftist views that opposed capitalism and imperialism -- especially U.S. intervention in other countries -- and supported an end to the Vietnam War and universal peace. Read on to learn more about Abbie Hoffman, his ideas, and his legacy.

Who was Abbie Hoffman?

Abbie Hoffman was born on November 30, 1936, in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was the son of a middle-class Jewish couple, and his parents were committed socialists. While still in high school, Hoffman became involved in the left-wing politics of the time. He attended Brandeis University on a scholarship, where he continued his involvement in leftist politics and became interested in poetry. He graduated from Brandeis with a B.A. in English in 1958. Hoffman then moved to San Francisco, where he wrote his first book, “Revolution for the Hell of It” (a satirical manual for would-be revolutionaries). Throughout his life, Hoffman was a prolific writer and was known for his provocative and critical style. He was also a very talented orator and a gifted satirist. He was arrested several times for his political activities, including one instance when he was jailed for 90 days for making a fraudulent $100 bill. He had a tumultuous relationship with the law and was often arrested for one charge or another. Throughout his life, Hoffman struggled with drug addiction and alcoholism.

Abbie Hoffman's Views

Hoffman was a firm believer in the ideals of communism. During the years of the Cold War, this position put him at odds with many Americans who were wary of the communist way of life. In the 1960s, many people were experimenting with new ideas and lifestyles and were challenging the status quo. In the era of “flower power,” a few of the new ideas were vaguely “left-wing” and critical of American capitalism, the political system, and other aspects of American culture. Hoffman was among those who challenged the American way of life. He and others believed capitalism was the source of many of society’s problems, especially discrimination against minorities and the poor. Their solution was to replace capitalism with a system more beneficial to average people: communism. Hoffman was not a serious political theorist, and he did not offer any kind of detailed plan for implementing communism in America. Rather, he was a popularizer of ideas. He was a gifted orator who was skilled at explaining complex ideas in a way that almost anyone could understand. He also wrote many articles and books that were critical of American society. He was opposed to many aspects of American life, especially those related to capitalism and the political and economic status quo.

Hoffman and the Yippies

After being released from prison, Hoffman decided to use his considerable talents as a writer and orator to promote the cause of the “New Left” movement in America. He became a member of the Youth International Party (YIP), which was also called the “Yippies.” The Yippies were a quasi-political organization with leftist views that opposed capitalism and imperialism – especially U.S. intervention in other countries – and supported an end to the Vietnam War and universal peace. Hoffman was the most famous member of the YIP, and he became the group’s leader. He was responsible for organizing many of the Yippies’ most outrageous protests and activities. In addition to his speaking and writing, he was also an accomplished public prankster. One of his most notorious pranks occurred when he and other Yippies pretended to be a team of reporters covering a political convention. While wearing business suits, the pranksters provided humorous commentary on the convention while the cameras were rolling. They pretended to make absurd remarks, such as Abbie Hoffman’s comment that one of the speakers “would make a good loogie on a slotted spoon.” The “newsworthy” coverage of the convention was carried on many television stations, and the pranksters later revealed that what viewers had seen was not a convention report but a hoax.

Hoffman and the Black Panther Party

Hoffman was a big fan of the Black Panther Party, which was another leftist organization of the period. He was a friend of some of the Black Panthers, and he developed a close friendship with Black Panther leader Huey Newton. In fact, the two men were lovers for a time. Hoffman and Newton shared a love of drugs and a contempt for bourgeois American culture. They used illegal drugs together and advocated drug use by all people – especially young people. The two men also shared a mutual dislike for the police. Hoffman’s friendship with Newton came to an end in 1968, when Newton shot and killed an adversary (or so he claimed). The homicide and subsequent trial and conviction of Newton caused a rift between Hoffman and Newton. Hoffman was especially critical of Newton’s behavior during his trial. Hoffman used his considerable talents as a writer to criticize Newton and the Black Panthers. He wrote articles critical of the Panthers and published them in various magazines. He also raised money for Newton’s defense fund. Although Hoffman was critical of Newton, he continued to admire and support the Black Panthers’ anti-capitalist stance.

Final Words: The Legacy of Abbie Hoffman

Hoffman continued to promote his leftist political views throughout his life. He did not change his political ideas as many people do as they age. As a result, he remained consistent but also became increasingly isolated from mainstream society. He did not have a large following, but he did have a number of devoted followers. In the 1960s, he was one of the most famous “New Left” activists in America. He gained additional fame later in life, when he became one of the first celebrities to die from AIDS. Hoffman’s political activism was critical of American capitalism, the political system, and other aspects of American life. He was a prolific writer and orator who was skilled at explaining complex ideas to a general audience. He is best remembered today for his role in founding the Youth International Party (YIP), also known as the “Yippies.”