The Trial of Dr. Spock

work by Mitford

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July 14, 2026

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"The Trial of Dr. Spock" is a book by Jessica Mitford that details the 1968 trial of pediatrician Benjamin Spock. Spock, along with other anti-war activists, was indicted on charges of conspiracy to encourage draft evasion during the Vietnam War. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) faced internal division over its decision to defend Spock and the others, as some members felt the case involved issues beyond traditional civil liberties. Mitford's work examines this significant trial and its impact on both Spock's career and the ACLU's policies.123

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Jessica Mitford
…found expression in the book The Trial of Dr. Spock (1969), an account of the famous pediatrician’s trial on conspiracy charges for antiwar activities during the Vietnam War. Kind and Usual Punishment: The Prison Business (1973) is Mitford’s critical examination of the American prison system. In 1992 she published The…
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…found expression in the book The Trial of Dr. Spock (1969), an account of the famous pediatrician’s trial on conspiracy charges for antiwar activities during the Vietnam War. Kind and Usual Punishment: The Prison Business (1973) is Mitford’s critical examination of the American prison system. In 1992 she published The…
Read More