Nader_Takes_On_General_Motors

Nader Takes On General Motors A Classic: Nader Takes on General Motors When Ralph Nader began his political career as a consumer activist in the early 1960’s, taking on a huge opponent like General Motors was just what he had in mind. In 1965, Nader wrote “Unsafe at Any Speed” which criticizes the auto industry and in particular condemned the early Corvair autos built by GM. Soon after publication, GM’s legal department opened an investigation on Nader’s private life. Nader saw this as a form of harassment invading his right to privacy and eventually brought suit. Although the company settled out of court for $425,000 and apologized, they would soon find Nader back again. Prior to the settlement, Nader had established an organization of young lawyers called the Project on Corporate Responsibility. Nader, as spokesman, announced that his project’s endeavor would be directed at “the establishment of enduring access to corporate information, effective voice for affected social and individual interests, and thorough remedy against unjust treatment.” In 1970, Nader approached GM again in an attempt to make changes in General Motors’ investor relations. Nader and his group announced “Campaign GM” would “seek to persuade GM’s shareholders to demand stronger ‘public interest’ efforts by gm, nader, public, meeting, relations, proposals, three, project, group, changes, annual, shareholders, however, company, campaign, make, issues, interest, gm’s, general, decided, corporate, again, after, years, two, representatives, proposal, one, nader’s, motors, committee, came, called