The People's Advocate: The Life and Legal History of America's Most Fearless Public Interest Lawyer

by Daniel Sheehan

The People’s Advocate is the autobiography of American Constitutional Trial Attorney Daniel Sheehan. Sheehan traces his personal journey from his working-class roots through Harvard Law School and his initial career in private practice. His early disenchantment led to his return for further study at Harvard Divinity School, and rethinking the nature of his career. Eventually his role as President and Chief Trial Counselor for the famous Washington, D.C.-based Christic Institute would help define his role as America’s preeminent cause lawyer.

In The People’s Advocate , Sheehan details “the inside story” of over a dozen historically significant American legal cases of the 20th Century, all of which he litigated. The remarkable cases covered in the book include both The Pentagon Papers Case in 1971 and The Watergate Burglary Case in 1973. In addition, Sheehan served as the Chief Attorney on The Karen Silkwood Case in 1976, which additionally revealed the C.I.A.’s Israeli Desk had been smuggling 98% bomb-grade plutonium to the State of Israel and to Iran. In 1984, he was the Chief Trial Counsel on The American Sanctuary Movement Case , establishing the right of American church workers to provide assistance to Central American political refugees fleeing Guatemalan and Salvadorian “death squads.” His involvement with the sanctuary movement ultimately led to Sheehan’s famous Iran/Contra Federal Civil Racketeering Case against the Reagan/Bush Administration, which he investigated, initiated, filed, and then litigated. The resulting “Iran/Contra Scandal” nearly brought down that Administration, leading Congress to consider the impeachment over a dozen of the top-ranking officials of the Reagan/Bush Administration.

The People’s Advocate is the “real story” of these and many other historic American cases, told from the unique point of view of a central lawyer.

Genres: History, Biography

672 pages, Hardcover

First published July 9, 2013

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read a book that has inspired me to be more courageous than Daniel's memoir while having it at the same time bring me to despair over the prevailing winds in our society and the failure of one of the most politically involved and bravest generations in history to stem the tide of the deep state.

This book is my sole "graduate education" in modern American foreign policy and civil rights law. It ties the reactionary neocon players and the pre-terrorist activities together back to Nixon - Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Bush. They are all there and their extensions into CIA back to Vietnam and Korea as well. Surprising new additions to my shit list like John Kerry and the Democratic party machine were well received.

Unless the current working and middle class generation is somehow able to overcome the structural legal and economic hurdles placed in their way in order to limit their efficacy in the divergent wealth arc and highly subjectivist social current they are now up against, with a police apparatus that is much more militarized than ever before, things may need to change according to the original paradigms and we in fact do not have the options and luxuries afforded to the previous generation's educated middle class at the apex of our civilization, which I assure you is fast moving away from us.

[Denis Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had heard about this book, with a pointed recommendation, as if a certain insight was lacking or somewhat incomplete with my view of some of the landmark events of our generation. This memoir works as a mystery spy drama, philosophical, religious treatise, historical hindsight analysis of cutting edge public interest and constitutional play by play jurisprudence, accompanied by a search for an identifiable direction and the fashioning of a compass, or gyro to steady the way, a moral, ethical navigation system as denizens of the world we find ourselves as pilgrims, passing through. Some of the cases covered are, The Pentagon Papers, Karen Silkwood, Wounded Knee and the Iran-Contra, played out amidst the theater of the Cold War and the hotspots that would spontaneously erupt where philosophical, political and economic tension, like tectonic plates, could no longer remain in stasis. I’m a fan.

[Marek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book. It reads like a adventure story while filling you in on historical facts of post WW2 history of USA, the kind that were swept under a rug to never see a daylight. So if you curious why after Contra-Iran scandal supression succeeded - read it. If you want to know how Israel got en-reached plutonium for their first nuclear weapon - read it. If you want to know what was behind few key Civil Rights and Constitutional litigations that captured attention of American and world public - you will find it there in a way that clarifies lots of gray areas and unanswered questions.
If you care for this Constitutional Republic that is our home, The United States of America, and if you from your heart care for all her people, you will find in pages of Daniel Sheehan's book specific reasons, very well documented, for decline of our country that we experiencing now. You will also find a path that we can take to get out of this situation.
It was a heartwarming experience to recognize from pages of this book that at a wall of evidence of terrible corruption committed by "the very top at a cream" of our society there are still people who are non-corruptible, who care to bring our great nation back on the right path. But they can't do it by themselves. Here I am not trying to convince you of, or to entice you to do anything - just saying that knowledge is the key to every positive change, to every progress. It is the key that you make your decisions basing on all available information not only on one provided by MSM and government.

[Ron Willoughby · Rating 4 out of 5]

If half of what Danny Sheehan claims credit for is his to own, then he is the Forest Gump of the legal world. He’s been everywhere and done most everything. He’s truly an impressive man who appears to have an in depth love for America and Americans. He has a strong sense of justice which makes him a bit self-righteous at times. He does seem to have a flair for embellishment. One academic school year and two summers in ROTC supervised by a special forces’ veteran does not constitute him being with the Green Beret for two years. When I think of all that he has attempted and the people he has advocated for in his career, an embellishment here and there is more than forgivable.

It is a fascinating book. It’s an insightful examination of the 70’s and 80’s especially from the perspective a brave and clever attorney. We could use a couple more Danny Sheehan’s in the world right now.

PS

I won’t spoil things for you, but Karen Silkwood and Watergate will mess with just about everything you thought you knew about the subjects.

One more thing, keep your eyes open for a fellow named Shackley. He’s somebody to take note of any time Dr. Sheehan mentions him.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incredibly informative account of one attorney's experiences concerning corruption within the U.S. Judicial system. Well researched and highly intriguing, particularly with regard to the infamous Iran-contra deal.

Parts force the reader to question their faith in humanity and decide upon whether acting for the betterment of social policy/justice is a futile affair.

Only con is that it I found myself skipping parts of the book that weren't specifically related to this interesting area of law.

[John Fanning · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can you say?

Not only is this memoir well written, but it reads like a thriller.

Daniel Sheehan's story, his integrity, and his perseverance really are an inspiration.