An old-school liberal
Newman was a lifelong Democrat9 and was very active politically. In the late 60s, Newman was in staunch opposition to the Vietnam War and campaigned for Lyndon B. Johnson’s opponent, Democrat Eugene McCarthy.10
His continued protests against the Vietnam War earned him number 19 on Richard Nixon’s list of enemies,11 to which he said:
Being on [President Richard Nixon’s] enemies list was the highest single honor I’ve ever received. Who knows who’s listening to me now and what government list I’m on?12
Newman embraced even modern liberal causes–before they were cool. He claims to have been a champion of gay rights since he was a kid:
I’m a supporter of gay rights. And not a closet supporter, either. From the time I was a kid, I have never been able to understand attacks upon the gay community.13
And he’s suggested that nuclear power could be a part of the solution against global warming.14
But what Newman is probably the most famous for, to this day, is his massive efforts for charity. In 1982, Newman started a salad dressing company called Newman’s Own and decided to give away all profits after taxes. At the time of writing, Newman’s Own (with its dramatically expanded product line) has donated over $370 million to charitable causes15 ranging far and wide including an award for people whose work helps uphold the First Amendment16 and helping to fund and organize a committee to encourage other corporations to up their levels of philanthropy.17
One would be hard-pressed to find an actor that has done more for society. Paul Newman is the gift that keeps on giving.
Originally Posted by olevetonahill
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