Founded by radicals in 1920, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) experienced several key changes in its formative years. This work traces the history of the ACLU between 1930 and 1960, as the organization shifted from the fringe to the liberal mainstream of American society.

In an afterword, Kutulas addresses how post - 9/11 America poses the familiar challenge of balancing national security and individual rights that came to the forefront in the early decades of the ACLU.