Robert Pickus (October 31, 1923 – January 22, 2016) was a prominent figure in

Quaker Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of Christian denomination, denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belie ...

pacifist Pacifism is the opposition or resistance to war, militarism (including conscription and mandatory military service) or violence. Pacifists generally reject theories of Just War. The word ''pacifism'' was coined by the French peace campaign ...

, and peace movements. Born in Sioux City, Iowa, he attended the University of Chicago, where he was a research assistant to Mortimer Adler for the '' Great Books of the Western World'' program. In 1942, he enlisted in the army, and worked with the

Office of Strategic Services The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was the intelligence agency of the United States during World War II. The OSS was formed as an agency of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to coordinate espionage activities behind enemy lines for all branc ...

(OSS) in England and Sweden. He was co-author of '' Speak Truth to Power'' (American Friends Service Committee, 1955); founder of Turn Toward Peace (1961), and World Without War Council (1969); and co-author with Robert Woito of ''To End War: an Introduction to the Ideas, Books, Organizations, and Work That Can Help'' (1970). In the mid-1960s Pickus caused controversy by attacking "radical pacifists and leftists" in the

anti-Vietnam war movement Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War (before) or anti-Vietnam War movement (present) began with demonstrations in 1965 against the escalating role of the United States in the Vietnam War and grew into a broad social move ...

, whom he accused of being "naively one-sided in their criticism of American foreign policy". In a 2001 interview, Pickus argued that in "the current political climate, war is essential for justice to prevail". He said that the World Without War Council supported actions such as the bombing of Taliban radio systems, provided civilians were given advance warning. Pickus also stated he regarded the United States as a benevolent force in world affairs. Pickus died on January 22, 2016, in St. Helena, California.

References

External links

Stephen G. Cary, Robert Pickus, et al, "Speak Truth to Power: A Quaker Search for an Alternative to Violence"

"Full Turn Toward Peace: Interview with Robert Pickus"

* [http://www.genekeyes.com/Fuller-Pickus.html Gene Keyes, "Bucky and Pick: Two Grand Designers of a World Without War: An Essay-Review of Robert Pickus, ''To End War'' and R. Buckminster Fuller, ''Utopia or Oblivion''"]
Wendy Chmielewski, "Speak Truth to Power: Religion, Race, and Sexuality, and Politics During the Cold War"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pickus, Robert 1923 births 2016 deaths People from Sioux City, Iowa American anti-war activists American Quakers 20th-century Quakers 21st-century Quakers Writers from Iowa University of Chicago alumni