Thomas Emmet Hayden (December 11, 1939 – October 23, 2016) was an influential American social and political activist, author, and politician, best known for his leadership in the New Left movement during the 1960s. Born in Royal Oak, Michigan, he attended the University of Michigan, where he became involved in student activism and served as editor of the Michigan Daily. He was a principal co-founder and early president of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) in 1960 and authored the Port Huron Statement in 1962, a seminal document that called for participatory democracy, civil rights, and opposition to the Cold War. His early activism included participation in the Freedom Rides to challenge segregation in the South, leading to his arrest in Mississippi in 1961, establishing him as a key figure in both civil rights and anti-war efforts. Hayden's prominence grew through his role in organizing protests against the Vietnam War, culminating in his leadership at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. This led to his arrest and trial as one of the Chicago Seven (initially Chicago Eight), where he was convicted of crossing state lines to incite a riot—a verdict later overturned on appeal in 1972. Throughout the 1970s, Hayden continued his activism, writing books like 'Rebellion in Newark' (published 1967) and advocating for peace. He was a co-founder of the Indochina Peace Campaign in 1972, which aimed to end the Vietnam War. In January 1973, he married actress Jane Fonda; their marriage lasted until 1990, and they had one son, Troy Garity, and he became stepfather to Fonda's daughter, Vanessa Vadim. Transitioning to electoral politics in the 1980s, Hayden served as a Democratic member of the California State Assembly, representing the 44th and later 42nd districts, from 1982 to 1992. He then served in the California State Senate, representing the 23rd district, from 1992 until 2000, focusing on environmental protection, labor rights, and campaign finance reform. After his divorce from Fonda, he married actress Barbara Williams in 1993. He authored over 20 books on politics and social issues and taught at universities, including Occidental College, Pitzer College, and the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, where he was a senior fellow. Hayden remained active in progressive causes until his death from complications related to a stroke in Santa Monica, California, on October 23, 2016.