Sam Donaldson explains it all

[Michael Perelman]

A foundation once tried to get me to work with Jim Hightower on his book
Hard Tomatoes, Hard Times.  I talked them into giving me money to start
the organic food conspiracy in Berkeley.  Anyway, I met with Jim and Al
Krebs and a few other of the young populist hell raisers.  Later, I
participated in a number of conferences with him.

His public persona seems genuine to me.  He is also at his best with a
quick retort.  When he was running for Ag Commissioner, Mike Wallace on 60
Min. asked him if he were an agitator.  Damn right, Jim responded.  Then
he went on to say how his granddad told him that the agitator was the
thingy in the middle of the old washing machines that went back and forth
until it got the dirt out.

 -- 
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929

Tel. 530-898-5321
E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu