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June 16, 2021

William vanden Heuvel, Former Gov't Adviser and Advocate for Prisoners, Dies at the Age of 91
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William vanden Heuvel, a former diplomat, lawyer and adviser to Robert
F. Kennedy, died Tuesday in New York City from complications of
pneumonia at the age of 91. Vanden Heuvel fought for civil rights,
including during his time at the Justice Department from 1962 to 1964.
He also advocated for better conditions for incarcerated people, calling
on the media to help shine a light on the failures of the criminal
justice system. In 1972, vanden Heuvel wrote, "The right to know in a
democracy frequently depends on the demand to know by the media." He is
survived by his wife and his two daughters, including Katrina vanden
Heuvel, publisher and former editor of The Nation.


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