Carl Oglesby Suffers a Stroke On the Eve of His Book Party

Carl Oglesby Suffers a Stroke On the Eve of His Book Party

http://www.observer.com/2008/carl-oglesby-suffers-stroke-eve-his-book-party

by Leon Neyfakh | February 14, 2008

Carl Oglesby, who served as president of Students for a Democratic
Society (SDS) during 1965-1966 and has since made a career as an
author, had a stroke last night while getting dressed for a party at
his literary agent's house celebrating the publication of his new
memoir about the 60s antiwar movement, Ravens in the Storm.

Mr. Oglesby, who is in his 70s, is at the hospital now in stable
condition and communicating lucidly, according to his agent, Susan Kahn.

News of Mr. Oglesby's stroke did not reach Scribner editor Colin
Robinson, who was co-hosting the event with Ms. Kahn and Mr.
Oglesby's other agent, Mike Locker, until after he arrived at the party.

According to Mr. Robinson, Mr. Oglesby was getting ready at Mr.
Locker's home when, about an hour before he was supposed to leave, he
started feeling ill and was taken to the hospital.

Mr. Robinson said that guests­among them fellow former SDS president
Todd Gitlin, Vogue fashion director Sally Singer, Robert Karrow,
Walter Mosley, and a cluster of folks from The Nation--were informed
of Mr. Oglesby's condition as they arrived. Later, Mr. Robinson, Ms.
Kahn, and Mr. Locker gave toasts and expressed regret over the
author's absence.

"Obviously we missed him," Mr. Robinson said. "His book and the
spirit of it suffused the room."

Ms. Kahn said some guests wrote notes for Mr. Oglesby, which she
delivered to his hospital room this morning when she went to visit.

UPDATE: Ms. Kahn just called in to say that Mr. Oglesby is in good
spirits, though disappointed that he missed his party. Ms. Kahn
brought her camera along and showed him photos from the evening. She
also brought him the notes that guests such as Mr. Robinson and
Barbara Garson, author of the well-known countercultural play
MacBird, wrote him last night.

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