18 Facts About Nadine Strossen

Nadine Strossen was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on August 18,1950.

Nadine Strossen's maternal grandfather was an immigrant to the United States from Yugoslavia and was a conscientious objector during World War I, causing him to be publicly humiliated at the courthouse in Hudson County.

Nadine Strossen was removed from school and placed in the Buchenwald concentration camp until being liberated by American troops.

Nadine Strossen's mother, a member of the National Organization for Women and supporter of Planned Parenthood, was an advocate for women's rights.

When she was eight years old, Nadine Strossen's family moved to Hopkins, Minnesota.

Nadine Strossen initially considered pursuing a career as a teacher; while attending high school in Hopkins, Strossen distinguished herself as a member of the school's debate team, of which she was the only girl.

In 1968, Nadine Strossen enrolled at Radcliffe College, where she was a resident of Holmes Hall before moving to Winthrop House in 1970.

Nadine Strossen met her husband, Eli Noam, while they were both at Harvard when he was a tutor in Adams House.

Nadine Strossen subscribed to a political philosophy of civil libertarianism, later recalling that "the rallying cries were reproductive freedom and the anti-war movement".

Nadine Strossen left practicing to begin teaching as an associate professor of clinical law at the New York Law School from 1984 until 1988.

Nadine Strossen specialized in constitutional law, federal courts, and human rights.

In 1983, Nadine Strossen joined the national board of directors of the American Civil Liberties Union, then its national executive committee in 1985.

In 1991, Nadine Strossen became the first female president of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Nadine Strossen was the sixth person to have served in the position.

In October 2001, Nadine Strossen made her theater debut as the guest star in Eve Ensler's play, The Vagina Monologues at the National Theatre in Washington, DC.

Nadine Strossen spoke at the inaugural gala for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression in New York City in April 2023.

Nadine Strossen is married to Eli Noam, a professor at Columbia Business School.

When she grew up, Nadine Strossen's mother prevented her from playing with dolls, an experience which she later suggested to have contributed in her choice not to have children.