The oral history memoir that follows is the result of twenty-four tape-recorded interview sessions. The interviewer for the first twenty sessions was Robert Master. The interviewer for the last four sessions was Dan North.  Mr. Foner has reviewed the transcripts and made corrections and emendations as required.  The reader is asked to bear in mind, however, that he or she is reading a verbatim transcript of spoken, rather than written, prose.  Additionally, this version of the transcript has been edited for strong language.  The unexpurgated transcript is available for research and other scholarly purposes by visiting the Oral History Research Office at Columbia University or by ordering a paper copy of the transcript.