Ayers Obama

Guide Note

William C. Ayers is a former member of the Weatherman organization. He currently works as a Professor of Education at the University of Illinois in at Chicago.

Presidential candidate Barack Obama has been linked to former member of the radical left-wing organization the Weather Underground, William Ayers. Obama's link to Ayers recently came under fire in the April 16 debate between Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

When the link was first disclosed earlier in 2008, Obama sought to portray the connection as weak. It has since been revealed that Ayers was loosely involved in Obama’s election as an Illinois state senator in the late 1990s. Obama also served with Ayers on the board of a philanthropic organization for three years.

Fast Facts

1. Ayers and Obama both served on the board of directors of the Woods Fund.
2. When Obama first ran for the Chicago state legislature a supporter introductory event took place at the home of Ayers and Dohrn.
3. Ayers contributed $200 to Obama's legislative campaign in 2001.