Steve Early was a Miners for Democracy poll watcher in December 1972 and later became a headquarters staff member of the United Mine Workers of America. For 27 years, he served as an International Representative and organizer for the Communications Workers of America, before writing five books about labor and politics. His latest (co-authored by Suzanne Gordon and Jasper Craven) is Our Veterans: Winners, Losers, Friends and Enemies on the New Terrain of Veterans Affairs, from Duke University Press. He can be reached at [email protected].