Stanley Kutler

MADISON - Stanley I. Kutler, Professor Emeritus of American History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who specialized in U.S. legal and constitutional history, the Vietnam War and the Watergate era, died April 7th at Agrace Hospice Care in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. He was 80.

A proud native of Cleveland, Ohio, Kutler made his home in Madison for more than 50 years, joining the UW faculty in 1964. He retired from teaching in 1996.

Professor Kutler was the author of Abuse of Power: The New Nixon Tapes, a book that resulted from his successful lawsuit against the National Archives and former President Nixon, to force the release of the long-suppressed tapes. He has written widely in a number of fields of American history, particularly concentrating on American constitutional history and the 20th Century. His other major books include The Wars of Watergate: The Last Crisis of Richard Nixon; The American Inquisition, winner of the Silver Gavel Award from the American Bar Association; Privilege and Creative Destruction: The Charles River Bridge Case; and Judicial Power and Reconstruction Politics. In addition, he has authored or edited more than half a dozen books in various fields of American history, including The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War; The Dictionary of American History; The Supreme Court and the Constitution and Looking for America. His scholarly articles have appeared in leading history and legal periodicals, and his various reference works have received numerous prizes.

Kutler has written op-ed pieces and reviews for a variety of publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Nation, Chronicles of Higher Education, Times Literary Supplement, Slate, Salon, and the American Prospect, among others. He has appeared as an occasional commentator on National Public Radio, as well as "Today," "Nightline," and many other television programs. He also has worked as a consultant on a number of film projects, including as the historical advisor for the Emmy-winning BBC documentary, "Watergate" and as an advisor for the Showtime film, "The Day Ronald Reagan Was Shot." He recently collaborated with Harry Shearer on "Nixon's The One," a television series that aired on British television in 2014.

He is survived by Sandy, his beloved wife of 59 years, as well as his son David (spouse Michelle), daughter Susan (spouse Jay), son Andy (spouse Stephanie), and seven grandchildren. His oldest son Jeff passed away in 2010.

Funeral services will be held at Temple Beth El, 2702 Arbor Drive, Madison, Wisconsin, on Sunday, April 12, 2015 at 1:30pm. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, the family is requesting that any donations in Stanley's memory be made to Agrace Hospice Care, 5395 Cheryl Parkway, Fitchburg, WI, 53711. Please share your memories at www.CressFuneralService.com

Cress Funeral and Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
(608) 238-3434