Born in Winsted, Connecticut on February 27, 1934, Ralph Nader is the son of Lebanese immigrants. Nader loved reading and debating as a kid, and in 1951, he was accepted to Princeton University. He studied politics and took classes in Chinese, among many other subjects. Nader then attended Harvard Law School, graduating in 1958. He started his own law office in Connecticut and wrote articles for magazines.

In 1965, Nader wrote a book about dangerous cars called Unsafe at Any Speed. Over the next several years, the book helped encourage companies to build safer cars. Nader continued working to make sure the products Americans bought were safe and well made. His speeches and writings about consumer safety helped inspire the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Freedom of Information Act and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

In 1996 and 2000, Nader ran for President on behalf of the Green Party, which focuses on environmental issues. In 2000, he won about 3 million votes across the country. That was many fewer votes than candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush received, but it was a high enough number to affect the election results.

Campaigning as an independent candidate in 2004, Nader speaks often about issues of election fairness, public safety, and the environment. He wants to make sure companies and wealthy people don't have an unfair amount of political power. He also wants to make sure the government builds enough affordable homes. And he wants companies to pay more in taxes and to help clean up the pollution they create.