Marc Grossman Papers

Accession Number: 
LP001045
Extent: 
29 linear feet (20 MB, 19 SB)

Marc Grossman became involved with the United Farm Workers in 1969 while an undergraduate student at the University of California, Irvine; where he graduated with a B.A. degree in American History in 1972. During that time he helped organize the Grape Boycott. From there he went on to obtain a Master’s degree in journalism at UCLA in 1973.

Grossman knew Cesar Chavez the last 24 years of his life, serving most of that time as his press secretary, speechwriter, and personal aide. Among his duties were, responsibility for the UAW’s press relations, writing public statements, crafting press releases, commentary pieces, and public relations and publicity material. Although he resigned from this position in 1981, he continued working closely with the legendary civil rights and farm labor leader on all his major speeches, writings, and news events until Chavez’s death in 1993.

In 1981 Grossman joined the staff of California State Senator Richard Alatorre. In that same year he transitioned from the staff of the Assembly Majority Consultants to the position of Legislative Aide for the Capitol Office. His duties included legislative research and political analysis for Democratic Assemblymen. By 1984 he was writing over 300 pieces of mail for every Democratic campaign in California by himself; and he advanced on to schedule nationwide and statewide media tours and news events, prepared press packets for numerous legislative candidates, created direct mail fundraising and political campaign packages, was a copywriter for TV commercials and brochures, and ghosted numerous speeches and Op Ed pieces all for major labor and political leaders.

In 1987, he became associated with Ross Communications as a writer and publicist. Over his career, he has written more than a dozen books and has worked on other projects such as being the technical advisor for Diego Luna’s major motion picture, Cesar Chavez, in 2014. Today Grossman still serves as spokesman for the Cesar Chavez Foundation and the United Farm Workers of America.

Date: 
1969-1999, bulk 1979-1993
Attachment(click to download)
LP001045.pdfLP001045_guide.pdf330.45 KB