Timothy Leary
U.S. History II 1877-present July 11, 2025 DOI: 10.3735/9781961844551.book-part-068 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Timothy Leary was a central figure of the 1960s counterculture and a leading advocate of LSD and other psychoactive drugs, known for his admonition to “turn on, tune in, drop out.” He was also an enigmatic, ever-changing figure and a skillful self-promoter, once described by President Nixon as “the most dangerous man in America.” |
Abstract
Once described by President Richard Nixon as “the most dangerous man in America,” Timothy Leary was an enigmatic and ever-changing figure as well as a skillful self-promoter. He was unquestionably a central figure of the 1960s counterculture and a leading advocate of the use of LSD and other psychoactive drugs. He is best known for his admonition to “turn on, tune in, drop out.”