Randy Steven Kraft - Claremont College

Claremont College

Shortly after his enrollment as a freshman at Claremont Men's College, Kraft enrolled in the Claremont Reserve Officers Training Corps and he regularly attended demonstrations both in favor of the Vietnam War and—in 1964—for the election of conservative presidential candidate Barry Goldwater. Kraft himself later declared these actions were merely a mimic of his parents' political views and not heartfelt from himself, describing his second year at Claremont as being when he abandoned "last gasp" of conservative ideology. The same year, Kraft entered his first known homosexual relationship.

In 1964, Kraft began working as a bartender at a local Garden Grove cocktail lounge catering to gay clientele; he was also known to regularly travel to both Laguna Beach and Huntington Beach for casual sex with hustlers. In an apparent tentative effort to announce his sexuality to his parents, Kraft took a succession of male "friends" to meet his family in the years he was enrolled at Claremont, although he was also known to occasionally date girls. Initially, however, Kraft's parents and sisters were oblivious to his homosexuality. The following year, he developed a radical shift in his political beliefs; becoming an ardent supporter of left-wing politics, eventually registering as a Democrat in 1967.

In 1966, Kraft was arrested and charged with lewd conduct after propositioning an undercover policeman in Huntington Beach; as he had no previous criminal record, no charges were filed.

The same year he had registered as a Democrat, Kraft became a party organizer; campaigning tirelessly for the election of Robert Kennedy and receiving a personal letter from the senator himself, thanking him for his efforts. By his senior year, Kraft had become somewhat complacent student: drinking, experimenting with drugs and regularly attending all-night gambling and poker sessions with other students. The lack of commitment to his studies in his final year resulted in Kraft failing to graduate from Claremont in June, 1967. Kraft had to repeat his econometrics class, resulting in his graduation being deferred by eight months. In February 1968, Kraft graduated from Claremont Men's College with a Bachelor of Arts in economics.