Ralph Nader became a national figure in 1965 with Unsafe at Any Speed, a book that exposed automobile safety flaws and led to the passage of the 1966 National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. He founded groups such as Public Citizen, the Center for Auto Safety, and the Public Interest Research Group, creating a lasting infrastructure for consumer advocacy. Nader also ran for president multiple times, using his campaigns to press for reforms in consumer rights, environmental policy, and corporate accountability.