Eugene V. Debs was a prominent American socialist labor leader in the early 20th century. He was a five-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America and a founding member of the Industrial Workers of the World. Debs was a powerful advocate for workers' rights, and his speeches and writings were influential in the development of the American labor movement. He was also an outspoken critic of the US government's involvement in World War I, and was arrested and imprisoned for his anti-war activities. Debs is remembered as one of the most important figures in the history of American socialism.