Edward Michael Keating Sr. (1925–2003) was a multifaceted American figure, known as a newspaper publisher, journalist, author, lawyer, politician, and businessman. He established Ramparts magazine in 1962, which began as a Catholic literary journal and transformed into a significant platform for the civil rights, anti-war, and New Left movements. Keating, initially raised Protestant and later converting to Catholicism in 1954, eventually became agnostic in 1965. His journalistic endeavors included publishing articles on critical social and political issues and featuring prominent writers. He also played a role in assisting Eldridge Cleaver and later published a book about Huey Newton, reflecting his engagement with radical politics. Keating's career spanned law, academia, publishing, and political activism before his death in 2003.

In 1962, Edward Keating founded and published Ramparts magazine, initially conceived as a Catholic quarterly literary publication. Based in Menlo Park, California, Keating personally financed the journal, which grew to a significant circulation of 400,000. Ramparts became a notable voice during a period of social upheaval, printing impactful articles such as those detailing the murders of civil rights workers in Mississippi and exposing the CIA's covert funding of the National Student Association. The magazine attracted contributions from influential writers like Susan Sontag, Seymour Hersh, and Eldridge Cleaver, cementing its reputation as a platform for critical journalism and social commentary.

Keating's journey included a significant shift in his personal and professional life. In 1965, he departed from the Catholic Church and embraced agnosticism. That same year, he authored "The Scandal of Silence," a book examining the Catholic Church's role during World War II. His involvement extended to facilitating Eldridge Cleaver's parole and subsequent employment as a writer for Ramparts. After leaving the magazine in 1967, Keating pursued a career in politics, unsuccessfully running for a seat in the U.S. Congress. He continued to write and later served on the legal council for Huey Newton of the Black Panther Party, publishing "Free Huey!" in 1971 and donating related documents to Stanford University.