Simone de Beauvoir was certainly more politically active in her 70s than in her 30s. In her 30s she was surrounded by the real, goose stepping, sieg heiling, jackbooted German Nazis who were occupying France. Neither her nor Sarte joined the Resistance, and kept a low profile during the war. Theory is one thing, but being detained by the Gestapo is another altogether. In her 70s she was a celebrity, and could protest France and America's doings without worrying about having thumb screws used on her. She never met a communist dictator she didn't like, so no worries from them.