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John Hope Franklin, the distinguished historian who recently headed up President Clinton's Race Initiative Advisory Board, presented "History and American Public Policy" Thursday, Oct. 26 at Northwestern University School of Law.

Franklin spoke to an audience of students, faculty, and staff about his experiences with Thurgood Marshall and his involvement in the 1954 Brown v. The Board of Education case. He also discussed race and the 2000 presidential election.

Ken Bode, dean of Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism and former host of "Washington Week in Review," moderated the question and answer session. Following the presentation, Franklin signed books and spoke to audience members at a reception in the Law School's atrium.

Perhaps best known for "From Slavery to Freedom" -- first published in 1947 and now in its eighth edition and in five languages - Franklin has reshaped the way African American history is understood and taught. A prolific writer, he earned the 2000 Lincoln Prize for "Runaway Slaves: Rebels on the Plantation," his most recent book (written with Loren Schweninger).

Franklin is the James B. Duke Professor of History Emeritus at Duke Univer>sity and 1995 winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He visited Northwestern as part of the University's Distinguished Sesquicentennial Visitor Program.

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