Harvard Law Prof. Christopher Edley has helped influence President Clinton's stance on one of the most controversial issues in the nation.
When Clinton asked Edley, a Harvard Law professor and member of the White House Affirmative Action Review Board, to explain affirmative action laws, Edley responded, "You're the president. What the law says is really not relevant ... to what you will say to the American people about what you think is fair," Edley told a sparse crowd of about 60 people in Rackham Auditorium last night.
Edley, whose lecture was the keynote address for the University's African American Heritage Month celebration, primarily spoke about the difficulty of shaping the Clinton administration's position on affirmative action during the Republican Congress' initial "legislative assault" on affirmative action in 1995.
After thanking the audience for "braving the blizzard" outside, Edley moved from behind the podium and sat down informally on the edge of the stage to give his lecture.
Edley said that when Republicans gained control of Congress two years ago, the Clinton administration needed to clearly define its position on affirmative action.
According to Edley, Clinton has shown substantial interest in the controversial issue. "He was just sucking up all kinds of information on affirmative action," he said.
Edley told the crowd that Clinton told his advisors, "Let's just step back and study it thoroughly so we know what we're talking about."
Edley said he encouraged Clinton to think about his views on discrimination, after noting flaws in Clinton's argument for affirmative action.
Law first-year student Richard Rountree said Edley's points were valuable.
"I think I've always had pretty much a guttural feeling that affirmative action was right, to some extent," Rountree said. "He gave me additional insight on the problems that revolve around affirmative action."
Looking ahead to the future, Edley said U.S. Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and Clinton "should recognize that ... these issues involve difficult and fundamental value choices."
After the lecture, Edley answered audience members' questions on different facets of affirmative action.
The African American Programming Task Force, Black Law Student Alliance, and Black Undergraduate Law Association sponsored Edley's visit. Edley also spoke at the Law School earlier yesterday.
JULLY PARK/Daily
Harvard Law Prof. Christopher Edley Jr. speaks about affirmative action last night at Rackham Auditorium.