ISU Bengal

Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: News

Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honors society at ISU, will be presenting the first annual Patty McDermott Lecture on Thurs., Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Wood River Room of the Pond Student Union Building. Frederick A. O. Schwarz, Jr. will be presenting a lecture based on his recently released book entitled Unchecked and Unbalanced: Presidential Power in a Time of Terror. The lecture is free and open to the public, and there will be a short book signing opportunity with Schwarz immediately following the lecture.

Schwarz is currently senior counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law and a partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, was chief counsel to the Church Committee in 1976.

His book presents a scathing portrait of contemporary executive power that is out of control. He presents the argument that the current administration has created a "secret presidency" controlled by classified presidential decisions and orders about national security. This conduct, he claims, has been supported by a hyperactive Office of Legal Council in the Department of Justice that is also intent on eliminating checks to presidential power.

Publishers Weekly said that, "this call for transparency and accountability has a satisfying reach and focus."

Michiko Kakutani of the International Herald Tribune said, "the book serves as a valuable compendium and chronicle of the Bush administration's aggressive efforts to expand the power of the executive branch, providing a detailed account of the unilateral actions it has taken on matters ranging from torture policy to domestic surveillance."

Schwarz will also be presenting a second lecture sponsored by the Friends of Oboler Library (FOOLs).

The dinner and speech will be held at the Holiday Inn on Bench Road, Fri., Nov. 16. The evening will begin with a 6 p.m. social and dinner, and Schwarz will speak at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, please contact ISU Library Administration Office at 282-2997.

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