Rising Star

by David J. Garrow

  19. Obama, “Current Issues in Racism and the Law,” Spring Term 1994 Syllabus, “Reading Packet #1,” for 29 March and 5 April 1994, and “Reading Packet #2,” for 12 and 19 April 1994, Adam Gross Papers; Cornel West, “Learning to Talk of Race,” New York Times Magazine, 2 August 1992, pp. 24–25; UCLS Course Evaluations, Racism and the Law, Spring 1994 (14 respondents); Susan Epstein, “Obama 10 Years Ago,” DailyKos.com, 1 August 2004; Jodi Kantor, “Teaching Law, Testing Ideas, Obama Stood Apart,” NYT, 30 July 2008, p. A1; Jesse Ruiz in Michael Lipkin, “The Professor and the President,” Chicago Maroon, 7 November 2008, and in Robin I. Mordfin, “From the Green Lounge to the White House,” University of Chicago Law School Record, Spring 2009, pp. 2–9; Susan Epstein, “In the Classroom with Barack Obama and Elena Kagan,” Santa Barbara Independent, 8 July 2010; DJG interviews with David Strauss, Adam Gross, Paul Strauss, Susan Epstein, Jesse Ruiz, Carolyn Shapiro, Robert Mahnke, and Salil Mehra. On Cose’s late 1993 The Rage of a Privileged Class, see Arnold Rampersad, “Another Day, Another Humiliation,” NYTBR, 9 January 1994, p. 6.

  20. Audio recording, oral argument in Baravati v. Josephthal, Lyon & Ross, #93-3647, 7th Cir., 7 April 1994, http://web.archive.org/web/20081009195106/http://www.suntimes.com/images/cds/MP3/obama.mp3; Baravati v. Josephthal, Lyon & Ross, 28 F. 3d 704 (7th Cir.), 1 July 1994; John Flynn Rooney, “Arbitration Panel Can Award Punitive Damages: Court,” Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 5 July 1994, p. 3; “Appeal Is Filed on Ward Boundaries,” CT, 21 April 1994; Barnett v. Daley, 32 F. 3d 1196 (7th Cir.), 23 August 1994 (argued 20 April 1994); “Barack Obama, Of Counsel,” www.lawmbg.com, 30 August 2000 (“real estate financing, acquisition, construction and/or redevelopment of low and moderate income housing”); “Barack Obama CV,” www.law.uchicago.edu, 4 June 2004 (“helped to structure and finance efforts to construct mixed-income housing to replace public housing in and around Cabrini Green”); Pallasch, “Obama’s Legal Career,” CST, 17 December 2007, p. 4; Dan Morain, “Obama’s Lawyer Days Were Effective but Brief,” LAT, 6 April 2008, p. A14; David Smallwood, “Veteran Attorneys Recall Obama,” N’Digo Profiles, December 2008, p. 24; Sony Kassam and Bushra Kabir, “Mr. Belcaster: ‘Integrity, Intelligence, and Energy,’” The Hoofbeat, 7 December 2009; Obama in Wolffe, Renegade, p. 190; Michael Tapscott and Richard Pollock, “The Obama You Don’t Know,” Washington Examiner, 19 September 2012; DJG interviews with Rob Fisher, Ken Mack, John Belcaster, Paul Strauss, Jeffrey Cummings, Judd Miner, George Galland, Laura Tilly, Matt Piers, and Scott Lynch-Giddings. On Arthur Brazier, see his 1995 interview in Black, Bridges of Memory, pp. 547–67. Woodlawn Preservation and Investment Corp. was founded in 1987, acquired the 504-unit Woodlawn Gardens from HUD in 1988 and renamed it Grove Parc Plaza. On WPIC, see Patrick T. Reardon, “Woodlawn Project Gives Hope For Future,” CT, 29 October 1993, Tom Andreoli, “Redevelopment and Redemption: Woodlawn, Kenwood Try . . . Again,” CCB, 4 June 1994, R. C. Longworth, “Inner-City Areas Get 2nd Chance,” CT, 27 December 1994, Cal McAllister, “Building for the Future,” CT, 15 April 1995, and especially Binyamin Appelbaum, “Grim Proving Ground for Obama’s Housing Policy,” BG, 27 June 2008.

  21. Obama’s September 1995 remarks at the Cambridge (MA) Public Library (“I had to take some leaves of absence for a month or two once the first draft was written to try to polish it”); Obama in Mary Mitchell, “Memoirs of a 21st-Century History Maker,” Black Issues Book Review, January–February 2005, pp. 18–21; Michelle in Kevin Merida, “The Ghost of a Father,” WP, 14 December 2007; Peter Osnos, “The Making of the Book That Made Obama,” DailyBeast.com, 27 January 2009; Osnos’s 2009 interview with Robert Draper; Draper, “Barack Obama’s Work in Progress,” GQ, November 2009; Maraniss, BOTS, p. 566; DJG interviews with John Belcaster, Sheila Jager, Rob Fisher, Henry Ferris, Peter Osnos, and Ruth Fecych. See also Ellen Schumer phone conversation notes, “Barack Obama,” 2 May 1994, ESP (“Following a theme, touching on being biracial—looks at organizing—family—ancestry”), and Schumer notes, “5-18-94—Barack Obama 12:30PM–2PM,” ESP (“discussed Hawaii”). Portions of an early-stage typescript, one reflecting Ferris’s editing and Barack’s handwritten alterations yet preceding Ruth Fecych’s involvement, were put up for commercial sale by Abon’go Malik Obama in 2015 (ms. pp. 6–7, 17, 22–24, 43–46, 48, 70, and 20, corresponding to DFMF pp. ix–x, 14–15, 18–20, 32–35, 36, 52 and 403). Barack’s changes were stylistic rather than substantive, with his childhood Jakarta home offering a “crocodile” pond rather than an “alligator” one (ms. p. 36, DFMF p. 36).

  22. Keith [Kelleher] to Interested Parties, “Voter Registration, Politics Update, 20 July 1994, IAP Box 11 Fld. 55; Sandy [O’Donnell] to Ken [Rolling] and Barack, “Panel on the Future of Organizing,” 9 June 1994, Sandy to WFC Evaluation Team, “Interviews, Case Studies, Records,” 14 June 1994, [O’Donnell], “Minutes of the First Meeting of the Panel of the Future of Organizing,” 29 June 1994, Sandy to Ken and Barack, “Next Panel Meetings,” 16 July 1994, Sandy to Evaluation Team, “Ideas for Focus Group of Cross-City Leaders,” 17 July 1994, Sandy to Ken, “Organizing Evaluation,” 20 July 1994, O’Donnell to Obama, “August 29 Organizing Discussion,” 12 August 1994, O’Donnell to Obama, “Questions re Public Policy & Organizing,” 19 August 1994, Obama to Gonzales et al., “August 29 Meeting of Discussion Group on Community Organizing,” 22 August 1994, [O’Donnell], “Minutes of the Second Panel Discussion on Organizing,” 29 August 1994, “Suggested Questions for the Panel Discussion on Community Organizing,” 25 October 1994, [O’Donnell], “Minutes of the Third Panel Discussion on Organizing,” 26 October 1994, “Panel Discussion on Community Organizing: Advice to the Woods Fund of Chicago,” 13 January 1995, [O’Donnell], “Minutes of the Fourth Panel Discussion on Organizing,” 13 January 1995, all SOP; Alex Rodriguez and Scott Fornek, “Gangs Besiege Once-Peaceful Neighborhood,” CST, 2 September 1994, p. 6; Mary A. Johnson, “A Gang’s Violence Often Strikes Its Own,” “Community Spirit Wanes,” and “Ministry Offers ‘Neutral’ Zone,” CST, 4 September 1994, p. 7; Jan Ferris and Henri Cauvin, “Roseland Tries to Ride Out the Shock Wave,” CST, 6 September 1994; Obama and Ken Rolling to “Dear Colleagues,” 25 April 1995, CACP; Sandra O’Donnell et al., Evaluation of the Fund’s Community Organizing Grant Program (Woods Fund of Chicago, April 1995), esp. pp. 15–16; Woods Fund of Chicago, 1994 Annual Report, esp. pp. 1–7, 17, 20; Woods Fund of Chicago, 1994 Form 990-PF, Part XV, 29 June 1995; Jean Rudd, “How One Foundation Came to Support Community Organizing,” in Sandy O’Donnell et al., Promising Practices in Revenue Generation for Community Organizing (Center for Community Change, October 2005); DJG interviews with Keith Kelleher, Jean Rudd, Ken Rolling, Mary Gonzales, Jacky Grimshaw, Madeline Talbott, Sokoni Karanja, and Sandy O’Donnell. On Keith’s 1994 efforts, with repeated references to Barack, also see Kelleher to Carol Harwell, “List of Positions That Need Resolution,” 8 June 1994, Leslie Watson-Davis to Marvin Randolph and Zach Pollett, “Chicago Trip—For Your Information,” 13 June 1994, and Keith to Madeline Talbott et al., “Conversations with Carol Harwell,” 17 June 1994, all IAP (2003-072) Box 1 Fld. 1994, and Keith to Interested Parties, “Research on Voter Registration and 24th Ward Candidates,” 7 July 1994, IAP Box 11 Fld. 57.

  23. Nina Burleigh, “The Great Black Hope,” Spy, March 1993, pp. 20–21; Elaine S. Povich, “The Housewarming—It Has Not Been One Big Welcome Party for Freshman Rep. Reynolds,” CT, 17 August 1993; Steve Neal, “Weak Field Puts Reynolds in Front,” CST, 28 December 1993, p. 17; John Kass, “2nd District Campaign Not as Loud, Still Heated,” CT, 20 February 1994; David Elsner and Lou Carlozo, “Weller, Giglio Win Bids in 11th District,” CT, 16 March 1994; Neal, “Last-Minute Cash Netted Stroger Win,” CST, 25 March 1994, p. 39; Chinta Strausberg, “Alice Palmer Pushed for Mayor’s Post,” CD, 11 July 1994, p. 3; Kass, “Anti-Daley Forces Start to Beat Campaign Drums,” CT, 29 July 1994, p. 1; Ray Gibson, “Edgar Has 5–1 Lead in Cash Race,” CT, 2 August 1994, p. C1; Fred Lebed datebook for 9 August 1994; Kevin Knapp, “Kenwood Dev
elopers Are Donors to Ald. Preckwinkle’s Campaign,” HPH, 10 August 1994, pp. 1–2; Knapp, “Alderman Explains Campaign Donations,” HPH, 17 August 1994, pp. 1–2; Knapp, “Campaign Finances Examined,” HPH, 7 September 1994, pp.1–2; Knapp, “Campaigns Driven by Finances,” HPH, 26 October 1994, pp. 1–2; Knapp, “Building Rehabbed with Help from County Program,” HPH, 2 November 1994, p. 4; Andrew Fegelman, “Stroger’s Patience Is Rewarded,” CT, 9 November 1994; Fegelman, “Stroger’s Win Built on Voter, Party Unity,” CT, 10 November 1994; Knapp, “Alderman’s Contributions Drop Off as Election Comes Closer,” HPH, 8 February 1995, pp. 1, 6; Knapp, “Incumbent Gets Financial Boost,” HPH, 22 February 1995, pp. 1–2; Knapp, “Local Aldermanic Races Hit New High in Cost,” HPH, 9 August 1995, p. 1; Knapp, “Tough Races Marked ’95 Elections,” HPH, 3 January 1996, pp. 3, 9; Knapp, “Campaign Finances Examined,” HPH, 27 March 1996, pp. 1–2; DJG interviews with Toni Preckwinkle, Laura Tilly, David Brint, Fred Lebed, Roland Burris, Paul Strauss, George Galland, and John Schmidt.

  24. Ray Gibson, “Reynolds Blasts Cops, O’Malley Over Probe,” CT, 12 August 1994, p. 4; Christopher Drew and Gibson, “Reynolds’ Handling of Campaign Funds Focus of U.S. Probe,” CT, 14 August 1994, p. 1; Timothy J. Burger, “Frosh Rep. Reynolds Is Target of Probe,” RC, 15 August 1994; Edward Walsh, “Lawmaker Accused of Affair with Teen,” WP, 16 August 1994, p. A4; Gibson and Drew, “Aide Unveils More Reynolds Campaign Accounts,” CT, 17 August 1994, p. 1; “The Troubles of Mel Reynolds,” CT, 18 August 1994; Andrew Fegelman and Robert Becker, “Reynolds Indicted in Teen Sex Scandal,” CT, 20 August 1994, p. 1; Judy Pasternak, “Congressman Charged with Sex Crimes,” LAT, 20 August 1994; Don Terry, “Illinois Indicts a Congressman in a Sex Case Involving 2 Girls,” NYT, 20 August 1994, p. 7; James Webb (AP), “Reynolds Promise Conflicts with Controversies,” 20 August 1994; Steve Neal, “Palmer Could Be Contender in 2nd,” CST, 29 August 1994, p. 23; “Mel Reynolds: The Absentee Congressman,” Illinois Politics, September 1994, pp. 1, 3; John Kass, “Gardner Takes a Risk in Rush to Face Daley,” CT, 4 September 1994, p. P1; Michael Sneed, “Sneed,” CST, 15 September 1994, p. 2. On Alice Palmer’s work in Springfield, see Palmer, “King’s Legacy of Change, Not Dreams,” HPH, 24 February 1993, p. 4; Senator Alice Palmer, “Springfield Report” #1, February–March 1993, 8pp.; Palmer, “Edgar’s Budget Hurts City,” HPH, 17 March 1993, p. 4; Palmer et al., “Asks Edgar Change on College Boards,” CD, 1 May 1993, p. 19; Palmer, “Springfield Must Make Law, Not Haste,” HPH, 26 May 1993, p. 4; Palmer, “Hails Article,” CD, 16 June 1993, p. 11; Ethan Michaeli, “Recycling Could Come to Low-Income Areas,” CD, 17 June 1993, p. 3; Palmer, “Failure on Schools Will Haunt Assembly,” HPH, 28 July 1993, p. 4; Palmer, “Springfield Report” #2, Summer 1993, 8pp.; “Palmer Lauds NAACP’s Anti-NAFTA Position,” CD, 5 August 1993, p. 6; Palmer, “Why I Oppose NAFTA,” Illinois Politics, September 1993, pp. 7, 10; Palmer, “Tax Codes Need a Careful Revision,” HPH, 17 November 1993, p. 4; Palmer, “Side Issues Delay Riverboat Gambling,” HPH, 27 April 1994, p. 4; Chinta Strausberg, “Sen. Palmer Calls State of Higher Education Dismal,” CD, 14 May 1994, p. 5; Palmer, “Medicaid Spurs State Budget Problems,” HPH, 29 June 1994, p. 4; “Senator Alice Palmer’s 13th District Education Committee Meeting Highlights,” 16 July 1994, Timuel Black Papers Box 135 Fld. 6; Citizens for Senator Alice J. Palmer, flyer for 4 August 1994 BBQ, TBP Box 135 Fld. 26; Palmer, “Downstate Answers to City Questions,” HPH, 21 September 1994, p. 4; Sheila Washington, “Palmer Gets Down to Nitty-Gritty,” CD, 3 October 1994, p. 9.

  25. Barnett v. City of Chicago, 32 F. 3d 1196 (7th Cir.), 23 August 1994; Jan Crawford Greenburg, “Suit Contesting City Ward Map Gets New Life,” CT, 25 August 1994; “Forum Offers New Thoughts at Wesleyan,” Omaha World Herald, 6 September 1994, p. 18; Obama, “Community Revitalization,” Nebraska Wesleyan University Forum, 9 September 1994, NWU Archives; Michael Kelly, “Obama’s 1994 Speech Telling,” OWH, 9 November 2008, p. 1B.

  26. Kennedy Communications, “State Senator Barack Obama, Candidate for U.S. Senate: Background Report,” April 2003, RRP; Obama, “Charles Murray’s Political Expediency Denounced,” All Things Considered, NPR, 28 October 1994; Susan Locke to David Plotkin, 30 September 1994, Human SERVE Papers (HSP) Box 16 Fld. 747 and Box 35 Fld. 1497; Zach Pollett to ACORN Offices, “National Voter Registration Act Implementation Campaign,” 23 October 1994, IAP (98-059) Box 5 Fld. 42; Doug Hess to Madeline Talbott, “Re: ACORN Notice to IL Head Election Official,” 3 November 1994, ACORN to Ronald D. Michaelson, 14 November 1994, and David [Plotkin] to All, “Illinois Implementation (or lack thereof),” 2 December 1994, HSP Box 16 Fld. 747; DJG interview with Rob Fisher.

  27. Chinta Strausberg, “Palmer Throws Hat into 2nd District Race,” CD, 18 October 1994, p. 3; “Announcement of Congressional Exploratory Committee State Senator Alice Palmer (D-13),” 21 November 1994, TBP Box 135 Fld. 26; Susan Kuczka, “State Sen. Palmer Ponders Bid for Reynolds’ 2nd District Post,” CT, 22 November 1994; Steve Neal, “Palmer Beats Jackson Jr. to Punch,” CST, 25 November 1994, p. 49; Judy Pasternak, “Following in His Father’s Footsteps,” LAT, 12 December 1995; “Barack Obama—12/1/94—Noon–1:30PM,” Ellen Schumer Papers; Monica Copeland, “Agency’s Emphasis on Life Success,” CT, 12 June 1992; Lynne Duke, “Mixed Legacies on Boulevards of the ‘Dream,’” WP, 4 April 1993, p. A1; George Papajohn, “Honoree a ‘Genius’ at Helping,” CT, 15 June 1993; Allan Johnson, “South Side Agency Honors Donors with a Feast,” CT, 25 June 1993; David Moberg, “Bold Vision: Sokoni Karanja Nurtures the Restoration of Bronzeville,” CT, 19 June 1995; Karanja’s 2005 HistoryMakers interview with Larry Crowe; Michael I. J. Bennett, “The Rebirth of Bronzeville: Contested Space and Contrasting Visions,” in John P. Koval et al., eds., The New Chicago: A Social and Cultural Analysis (Temple University Press, 2006), pp. 213–20; “Bronzeville Wants City’s Empty Lots,” CT, 23 November 2006; Michelle Robinson, “Motion to Transfer to Inactive Status Pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 770,” In Re Michelle Lavaughn Robinson, Ill. S.Ct., # 94-CH-456, 8 June 1994; Althea J. Kuller to Michelle Obama, and Kuller to Juleann Hornyak, 23 June 1994 (filing said motion); Jeremy Mindich, “Americorps: Young, Spirited and Controversial,” CT Magazine, 9 April 1995; Carol Kleiman, “‘Xers’ Don’t Fit the Stereotypes,” CT, 9 April 1995; Randee Fenner, “Rivkin and Moelis: Together in Public Service,” Stanford Lawyer 87, 12 November 2012; “Business Appointments,” CST, 28 November 1994, p. 52; Joyce Foundation, 1995 Annual Report, esp. p. 83; Barbara Sullivan, “The Power of Paula,” CT, 12 September 1993; Lew Butler’s 2009 interview with Ann Lage, pp. 351 and 466–67; Carole Feldman (AP), “Tycoon Hopes $500 Million Gift Will Stem School Violence,” CT, 18 December 1993, p. 3; “School Violence and Annenberg’s Gift,” CT, 21 December 1993; Charles Storch and V. Dion Haynes, “Schools Go After Windfall,” CT, 23 October 1994, p. C1; Storch and Haynes, “Philanthropist Puts His Money on City Schools,” CT, 21 January 1995; Storch, “School Reformers Getting Wish,” CT, 23 January 1995; “Annenberg Grant Is More Than Money,” CT, 26 January 1995; William Ayers and Michael Klonsky, “Navigating a Restless Sea: The Continuing Struggle to Achieve a Decent Education for African American Youngsters in Chicago,” Journal of Negro Education 63 (Winter 1994): 5–18; Ben Joravsky, “The Long, Strange Trip of Bill Ayers,” CR, 8 November 1990; Jon Anderson, “Weathering Change,” CT, 8 July 1993, p. T1; Ayers, Chapman, and Hallett, “A Booster Shot for Chicago’s Public Schools,” CT, 31 January 1995, p. 15; [Patricia Graham], CAC Board of Directors, “Minutes,” 15 March 1995, CACP; Ellen Schumer notes, “Barack Obama,” 22 March 1995, ESP; CAC Board of Directors, “Minutes,” March 31, 1995, CACP; William C. Ayers, “Minutes,” CAC Board of Directors, 13 April 1995, CACP; Peter Applebome, “Annenberg School Grants Raise Hopes, and Questions on Extent of Change,” NYT, 30 April 1995, p. 30; CAC, “Minutes, Organizational Meeting of the Board of Directors,” 11 May 1995, CACP (only Obama, Graham, and Hallett present, formally authorizing the Collaborative’s advisory role); Lynn Olson, “Annenberg
Institute Seeks to Find Voice in 1st Year,” Education Week, 21 June 1995; Obama to Abon’go Malik Obama, 23 July 1995, Abon’go Malik Obama Papers; Ken Rolling to Vartan Gregorian et al., “Chicago Annenberg Challenge Program Report,” 8 May 1996, CACP; Steve Diamond, “That ‘Guy Who Lives in My Neighborhood’: Behind the Ayers-Obama Relationship,” Global Labor Blog, 23 June 2008; Stanley Kurtz, “Obama and Ayers Pushed Radicalism on Schools,” WSJ, 23 September 2008, p. A29; Michael Bechek, “In Debate Over Obama’s Past, U. History Revealed,” Brown Daily Herald, 24 September 2008; Scott Shane, “Obama and ’60s Bomber: A Look into Crossed Paths,” NYT, 4 October 2008; Dakarai I. Aarons, “Backers Says Chicago Project Not ‘Radical,’” Education Week, 15 October 2008, pp. 1, 14–16; Ellen Goodman, “Sharing Dreams from His Mother,” BG, 9 May 2008; Scott, A Singular Woman, pp. 304–33; DJG interviews with Alice Palmer, Jesse Jackson Jr., Ellen Schumer, Sokoni Karanja, Julian Posada, Bethann Hester, Jan Anne Dubin, Jacky Grimshaw, Sunny Fischer, Ian Larkin, Craig Huffman, Debbie Leff, Chuck Daly, Jack Anderson, Paula Wolff, Carin Clauss, Carlton Guthrie, Anne Hallett, Bill Ayers, Pat Graham, Adele Simmons, and Charles Payne. Apropos of Barack’s comments to Pat Graham over dinner, also see Obama on University of Illinois at Springfield’s “Inside Illinois Government,” 3 December 1998 (“how difficult it is to get a book published when you finally write it”). On COFI, see Sandy O’Donnell and Ellen Schumer, “Community Building & Community Organizing,” NHI Shelterforce #85, January–February 1996, and Schumer and O’Donnell, “Turning Parents into Strong Community Leaders,” NHI Shelterforce #114, November–December 2000.