February 4, 2010: Thomas Campbell, a partner at Baker & McKenzie LLP, will speak on the subject of his new book, Fighting Slavery in Chicago: Abolitionists, The Law Of Slavery, And Lincoln. Tom provides an account of the role of Chicago’s abolitionists as they fought against slavery and fugitive slave laws, operated the Illinois station of the underground railway, and furthered Lincoln’s political career. By explaining the political and legal realities of the period from 1835 to 1865, Tom clarifies and explains Lincoln’s often misunderstood positions on slavery. Tom’s book has been called a “must-read” by Eileen Mackevich, the Executive Director of the Abraham Lincoln Commission. A copy of Tom’s book will be made available to all members who attend.
March 4, 2010: Bruce Bartlett, will speak on the topic of his book, The New American Economy. Mr. Bartlett, who was a domestic policy advisor to Ronald Reagan and one of the originators of Reaganomics, explores whether continued tax cuts are appropriate for today’s economy. A copy of Mr. Bartlett’s book will be made available to all members who attend.
April 1, 2010: Nell Minow and David Yermack will discuss the merits of restrictions on executive compensation. Ms. Minow, who is a co-founder of the Corporate Library, an independent research firm, is a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School. She has been described as a “CEO Killer,” and believes that CEO compensation has done more to destroy capitalism than Karl Marx. Professor Yermack teaches finance at the New York University Stern School of Business. Professor Yermack has written that “having Uncle Sam set executive compensation is unnecessary and unworkable.” This should be a lively discussion. (Please Note: This meeting will be a luncheon meeting.)
April 28, 2010: Professor Steven G. Calabresi of Northwestern University School of Law and Professor Geoffrey R. Stone of the University of Chicago School of Law will debate the merits of “original intent” as a method of constitutional interpretation. Professor Calabresi, one of the founders of the Federalist Society, served in the Reagan and first Bush administrations. Professor Stone, who has served as Dean of the University of Chicago Law School and Provost of the University of Chicago, is a well-known scholar in the area of constitutional law and a frequent speaker to the Club.
May 25, 2010: Theodore B. Olson, a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and former Solicitor General of the United States, argued the case of Bush v. Gore in the Supreme Court. He will speak on his challenge to Proposition 8, the referendum in California banning same sex marriages.
June 23, 2010: Clarence Page, the Pulitzer Prize winner columnist with the Chicago Tribune, and a member of the Tribune’s editorial board since 1984, will speak to the Club at our Annual Meeting.