Thomas N. Todd (Finding Aid)

Thomas N. Todd

1938 -

Favorite Color: Black

Favorite Food: Skim Milk

Favorite Time of Year: Spring and Summer

Favorite Vacation Spot: Home

Interview Length: 161 minutes

Interview Date(s): June 6, 2002

Interview Location(s): Chicago, Illinois

Abstract

Thomas Todd recalls his childhood and youth, from his early memories of the plantation where his mother's family worked as sharecroppers, to his years at a Historically Black Law School. He remembers vividly his experiences in segregated elementary and high schools, particularly the educators who most influenced him. Todd briefly discusses his interest in music and public speaking. He concludes by relating his experiences, during his undergraduate years, in ROTC. Thomas Todd begins the interview by remembering his mother's death, and the role it played in his expulsion from the ROTC. He then describes his cathartic year after college, and how it led to his decision to apply to law school. Todd recalls his attendance and successful completion of law school, despite the state of Alabama's refusal to honor a promised scholarship. He also discusses his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement during this time. Todd concludes the interview by detailing the employment discrimination he encountered in Washington, D.C. Thomas Todd provides a detailed description of his early career, starting out as a JAG officer at Fort Sheridan, prosecuting racial discrimination in the Army. He continues to struggle for civil rights as the first head of the Civil Rights Division of the Chicago U.S. Attorney's Office during some of the most explosive events of the late 1960's, including the murder of two Black Panthers in Chicago in 1969, and the brutal beatings by police during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968. Todd also describes his difficulties as the only black faculty member of the Northwestern University law school, and his leadership in Operation Breadbasket and the SCLC. He concludes by briefly outlining the rift between Jesse Jackson and the SCLC, which led to the founding of Operation PUSH. Thomas Todd begins the interview by describing the founding of Operation PUSH with Jesse Jackson. He expounds on some of the issues central to PUSH, including economic development and education. Todd then moves on to politics, focusing on the movement in the black community to elect Ralph Metcalfe and Harold Washington. He briefly discusses some of the hurdles the black community overcame in order to vote, from lynchings to firehoses. Todd concludes by describing his speaking style, how it developed, and how he has used it to benefit election campaigns. Thomas Todd talks about his career; he begins by listing his most important civil rights cases and his speaking engagments. He also illustrates extensively the need for educational opportunities for today's youth. Todd also discusses being in the public eye--why he won't run for public office, and what he hopes his legacy will be. He continues by disclosing some of the major points of his public speaking engagements. Todd concludes by speculating on what his parents would think of his career. Photos

81 Stories (See Ordered Story Set)