217. Letter From Charles J. Meyers, Dean of the Stanford Law School, to the Deputy Secretary of State (Christopher)1
I am pleased that we had a chance to talk today about the externship Stanford Law School has in the Office of the Legal Adviser in the Department of State, and I deeply appreciate your taking the time to make the call. Since we did have a chance for a candid exchange of views and since I understand the current situation of the State Department and you understand the position the Law School has taken, let me merely confirm in this letter my oral statement to you that the School feels obliged to terminate the externship at this time, since one of our students was denied the educational opportunity of the externship [Page 908] because he is homosexual.2 I understand from our conversation that this case, among others, has led to a serious and intensive study of the State Department position on employing homosexuals, and I express the hope that solutions will be found that will enable the Department and School to reestablish the externship.
May I express my appreciation for your courtesy and understanding in this matter and for the candor and cooperation of your staff, particularly Mr. Lee Marks.
Best personal regards,
Sincerely yours,
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of the Deputy Secretary of State, 1977–1980, Box 9, Memos from WC to Offices/Bureaus, 1979. No classification marking. Copies were sent to Gerald Lieberman, Acting Provost; John J. Schwartz, University Counsel; Joseph E. Leininger, Associate Dean and Director of the Extern Program; and Mark Franklin, Chairman of the Law School Curriculum Committee.↩
- An unknown hand highlighted the passage, “since one of our students was denied the educational opportunity of the externship because he is homosexual.” “Was denied” was underlined by the same hand. In the margin adjacent to this sentence, a notation reads, “Correct? Wise?”↩
- Meyers signed “Charlie” above this typed signature.↩