Abigail Thernstrom
Encyclopedia
Abigail Thernstrom, a conservative political scientist, is a former Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute
in New York, a member of the Massachusetts Board of Education
, and vice chair of the United States Commission on Civil Rights
. She received her Ph.D. from the Department of Government, Harvard University
, in 1975.
Thernstrom and her husband, Harvard historian Stephan Thernstrom
, are the co-authors of America in Black and White: One Nation, Indivisible (Simon & Schuster
), which the New York Times Book Review, in its annual end-of-the-year issue, named as one of the notable books of 1997.
She serves on several boards, including the Center for Equal Opportunity
and the Institute for Justice
. From 1992 to 1997 she was a member of the Aspen Institute's
Domestic Strategy Group.
President Bill Clinton
chose her as one of three authors to participate in his first "town meeting" on race in Akron, Ohio
, on December 3, 1997, and she was part of a small group that met with the President again in the Oval Office
on December 19.
Her daughter is author Melanie Thernstrom
.
Manhattan Institute
The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research is a conservative, market-oriented think tank established in New York City in 1978 by Antony Fisher and William J...
in New York, a member of the Massachusetts Board of Education
Massachusetts Board of Education
The Massachusetts Board of Education is the state education agency responsible for interpreting and implementing laws relevant to public education in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Public education in the Commonwealth is organized according to the regulations adopted by the BOE, which are good...
, and vice chair of the United States Commission on Civil Rights
United States Commission on Civil Rights
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is historically a bipartisan, independent commission of the U.S. federal government charged with the responsibility for investigating, reporting on, and making recommendations concerning civil rights issues that face the nation.-Commissioners:The Commission is...
. She received her Ph.D. from the Department of Government, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, in 1975.
Thernstrom and her husband, Harvard historian Stephan Thernstrom
Stephan Thernstrom
Stephan Thernstrom is the Winthrop Research Professor of History at Harvard University. and was the editor of the Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups ....
, are the co-authors of America in Black and White: One Nation, Indivisible (Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
), which the New York Times Book Review, in its annual end-of-the-year issue, named as one of the notable books of 1997.
She serves on several boards, including the Center for Equal Opportunity
Center for Equal Opportunity
The Center For Equal Opportunity is a conservative think tank, which focuses on three specific areas of concern: affirmative action, immigration and bilingual education....
and the Institute for Justice
Institute for Justice
The Institute for Justice is a 501 non-profit libertarian public interest law firm in the United States. Its mission is to provide pro bono legal advice and representation, litigating strategically to pursue its goal of a rule of law under which individuals can control their destinies as free and...
. From 1992 to 1997 she was a member of the Aspen Institute's
Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1950 as the Aspen Institute of Humanistic Studies. The organization is dedicated to "fostering enlightened leadership, the appreciation of timeless ideas and values, and open-minded dialogue on contemporary issues." The...
Domestic Strategy Group.
President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
chose her as one of three authors to participate in his first "town meeting" on race in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, on December 3, 1997, and she was part of a small group that met with the President again in the Oval Office
Oval Office
The Oval Office, located in the West Wing of the White House, is the official office of the President of the United States.The room features three large south-facing windows behind the president's desk, and a fireplace at the north end...
on December 19.
Her daughter is author Melanie Thernstrom
Melanie Thernstrom
Melanie Thernstrom is an author and contributing writer for the New York Times Magazine who frequently writes about murders and crime....
.