'Democracy Dies Behind Closed Doors': Civil Liberties and National Defense

Can the United States be both safe and free? According to Nadine Strossen, law professor and president of the American Civil Liberties Union, there should be 'no inherent conflict between national defense and civil liberties,' and she sharply criticizes the government's efforts to expand its law-enforcement powers in the wake of the September 11 attacks. Speaking at the annual Schwartz Lecture hosted by the University of Chicago Law School, Strossen assails the passage of the USA Patriot Act and Attorney General John Ashcroft's belief that champions of civil liberties are unwittingly aiding terrorists. Copyright 2002 The University of Chicago.