Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft will address "The Politics of National Security," Thursday, Nov. 29, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Statler Hall Auditorium on campus. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets, which are available at the Willard Straight Hall ticket office, are required.

Ashcroft served as attorney general from 2001 to 2005 and was at the epicenter of complex and controversial political issues of the day. He oversaw the Department of Justice in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, led the department in initiating an anti-terrorism campaign, took part in the creation of the controversial Patriot Act and refused to sign off on President George Bush's warrantless wiretapping program.

This event is sponsored by more than 20 Cornell organizations, including the Law School, Cornell College Republicans, Cornell Political Coalition, Cornell Law Student Association and the Offices of the Vice President for Student and Academic Services, Vice President for University Communications and Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education.

Audio and videotaping are prohibited, but still cameras without flash will be permitted.