once out of the hospital, i became more committed to find other employment and sought further to minimize my contact with thomas. this became easier when allison duncan (sp) became office director, because most of my work was then funneled through her and i had contact with clarence thomas mostly in staff meetings.
in the spring of 1983, an opportunity to teach at oral roberts university opened up. i participated in a seminar -- taught an afternoon session and seminar at oral roberts university. the dean of the university saw me teaching and inquired as to whether i would be interested in furthering -- pursuing a career in teaching, beginning at oral roberts university. i agreed to take the job in large part because of my desire to escape the pressures i felt at the eeoc due to judge thomas.
when i informed him that i was leaving in july, i recall that his response was that now i would no longer have an excuse for not going out with him. i told him that i still preferred not to do so. at some time after that meeting, he asked if he could take me to dinner at the end of the term. when i declined, he assured me that the dinner was a professional courtesy only and not a social invitation. i reluctantly agreed to accept that invitation, but only if it was at the every end of a working day.
on, as i recall, the last day of my employment at the eeoc in the summer of 1983, i did have dinner with clarence thomas. we went directly from work to a restaurant near the office. we talked about the work i had done, both at education and at the eeoc. he told me that he was pleased with all of it except for an article and speech that i had done for him while we were at the office for civil rights. finally, he made a comment that i will vividly remember. he said that if i ever told anyone of his behavior that it would ruin his career. this was not an apology, nor was it an explanation. that was his last remark about the possibility of our going out or reference to his behavior.
in july of 1983, i left washington, dc area and have had minimal contact
with judge clarence thomas since. i am of course aware from the press that some questions have been raised about conversations i had with judge clarence thomas after i left the eeoc. from 1983 until today, i have seen judge thomas only twice. on one occasion, i needed to get a reference from him, and on another he made a public appearance in tulsa.
on one occasion he called me at home and we had an inconsequential conversation. on one occasion he called me without reaching me, and i returned the call without reaching him, and nothing came of it. i have on at least three occasions, been asked to act as a conduit to him for others.