Former President Bill Clinton said today's service at Duke Chapel was historian John Hope Franklin's "last gift to me."

The former president was the final speaker at the two-hour celebration attended by hundreds of admirers of the late Duke professor and historian whose work laid the foundation of the study of African American history, Jane Stancill reports.

Clinton thanked the previous speakers who were Franklin's former colleagues, students, relatives and friends, including Clinton pal Vernon Jordan, who ended his remarks on Franklin by saying, "Glory, glory, hallelujah, his truth is marching on."

Then, Clinton came to the podium and joked, "Vernon, you did everything but pass the plate. There's not much left."

But Clinton was eloquent as ever, recalling when he appointed Franklin to lead a national initiative on race in 1997. "I said, before this is over, you'll be accused of racism," Clinton remembered telling Franklin.

But Franklin soldiered on, despite being shouted down at some of the race forums, Clinton said, and produced a "world-class report" on the issue. Clinton said his last message to Congress before he left office was a challenge to leaders to deal with the unfinished business from Franklin's report.

"He was a genius at being a passionate realist," the former president said of Franklin. "He was an angry, happy man, a happy, angry man, don't you think?"

We've all done it - left the restaurant and then realized later that we left our credit card behind.

But we don't all have Secret Service agents to retrieve it for us.

Former President Bill Clinton, in the Triangle to speak at a memorial service for historian John Hope Franklin, ate dinner Wednesday night at Sullivan's in downtown Raleigh.

According to a publicist for the restaurant, Clinton complimented the chef for his salmon steak, visited the kitchen and talked to some of the prep cooks, and had his picture taken with some local high school grads who were there to celebrate their graduation.

And then he forgot his credit card.

"The Secret Service is picking it up today," said Laura Krebs, a publicist for the chain that operates Sullivan's.

A handful of new graduates of Leesville Road High School received a surprise during a celebratory dinner Wednesday night - a photo with former President Bill Clinton.

A handful of new Leesville grads and their families went to Sullivan's restaurant in downtown Raleigh on Wednesday evening to celebrate the occasion.

While they were eating, Clinton came in to the restaurant. Susan Taylor, one of the Leesville parents, approached Clinton and asked if he would be photographed with the new grads, including her daughter, Lisa.

"They were thrilled," said Jim Taylor, Lisa's father.

Clinton is in town to speak today at a memorial service in Durham for historian John Hope Franklin, who died in March.

* Gov. Beverly Perdue bets Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire over the Sweet Sixteen game between Carolina and Gonzaga tonight.

* Perdue will speak at the N.C. Chamber's annual meeting on Tuesday, just after former Gov. Mike Easley receives an award from the group.

* CNN anchor Anderson Cooper will give an afternoon lecture on the campus of Elon University on Tuesday, April 7.

* Former Solicitor General Walter Dellinger remembers his friend, historian John Hope Franklin, in the pages of the Washington Post.

Historian John Hope Franklin was remembered Thursday on the home page of the Smithsonian's Museum of African American History and Culture.

The page showed a smiling Franklin standing among his beloved orchids in his Durham greenhouse, Barb Barrett reports.

Museum director Lonnie Bunch wrote that Franklin, who died Wednesday at 94, was chairman of the museum's Scholarly Advisory Committee and helped shaped its vision. The new museum is planned to be built at a site on the National Mall near the Washington monument.

"As the pre-eminent historian of the last half century, John Hope Franklin not only changed our understanding of American history but he also made America better," Bunch wrote. "His death inspires us to honor and fulfill his commitment to helping America understand its complex and difficult racial past."

Also Thursday, U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan and U.S. Rep. David Price, who represented Franklin in Washington, wrote resolutions in Congress honoring Franklin’s life.

They and others from the state's delegation spoke on the floors of the House and Senate to remember the Duke historian.

Reaction from political leaders on the death of John Hope Franklin:

President Obama: "Because of the life John Hope Franklin lived, the public service he rendered, and the scholarship that was the mark of his distinguished career, we all have a richer understanding of who we are as Americans and our journey as a people. Dr. Franklin will be deeply missed, but his legacy is one that will surely endure. Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to his loved ones, as our nation mourns his loss."

Gov. Beverly Perdue: "John Hope Franklin was a tremendous leader, historian and friend to North Carolina and to the nation. He personified giving and his work to advance the understanding of African-American contributions was unmatched by any other. He will be sadly missed."

Speaker Joe Hackney: "Dr. Franklin was a worldwide figure, a seminal author and a man of immeasurable insight. We were privileged in North Carolina for so long to have near immediate access to such a rich mind. We will all miss his lessons and we mourn for his loss." 

Eminent historian John Hope Franklin of Duke University talks about Barack Obama winning the presidency.

Renowned historian John Hope Franklin talks about his reaction to the nomination of Barack Obama for president. (Courtesy Duke University)

John Hope Franklin says Barack Obama's nomination is "amazing."

In a brief interview posted on Duke University's Web site, the 93-year-old renowned historian says that he did not think an African-American nominee for president would happen in his lifetime.

Franklin, who is black, said that he used to joke about it.

My mother and I used to have a game we'd play out in public. She would say if anyone asks what you want to be when you grow up, tell them you want to be the first Negro president of the United States — and just the words were so far-fetched, so incredible that we used to really have fun just saying it.

Franklin, who endorsed Obama in the primary, said he is hesitant to talk about the obstacles.

"Anyone who's lived in the United States 10 minutes knows that they exist," he said. "The question is does he have the capacity and the resources to overcome them?"

Hat Tip: Anne Blythe

John Hope Franklin has endorsed Barack Obama.

The renowned Duke University historian praised the Democratic presidential candidate's ability to bring together people of different backgrounds and party affiliations.

"He has shown an ability to bridge the divides in our society and unite people behind his agenda for change," he said in a statement.

The endorsement is notable because Franklin is one of the state's top historians and recipient of a Presidential Medal of Freedom (and Tar Heel of the Year in 1998).

But it's also a coup for Obama, since Franklin served as chairman of President Clinton's Initiative on Race in 1997.

He's also been a Hillary Clinton donor, giving $500 in 1999 and $750 in 2000, according to The Center on Responsive Politics.