September 2011 Harkness Report The Newsletter of the Harkness Fellows Association

he first part of this year’s Tnewsletter is devoted William to William Plowden, who died last year. William had a 50-year involvement with Plowden Harkness Fellows. It began in 1958/9 when he was awarded a fellowship on completing Fellowship his Ph D at Cambridge to go to the University of California in Berkeley. in Good It was resurrected when he joined the national selection committee in the 1980s; reinforced by his Governance appointment as Director of the UK Harkness programme based in New York from 1988/91; and continued as An imaginative new fellowship begun approaching think tanks, voluntary Senior Adviser to the programme in programme is being set up in organisations, and academic institutions London from 1991-98. And for the William Plowden’s memory. and already received a positive response last decade and a half, as Secretary with offers of research support, desk space t is being designed for people in mid and access to libraries. Appointments will of the HF Association, he was, as career, who have a new idea on how be based on a submission by candidates Timothy Hornsby, chair of the HFA public services or policy could be and an interview. noted in his tribute sent out on 30 improved but need time and space Employers releasing staff to take part June 2010: “a fount of knowledge Iaway from their day job to develop it. in the 3-month fellowship will be about past members, had a enormous Initially the fellows – there will be one a encouraged to be involved as active range of contacts which proved very year – will be drawn from statutory and participants in the programme and be useful to us in organising our events voluntary sectors, from the very local to expected to release their staff member programme, and acted in effect as the international level. Later applicants will on a paid sabbatical basis. The fellowship conscience to the old Fellowship as we be invited from the corporate sector. will conclude with a high profile lecture In keeping with William’s career fought to keep the flame alive.” delivered to an audience of policy-makers, – see feature below – the over –arching opinion formers inside and outside Praise for William’s contribution to theme for the seven years in which the government, and from across civil society the fellowships poured in to Harkness programme will run will be the role of and academia. The lecture and a final HQ, London, following the tribute good governance in supporting innovation report will be published on line each year from Timothy Hornsby. To pick out and achieving social impact. The choice of and the full series of seven lectures in just two: “William and Harkness just topics is intended to reflect William’s wide printed form at the end of the last lecture. always went hand in hand”, from range of interests and practical approach The National Council for Voluntary Naomi Kingsley. “He will be missed to public policy. Each year a different Organisations will provide the secretarial not only for what he did but also, like theme will be selected. The themes support to the scheme’s advisory group, his mother, for what he was,” Robert include: central government in the UK; advertise the fellowship, provide where Houlton. issues around urban governance in the required accommodation and support to UK and abroad; governance in emerging It was William’s wife, Veronica, chosen fellows, manage and promote the countries; the voluntary charitable sector lectures and organise their publication. who started and edited the Harkness and its relations with government. The fellowship organisers will be launching Report from 1990 to 1993, then The latter theme will be especially an appeal to meet the above costs at the William took over its successor, the relevant given the new public service roles scheme’s official launch this Christmas. Transatlantic Report, through to his envisaged by the current government for The membership of the advisory group, death last year. Malcolm Dean has charitable and private sector organisations. which comprises a mixture of mandarins, taken over this issue, but will jointly managers, academics and senior policy- edit future editions with Veronica. Creating ‘Nests’ makers is: Baroness Tessa Blackstone, We have restored the original title: The aim is to provide selected fellows Nicholas Deakin, Sir Stuart Etherington, Harkness Report. with an appropriate ‘nest’ in which they Timothy Hornsby, Kate Jenkins, George can develop their idea along with a Jones, Paul McQuail, Sir Nicholas Monck, mentor if required. The organisers have Veronica Plowden. William Plowden Quotes from obituaries and memorial addresses: William the man: nuanced, and well rounded public and improved statistical data within “Conversation with him would always servants, influential in policy who would Whitehall and for drawing on sources improve an idea or the thread of an enhance the common weal without fuss from outside government. He saw the argument. After a session in his kitchen but always with concern for the worst dangers of entrenched departmental in Stockwell, south London, with the off....He was rewarded, as by the end cultures, impervious to what was cat, the seedlings, the coffee pot and of the 1990’s, ‘his’ Harkness fellows happening in other departments. Even the camellia outside the back door, were littered around government, policy with greater openness and a more problems were smoothed out and a advisors to at least three Secretaries joined-up approach, he was convinced better way forward agreed.” [Names of States and the Prime Minister, and of co-ordination at the centre. This in bolder type please] Kate Jenkins, in valuable positions elsewhere in required clarity about strategy and a Guardian obituary, 5 July 2010, joint the public realm. Something I know consistent approach to how policies author with William on the damaging he looked on with great personal across Whitehall could contribute outcomes of many aid programmes on satisfaction.” . to strategic goals, as well as more the governance of developing nations: “ emphasis on the long term. No one Governance and Nationbuilding” William, as one of the understood this better than Plowden 2006 founding members of the and he worked tirelessly to expose 1971 Think Tank: muddled thinking, short-termism, and “William obviously relished America... “The CPRS (Central Policy Review Staff) departmental point-scoring.” he liked the offbeat, the underbelly, suited him well. He could work with the Tessa Blackstone. the difficult to categorise, the amusing exhilarating sense that its staff were a – and America had plenty of that.” band of irregulars, seeking to overcome Jennifer Dixon (HF 1990) what they saw as the narrowness, “Proposals in the 1975 CPRS report, A memorial address. inertia and monopolistic tendencies of Joint Framework for Social Policies, were individual government departments, badly needed. It was greeted nervously “He loved walking because that meant which were then strong.” by ministers and by the Treasury. Social talking, and the conversations were rich, Sir Nicholas Monck, Times obituary. scientists still refer to it. William’s blunt covering films, theatre, books, music 5 August 2010 central thesis repays reading now: as well as politics, people and places. ‘Ministers need to ensure that their No-one could have wished for a better “Plowden became a central figure priorities are adequately reflected in friend.” in the work of the CPRS from 1971 policies, which are actually being carried Tessa Blackstone, Independent until he left in 1977. He relished the out and that, in practice, these policies obituary 9 July 2010. She was joint opportunities it provided to promote are having the effects intended.” author with William of “Inside the evidence-based thinking in policy- Kate Jenkins, ex senior civil servant Think Tank” 1983. making. He argued for better research and colleague.

“We shared an interest in the cinema and advised each other on what was worth seeing. My only disagreement with him was over the role of the car. He had a down on cars, while I saw them as a liberating invention and an extension of our legs.” George Jones, Emeritus Professor of Government, LSE.

William the Director of Harkness Fellowships 1988-91: “It was William’s vision to take a quirky mix of mid career-ers and let us loose on public policy with some of America’s finest minds as guides...unconventional perhaps. But the combination of the light touch, trust and freedom was devastating.... His idea for Harkness was to produce, not a goose-stepping set of tomorrow-belongs-to-us-leaders, but a more modest force of effective,

2 Harkness Report Setember 2011 Harkness and

As first Director General of New York the Royal Institute of Public Administration: 1978 - 88 This widened his focus. He was no longer just looking at the reforms needed to improve policy-making in Whitehall, but was also applying the same principles developed in Edward Heath’s Think Tank to policy-making in local government and the NHS. (He was also an invaluable guide and tutor on policy-making to Fleet Veronica Plowden who travelled with William to Street leader-writers like myself New York for the three years he was based there as the – Malcolm Dean.) Director of the Harkness programme, describes the two In Tessa Blackstone’s words: big changes that happened in the 1980s and 1990s. “He was quick and analytical in developing alternative ideas and possible solutions. He was persuasive he first in 1988, followed a that the changes were required by about the need to make clear choices review of the programme that the Board as an and to study the impact of decisions Tbegan in 1985, was designed by alternative to closure, and had many on different client groups in the William under the threat that the only positive aspects. The new system indeed welfare system, rather than focusing alternative was a shutdown of the entire produced an inspiring and influential on the providers.” scheme. The second, in 1996, effectively set of Fellows who continue to interact ended the programme. within and between their professional William at the London School of In 1985 Alfred J (Roy) Atherton Jr, fields as well as with the wider alumni Economics: then newly appointed Director of the network. He was a lecturer between 1965- Fellowships, was urging a review of the 1971, visiting professor (1982-88), and programme, on grounds of cost, and the Key features of the new programme again from 2002 through to his death dominance of East Coast placements, were that candidates were invited to in 2010. He was elected a Governor Oxbridge fellows, and MBAs. He also focus on specified subject areas in of LSE and served on the council saw the need to evaluate aspects of which the Fund was already active, from 1987 to 2006. It was where the programme: how successfully and of interest in both the US and he wrote his first book, The Motor were they selecting for excellence and UK: Education for the 21st Century, Car and Politics in Britain . A tribute potential leadership in such a broad Promoting Good Health, and People by the Director of the Government and undefined range of fields? What in Cities. Even more broadly ‘Cross- Department at the college, noted was the impact of the Fellowships on cutting’ and generic issues such as that he had he delivered a lecture individuals’ lives, and the influence of innovation, inter-organisational working there just three months before he the network of Fellows on their own and accountability, long interests of died: “His latest teaching contribution countries and on the ? William’s, were highlighted. Candidates was a remarkable lecture delivered would be in ‘mid-career’ so slightly older to masters students in April 2010 A background rumble of some former than in the past, and they would be comparing think tanks in Europe Fellows’ disapproval of the changes engaged in public policy, so less likely to and the USA and offering a fresh that followed from these questions, be operating in a purely academic field. perspective on their trajectories and and culminated in the new type of They would come together several times development.” Fellowship William was appointed to during their 6-9 months tenure, and the develop from 1988, started then and travel element was not lost. The original continues now. Sometimes even the Harkness aims of increasing international Looking back: loss of the whole programme in 1996 understanding and developing leaders “As one fellow said to me about is attributed to the ‘Plowden’ changes. who could William ‘they don’t make them like This misunderstanding may have been bring about change in both countries that any more’. But then as I heard partly a failure in marketing, but was still held good, and would perhaps be him say in response to someone asking equally a reluctance to accept any even more clearly achieved. Continued what a model Harkness Fellow should change to a cherished icon. William The range of Fellows’ backgrounds be like, he said ‘no one model, just the and others explained to everyone and interests was in no way narrow. right ingredients’.” interested, including in an article in the Between 1990 and 1994, in addition Jennifer Dixon, memorial tribute. Times Higher Education Supplement, Continued >

Setember 2011 Harkness Report 3 Harkness and New York to the expected doctors, nurses, Fellows educationists, local authority managers and civil servants, people from housing, News police and prison services and the voluntary sector, there were still journalists and, yes, artists. As before several Fellows had spouses A New Chief Rabbi? with them who not only benefitted personally but often added ideas and Baroness Julia Neuberger (HF?) hit the headlines in knowledge to the mix, also children who now, twenty years on, remember it February 2011 following her decision to return to be a as a special and memorable time. One, congregational rabbi after 22 years. Tabitha Schenck, now 29, is currently collating a visual and verbal record of the 1991 Fellows’ time there for a July he Times led the way under the believe could challenge the position reunion headline: ‘Woman rabbi could of the Chief Rabbi as de facto leader Tbecome voice of British Jews’. of all British Jewry.” Living and working in New York from It reported that her appointment It went on: “By approving by an 1988-91 was an amazing experience “to the country’s top ‘cathedral overwhelming majority Rabbi for us, like a second Fellowship. As well synagogue’, was move that “some Baroness Neuberger, president as being involved with the Fellowships I had a job and voluntary activities which linked with the Fellows’ areas of interest. Never having lived anywhere but London, we seriously considered staying on in New York into old age. William had been hesitant about leaving the Royal Institue for Public Adminstration, but was easily persuaded, partly by our children, to leave our emptying nest and ‘go for it’. He never regretted the decision despite not getting what he called a ‘proper job’ on our return in 1991. Harkness and Atlantic Fellows have remained close friends with common interests, as has New York colleague Robert Kostrzewa. William and others were much saddened by the extreme limiting of the Fellowships in 1996, under the new Commonwealth Fund President Karen Davies, which effectively ended them.

His involvement with the Harkness Fellows’ Association was one of William’s main interests and pleasures until he died. And his lifelong belief in the Fellowship concept is one reason he would have been highly gratified by the proposed William Plowden Memorial Fellowships which we expect will get under way next year.

4 Harkness Report Setember 2011 of Liberal Judaism as the new community rabbi at the West London Synagogue, the oldest A new and most venerable of the country’s Reform Synagogues, the congregation has in effect created opera a new ‘coalition’, which raises the perceived status of Progressive Judaism to a level comparable with at 76 the United Synagogue. As leader of the United Synagogue, the Orthodox Chief Rabbi, currently Lord Sacks, has traditionally been regarded as spokesman for the entire 267,000- strong Jewish community. But the HF Composer One: Sir Peter The paper awarded the work a full Liberal and Reform movements Maxwell Davies (HF 1962-64) has five stars. The FT thought “the music together represent about one third won widespread critical acclaim worthy with exemplary skill”. And the of British Jews and are growing at following the world premiere of Telegraph added “an extraordinary about the same rate that Orthodox his new opera, Kommilitonen! testament to the fact that, at the age Judaism is in decline.” (Young Blood) in March 2011. of 76, his creativity is radiantly alive Julia is expected to resign the but more judicious than it was when Liberal Democratic whip in the A joint commission between London’s he was half this age.” Autumn and join Rabbi Lord Sachs Royal Academy of Music and New on the cross benches. The Times York’s Julliard School, it was written There were similar plaudits in the quoted a senior insider who is close specifically to be performed by Times, Observer and Sunday Times. to both the leaders of Liberal and students. It focuses on three stories It receives its US premiere by the Reform Judaism as saying: “It has of 20th century student protests Julliard School in November. Asked to be significant, the fact that a around the world: protests against by the Times in April whether the congregation like West London the Nazis in 1940’s ; against work had whetted his appetite for would be prepared to appoint some oppression during the Chinese further operas he replied: “Yes, but in one so strongly identified with Cultural Revolution; and against racial the right circumstances where I can the Liberal cause means that the segregation in America’s Deep South work with young people instead of movements themselves no longer see in the 1960s. old fogeys, and where a low budget any meaningful distinction between Both the librettist, David Pountney, stimulates the imagination instead of themselves.” who conducted the premiere and Sir having daft frocks and silly scenery. Despite her long association with Peter, were suffused in praise. The The thought of working at Covent the Liberal movement – she remains Guardian noted that “more than a Garden again, after the experience (in president until December – Rabbi decade after saying he had written 1972) I had with my opera Taverner, is Neuberger does not see the switch his final theatre piece, the chance not attractive. It was dire. The chorus to Reform as a big leap. She told to compose for students had lured couldn’t sing it, the orchestra didn’t the Jewish Chronicle: “My own view Peter Maxwell Davies back to opera.” like it, and I was treated very badly.” is that they are not very different. I think we should move more and more closely together because it’s HF Composer two: website, he explained: “I’m a wind much more about where individual Sir player, but I had some violin lessons congregations sit than actually about (HF 1966-68) at school so I have a memory of the the two movements.” His first violin concerto physical feel of the instrument – in a One of her ambitions is to ensure the sense. It’s rather like remembering how synagogue premises are “humming There were similar rapturous reviews to bowl a leg break at cricket, even if all the time” and not just for Jewish of Sir Harrison’s violin concerto, I couldn’t do it now. In recent decades groups and interfaith activities. She commissioned by the Boston Symphony I’ve written quite a bit of music from told the Jewish Chronicle: “I think Orchestra, with Christian Tetzlaff, a strings, particularly with quartet in Pulse Jewish communities should be doing champion of modern music, playing the Shadows and The Tree of Springs, and more to support asylum-seekers. We violin. It was Sir Harrison’s first concerto the players have told me it is idiomatic. have a family charity in memory of for a string instrument, having famously Perhaps composing for instruments both my parents for young refugees banished conventional strings from the without the highest level of expertise and asylum seekers. I feel very pit for his opera The Mask of Orpheus. removes some barriers, because you strongly about that.” In an interview on the Boosey&Hawkes Continued overleaf>

Setember 2011 Harkness Report 5 Fellows News

Sir Harrison Birtwistle (right) (HF 1966-68) His first violin concerto > continued don’t become over-concerned about the difficulty of the solo part.” Turning to talk about his concerto, he said: “What did concern me more than anything with this piece was the need for the violin to be heard. The orchestration is quite sparse....the soloist is in conversations with the orchestra in a number of guises. It is not an argument like in some concertos – the interchange is never angry. However it is rhythmic and there is a lot of to and fro, and immediate changes of mood rather like when the topic changes and the conversation heads off in a different direction...five instruments emerge for duets with the violin: flute, piccolo, cello, oboe and bassoon.”

The premiere of the concerto was first composers share more than just a HF they can demystify and interpret policy performed for four nights in the Boston (at different dates), they also were both environments. One of the partnership’s Symphony Hall, and then moved for one at the Royal Manchester College of first corporate clients is a private security night at the Carnegie Hall in New York. Music in the 1950s, where with fellow firm that is specialising in supplying The concerto was due to be given its UK students composer Alexander Goehr, armed guards to protect ships sailing premiere at this season’s BBC Proms in pianist John Ogdon and conductor through trade corridors such as the London on September 7. The American Elgar Howarth they created New Music waters off Somalia. ADRg Ambassadors premiere was given rave reviews in both Manchester, a group committed to act as a foreign service for the company. British and US newspapers. The London modern music. They have negotiated landing rights Sunday Times described the concerto for armed guards in several African as “A work of true originality...a Diplomats move into and Arab ports; and they have worked continuous 25-minute span that evokes the private sector through contacts at the International traditional form while always keeping at Maritime Organisation to encourage the a subtle remove from it. It is as though Peter Jenkins (HF 1971-73), who entered development of IMO guidelines for the Birtwistle has to rediscover the concerto the Diplomatic Service on his return armed protection of commercial vessels. paradigm from scratch...Ideas flow from the United States in 1973, has forth, are ‘discussed’ by the soloists, the joined forces with other ex-diplomats to Value for money concertino-chorus, the tutti, but are not create an unusual partnership. They are ‘argued’ over... the concerto seemed drawing on their collective diplomatic The CEO of this firm reckons that increasingly inevitable and substantial.” experience to provide a range of paying a retainer to ADRg Ambassadors services to international companies, and makes good sense. “It’s better value The New York Times was equally training to the staff of the UN and other for money”, he says “to have access enthusiastic: “Mr Birtwistle,76, is international organisations. Between to a panel of ten former diplomats a towering figure in British music. them the partners have experience of than to appoint a lone ex-diplomat His language, though complex doing business in every corner of the to the company board”. Demand and modernistic, is distinctive and globe. Among them are recent former for the partnership’s training courses exhilarating... throughout the piece the British ambassadors to India, Brazil, has risen fast. Course contents are violin plays a stream of jagged chords, Singapore and South Korea. adjusted to the specific needs of each gnarly intervals and twisted thematic client; their core, though, consists of flights. Then something will happen in As former diplomats they can help communication, dispute resolution, the orchestra – a pungent harmony, a assess political risk, navigate regulatory and negotiating skills. The UN Industrial twitch of sombre counterpoint – and the frameworks and guide the development Development Organisation, the violin responds with a wafting melodic of corporate foreign policies. As International Telecommunications Union line in its shimmering high range.” well as serving as ambassadors for and the International Atomic Energy Readers may not realise that the two companies and negotiating for them, Agency are among the international

6 Harkness Report Setember 2011 Obituaries

Among the many names he helped organisations that have engaged ADRg break into national journalism are Ambassadors to impart the fruit of their James Fenton, Christopher Hitchens experience to some of the international and Robert Harris. He wrote two public servants who make up the well received political biographies secretariats of such bodies. on R.A.Butler in 1987, and Richard ADR stands for Alternative Dispute Crossman in 1990. He wrote a third, Resolution. All of the partners have on Cardinal Basil Hume in 2005. acquired qualifications as commercial Although a son of a Church of England mediators. They are looking to clergyman, Anthony was an agnostic, mediate cross-border commercial who retained an interest in religion. disputes. “Mediation is often He gave the annual HFA lecture at preferable to litigation,” says Peter the founder’s dinner, where he spoke “and is increasingly encouraged by warmly of his time in the US on his administrators of judicial systems.” fellowship. It was awarded a year after

he had joined the Guardian in 1959

Anthony Howard and undoubtedly helped him become A Security Minister resigns (HF 1960-61) a widely respected the Observer’s Chief Washington veteran Fleet Street figure, who Correspondent between 1966-69. Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones (HF died on 19 December 2010 aged 76, 1961-63) resigned in May as the won tributes from both Labour and The best read man in Britain Government’s Security Minister. A Conservative leaders. John Gross former diplomat and Chairman of the Roy Hattersley, Labour’s former Deputy (HF 1958-59) an eminent literary Joint Intelligence Committee, which Leader, with whom Howard had critic, author and anthologist died analyses material gathered by MI6, MI5 enjoyed regular fortnightly lunches over on 10 January 2011 aged 75. and GCHQ, she joined the Conservative 40 years, told the Times: “He knew He was Editor of the Times Literary team in Opposition and became Minister more about everything than everyone Supplement from 1974-81, senior book for Security and Counter Terrorism at else I know, or knew. He was a great editor of the New York Times 1983- the Home Office after the last election. journalist.” Michael Heseltine, former 89, and theatre critic at the Sunday She was brought into Westminster as Conservative Deputy Prime Minister, a Telegraph 1989-2006. He was described the Conservative leader’s first national friend from Oxford days, observed: “The by Bevis Hillier in the Spectator and security adviser to help overhaul the characteristic that showed through Victoria Glendinning in the Guardian relationship between Downing Street, all his work was his encyclopaedic as “the best read man in Britain”. A the Ministry of Defence and the knowledge of contemporary British child prodigy who gained entrance to intelligence services. The Times reported political history and the characters that Oxford at barely 17, he won a Harkness there had been “prickly relations with have made it up. He wrote extremely Fellowship in 1958 to pursue post members of the Prime Minister’s inner well.” graduate literary studies at Princeton. He circle.” But in her letter of resignation, was Literary Editor of both the New Lady Neville-Jones said: “As I step down A former Editor of the New Statesman Statesman and Spectator. from the Home Office – and, as you and the Listener, a Deputy Editor of know, I told you a few months ago that the Observer, and Obituary Editor of > continued I thought the time was approaching the Times, Howard had earlier tried to do this – I look back on my time in to become the UK’s first Whitehall the coalition with some satisfaction. It correspondent reporting on the hidden has been a particular privilege to have world of departmental disputes and participated in the work of the National senior civil servants preferences for the Security Council.” In his reply the Prime Sunday Times. The experiment was Minister thanked her for her service to thwarted by Prime Minister Harold the Government adding: “I asked a lot Wilson, who issued an edict that no when I invited you to step into the world civil servants or ministers should talk of active politics, and you responded to the correspondent. His period as with typical dedication and tenacity.” Obituary Editor of the Times was well summed up by an obituary on his old We are keen to hear from former pages: “It was a job which gave scope fellows of new events in their to his interest in the minutiae of political lives – promotions, new jobs, new history; to his curiosity about humanity charitable positions, writings, books, and its weaknesses; to his fascination works of art, exhibitions. Please with the way society works; and to his forward these contributions to: not inconsiderate delight in making [email protected] mischief.”

Setember 2011 Harkness Report 7 Obituaries

> continued Chandler “more than any other single individual” with bringing that task to He boldly broke the TLS tradition of the UN’s attention. anonymous reviewing when he became Sir Geoffrey had already logged several Editor, rightly believing the practice was achievements before being awarded a cloak for assassins. His definition of a his Harkness Fellowship. He served in literary critic was as unpretentious as his the Second World War with the Special prose: “The first qualification for being Operations Executive, parachuting into a good critic will always be an interest in Greece to work largely on his own with literature for what it is, rather than for local resistance groups to the German the ends which it can be made occupation. After Cambridge – where to serve.” A pioneer of corporate he captained the university tennis team As many have noted, the title of his responsibility – he joined the BBC foreign news service first book, The Rise and Fall of the Sir Geoffrey Chandler (HF 1953- and went on to become a leader-writer Man of Letters, epitomised his career 54) received widespread tributes and then features editor of the Financial that followed. The book received on his death on 7 April 2011 aged Times. It was from that post he was rave reviews. Normal Shrapnel in the 88, for his unrelenting campaign awarded his HF, which took him to Guardian observed: “Mr Gross is one to persuade business of its moral , New York, where good argument for the survival of the responsibility towards human rights he studied US foreign economic policy. species.” and environmental issues. He was one of the earliest pioneers A Harkness administrator Leading literary figures were inspired in pushing corporate responsibility. Sheila Widra, who retired as the by his works. A.N.Wilson read Gross’s As the guardian obituary noted: “As Assistant Director of Harkness The Rise and Fall of the Man of Letters a senior Shell executive in 1976, he Fellowships in September 1991, died (1969) as a teenager and set his swam against the corporate tide to on July 17, 2011 following a long compass to follow suit. John Gielgud instigate and introduce the company’s illness. was not just enthused by Gross’s first Statement of General Business Sheila ran the Harkness London office Shylock: four hundred years in the life Principles. This was well ahead of from 1979 to 1991, and in that capacity of a legend but read the book “straight anything other multi-nationals were staffed the UK Harkness Fellows through twice and enjoyed it more than then contemplating at the time and Selection Committee, advised fellowship I can say.” Harold Pinter, who grew up – despite Shell’s misdemeanours since candidates, and played a significant role in the same East End of London where then – represented a cutting edge in vetting applications for fellowships. Gross spent his childhood, described acknowledgment that companies have She was a Commonwealth Fund the Gross memoir A Double Thread a moral duty to behave responsibly employee for 34 years. A spokesman as “a most rich, immensely readable on social and environmental issues. in the Commonwealth Fund’s New and very moving book.” Gross also From the creation of the principles York Office noted: “She exercised great edited a series of well received Oxford onwards, Chandler became an eloquent judgment and total loyalty in running an anthologies including the Oxford Book proponent of the idea that there is more overseas office for the Fund, promoted of Aphorisms (1983); Essays (1991); to business than just making a profit.” ongoing communication among Comic Verse (1994(; English Prose In 1991 after leaving Shell, he founded Harkness Fellows and alumni, and (1998); Literary Anecdotes (2006); and Amnesty International’s UK Business was a trusted colleague among Fund Paradies (2010). group and chaired it until 2001. It staff, both during her many years of sought to work with companies to employment and in retirement.” Writing in the Independent obituary improve their performance in such areas Indeed in her retirement she was columns, Anthony Bailey concluded: as supply-chain ethics and human rights. an invaluable aide to this editor and “Many child prodigies burn out, some Shell was among the companies he former editors of this report, with grow into narrowly smart adults. John harried for not doing enough around her close monitoring of the activities Gross remained a widely ranging the world in countries such as Nigeria. of former fellows. Regular reports of prodigy to the last. Rosy-cheeked, The Guardian observed: “His influence those activities were clipped from the twinkly-eyed, schoolboy-faced, the was particularly important because he Times and forwarded to Harkness HQ writer and editor with the most claim to came from within the Establishment. in London. Her eagle eye rarely missed be Britain’s foremost man of letters was, His achievements at Shell and elsewhere an event in which an HF was involved. despite many years of bad health, still gave him the licence and credibility No-one was more familiar with the enriching and astonishing friends with to talk to high-powered business long list of former fellows. She will be his conversational prowess, springing audiences.” He was well known remembered by many older fellows, on them obscure but absolutely relevant internationally. Professor John Ruggie of familiar with the period when Harkness references and quotations which (he , who was in charge House held receptions, for the warmth proferred gently) ‘you might find useful of developing the UN framework on of her smile and her amazing memory or – possibly – be amused by’.” business and human rights, credited of one’s fellowship programme.

8 Harkness Report Setember 2011 Recent Presidents and recurrent problems

By Hugh Brogan in address to the Harkness Fellows Association

t is easier to identify “recurrent the Presidents since he retired. What shall return). To discuss presidents is to problems” than “recent is much clearer, however, is that the discuss the Presidency as an institution, Ipresidents”. For what do three latest presidencies of Bill Clinton, and that is my main theme. But this we understand by “recent”? The George W. Bush and Barack Obama in turn entails a look at all the other Watergate affair, which I remember are closely entangled with each other. public institutions with which the vividly, marked a decisive epoch in Besides, I am sure that most of us are Presidency is involved, so that finally we the history of the presidency, but it preoccupied with current affairs. So are confronted with the great question, happened nearly forty years ago. in practice these are the ones I shall how well is the government of the consider. United States performing? – government Jimmy Carter, of whom, I must confess, Consideration entails judgement, but I in the broadest sense, including the my memory is blurred, does not seem am not asking you to listen to a handful political parties, the states, Wall Street to be a ‘recent’ President, let alone of necessarily premature appraisals , and the media (a word I detest, but Gerald Ford. Ronald Reagan, for good (though I am bound to say that there is cannot do without) as well as the great or ill, revived and reshaped presidential something bizarre about the Clinton and departments of Washington leadership: perhaps ‘recent’ means all Bush presidencies – a point to which I Continued overleaf>

Setember 2011 Harkness Report 9 Recent Presidents and recurrent problems

>Continued – the Pentagon, the Treasury, the State Department, and so on. This is an agenda quite large enough for the time available to us.

What are the salient features, for our discussion, of the three presidencies? Crudely, I think we must reckon Clinton’s as a success – a success won, as we all know, in the teeth of tremendous, and partly self-begotten, difficulties. Bush was a failure, possibly the worst failure, in the most numerous respects, in US history (to my mind his only competitor is James Buchanan). The jury is still out on Obama: it is not The jury is still out on Manifestations such as the John Birch yet clear whether he is a Bush trying to Society, the National Review, and be a Clinton or a Clinton trying not to Obama: it is not yet the presidential candidacy of Barry be a Bush. Yet we cannot leave it at Goldwater, were in many respects that. It’s not just that verdicts have to clear whether he is ridiculous, but they laid bare a vein of be justified. The issues and problems resentment in American society that with which each of these Presidents a Bush trying to be a could only grow, for sweeping historical has had to grapple in turn are largely Clinton or a Clinton change continued, and many were the identical – not surprisingly in view of the interests and individuals who hated it. short period under discussion (barely trying not to be a Bush Among them were many racists and twenty years). We have to ask why bigots, and old-fashioned Republicans Clinton succeeded and Bush failed, through Andrew Jackson and Abraham who still did not accept that William and if it can be put down exclusively Lincoln, to Progressivism and Franklin McKinley was dead, but the movement to personal characteristics: to Clinton’s Roosevelt. One sage of my youth would never have grown so strong as eel-like persistence and Bush’s wilful even wrote a book about conservatism it did if that were all. Ronald Reagan, stupidity. I would go further: it seems in America called The Thankless for instance, was not racist or a bigot to me that both success and failure, and Persuasion, and at the time he had or old-fashioned: once a liberal, he for that matter the current successes good reason. But in retrospect it seems moved to the Right after his experience and failures of President Obama, clear that there was always something of Communist intrigue in the labour can largely be explained by the same paradoxical about the victories of the movement in Hollywood. And there was factors. We see how differently the New Deal. For one thing, they rested undoubtedly widespread resentment three Presidents have responded to in part on the strength of the Solid of the defeat in Vietnam. The antics of their circumstances; but surely the South, the most extravagantly illiberal the neo-conservatives, still less those really important point is that the region of the United States; nor were of the Tea Party, should not deceive circumstances remain the same; and they as complete as we supposed. It us. The strength of conservatism since the moral seems to be (I anticipate my remained true that, as Calvin Coolidge 1980 mostly reflects the fact that the argument) that if Clinton succeeded, had remarked in the 1920s, “The Americans are in many respects a then Obama can; and likewise, he may business of America is business”, conservative people; and how should fail, for Bush did so, spectacularly. and after the demands of the Second they not be, considering how much they So, what are the circumstances? World War came to the rescue of have to lose? what Roosevelt frankly called “the A Conservative nation profit system” business (capitalism, if But why the hysteria? It seems to me inevitable that we begin you like) resumed its forward march What is not so clear is why the with the conservative movement. and increasingly dominated every conservative movement took the This phenomenon presents a aspect of American life. So it is not form that it did. Conservatism does particular challenge to historians of surprising that eventually its supporters not have to be hysterical, paranoid my generation. We were brought up felt the need for a new ideology to and pseudo-literate. Mass American to believe that the work of the New justify business and themselves more conservatism is too frequently all these Deal would never be undone; more convincingly than the musty principles things, so that by contrast Reagan than that, it was presented as the of old-style Republicanism could do in retrospect appears, almost, as a fulfilment of the central tradition of (there, the victory of the New Deal had sort of shrewd moderate (he never American history. The curve of that indeed been crushing). This vacuum renounced his youthful admiration for history ran from Thomas Jefferson, began to be filled in the late 1950s. Franklin Roosevelt, for example). This

10 Harkness Report Setember 2011 Recent Presidents and recurrent problems

needs explanation, which can I think be from running wild. If prosperity returns, nowadays poisons relations between found in the cultures and structures of the Republicans and the Democrats can the parties, and has done so at least the American political system. Thus, happily fight over the question of who since Bill Clinton became President in there has always been a carnival aspect deserves the credit; if it does not, the 1993. It is worth reminding ourselves to American politics, and in the age of incumbents will be blamed as usual that he only won the election in 1992 Walt Disney (a strongly conservative – and many of those incumbents are because the American Right split: Ross man) it is hardly surprising that the now Republicans. A big test is at hand Perot, an opinionated billionaire, ran carnival has now been taken over by for all concerned. Unless both parties as an independent. Not surprisingly, Hollywood and its paymasters. There in Congress can agree on the federal therefore, if dishonestly, the Republicans are, of course, many stars in the movie budget by 8 April the government will regarded Clinton as an interloper, and world who are strong liberals, and run out of money and shut down. If spent the next eight years trying in put their money where their mouths that crisis is avoided Congress will next vain to persuade the American people are, but so do conservative actors, have to authorise an extension of the to share this view of him, sticking and the mark of an actor is that when public debt limit before the end of April at nothing in the process, not even necessary he can believe anything if the or the US will not be able to meet its a frivolous impeachment. But their script calls for it. Hollywood provides obligations to its creditors. And even if passion had, I think, another root. a megaphone for nonsense, and so that matter is resolved there remains the Americans, on the whole, are friendly, do such institutions as Fox News and question of the federal deficit. These generous and hospitable; but they have other agencies controlled by Rupert are not imaginary problems; unless a religious tradition which can make Murdoch. When we compute how they are resolved the crisis will be felt by them unrelenting and unforgiving. It is much propaganda American citizens every American citizen, not to mention worth remembering that the decades are subjected to it is not surprising that the rest of the world. before the Civil War were characterised they think they believe a vast amount The Democrats, and President Obama, by much the same rancour that of rubbish, but when the test comes bear some of the blame for this we see nowadays, and it too had a they show their true colours. A well- emergency, but the Republicans bear religious basis. To the abolitionists the known journalist, Jonathan Raban, last more, and it is up to them help meet it slaveholders were damned in the eyes year went so far in his investigations by making concessions. If they don’t of God, and likely to drag all other as to join the Tea Party and attend one they will have failed the test. Americans down to Hell with them; of its conferences. He found himself and they said so, often in language of getting friendly with a nice middle- Partisan rancour extreme violence. They were the Tea aged couple who were made uneasy So we have identified at least one of the Party of their day, and they provoked a by the distinctly racist terms in which Presidency’s recurrent problems – that violent reaction from the Slave Power, one of the speakers attacked Barack of working with Congress: but it is not which also had roots in Calvinism. So Obama. Finally the woman remarked, a problem peculiar to recent Presidents. it is nowadays. No doubt there is “I’m a conservative all right, but I In every generation economic issues racism and reaction, selfishness and guess I’m a liberal conservative.” are of first-rate importance, and nationalism, on the Right; but their There speaks the true voice of Middle ultimately instil a certain realism, even bitter passion seems always to arise America. And what is clearest about in Republicans, though I must remark initially, to be aroused most fiercely, by the congressional elections last autumn that they are slow learners. All 47 religious and cultural issues: abortion, is that the “shellacking” which, as Republican Senators have declared their homosexuality, the question of Church President Obama rightly remarked, the support for a constitutional amendment and State. Until these issues fade away electorate administered to his party requiring the federal government to (and homosexuality, at least, is far was motivated overwhelmingly by balance its budget at all times. This is more generally accepted than it was straightforward economic issues. With probably mere grandstanding, and it is a generation ago) we must expect business slow and unemployment high most unlikely that such an amendment the rancour and self-righteousness to and the Democrats having had more will ever be adopted; the economic persist. than eighteen months to show what consequences of such a measure would But whatever the excitement over they could do about these problems (it be devastating. This very fact, however, economic and cultural politics, it remains didn’t seem to be very much) the voters draws our attention to another feature true, I think, that, as Leopold von Ranke turned against the government, as they of the current Right: its inability to taught us long ago, foreign policy would have done if the Tea Party had acknowledge that ideology, words, comes first. never been heard of or Fox News never ideas, grandstanding can have actual established. And I expect that the consequences, like the preacher who *Hugh Brogan, (HF1962-64 same considerations will determine the refuses to see that burning the Koran Brookings Institute and Yale) is a presidential election next year. So does in Florida, at his instigation, has led distinguished historian (The Penguin the Republican leadership in Congress. directly to a massacre in Afghanistan. History of the United States of The party now has a big majority in This has a bearing on what we may America, 1990) and biographer (Alex the House of Representatives, but the identify as a second recurrent problem: de Tocqueville, 2006) both of which leaders will do what they can to stop it the strong partisan rancour that received rave reviews.

Setember 2011 Harkness Report 11 Back Stage Staff

Who are the she ran in the 2011 Virgin London day to be running so far. My parents people who marathon. She started training for the were an enormous boost as they have kept the run in November 2010, running three followed me around rthe course and association ticking or four times a week, with longer runs provided much needed support as I over in the last on Sundays. She signed up for the spotted them at several points. Crossing decade? Sidcup10, a 10-mile road race which Tower Bridge was a particularly delightful For the last five took place in February, to give her an moment as I knew that was half way. years the HFA office idea of what to expect on the 26.2 mile From then on the race was a real in London has April run. roller-coaster of pain, determination, been kept going She confessed: “I had been given one exhilaration, near defeat, anger at the by Elizabeth (Lizzie) Martin, our cheerful piece of advice over and over again in heat, and a surreal madness.” Just the part-time administrator. Her other the preceding months: ‘Whatever you sort of emotions that dealing with HFA part-time job is also under the same do, don’t start off too quickly!’ I kept committee members must prompt. roof at Woburn House , working as an this in mind for the first few miles and But she finished in 5 hours and 40 administrative assistant to the Marshall had no idea that in fact I was going a minutes, which is averaging over four Aid Commemoration Commission. The lot faster than I should have been. The miles an hour. Together with a friend she Commission manages 40 postgraduate atmosphere and the cheering crowds, raised £3,000 for United Response, a scholarships for American students with the drums beating rythmn, and the charity supporting people with learning potential to excel in their chosen field, hundreds of other runners streaming difficulties, mental health needs, and with a range of partners in outstanding past was phenomenal. I did not envy the physical disabilities. All this preceded her UK universities. Timothy Hornsby, man with a life-sized tiger on his back, marriage in the Summer and a two week chairman of the HFA, has just been the soldiers weighed down by packs, or honeymoon driving across France with a made a trustee of the Commission. As the man carrying a washing machine, tent for a home. She has bounced back he says, it has some affinities with the but I loved every minute of it. still full of energy. old Harkness programme, but obviously “The pain set in at mile 10 when my Do not become confused when the other way round. right knee started to complainand I Elizabeth Martin is replaced by Mrs Lizzie has had a busy year. In April realised that it was rather too warm a Elizabeth Clark.

Monday 31 October Forthcoming Events: Mark Damazer Harkness Annual Lecture BBC and Oxford University: Public Institutions and Wednesday 21 September Pressure Ambassador Barbara J Stephenson Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall American foreign policy in a turbulent world Tickets £20 for members; £23 for non-members Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall Tickets £20 for members; £23 for non-members Award winning TV producer and novelist, Daisy Goodwin, responsible for life-style Wednesday 12 October programmes such as Jamie’s Kitchen and Grand Bruno Weymuller Designs, will speak at the annual Edward Can technology save us from climate change? Harkness Birthday Dinner on the 18th January Brooks’s Club, 60 St James’s Street 6.30 for 7pm 2012. This is to be held at Browns Restaurant in Tickets £18 for members; £20 for non-members St Martin’s Lane. Flyers will be sent out.

for Bloody Mary Tudor and her tutor Calling HFs in the South West Fetherstone; its Stone Hall with its Peter Jenkins (HF 1971-73) who is manor in Much Marcle near Ledbury, great fireplace bearing the Black based in Bath is already organising kindly allowed Fellows to use its Tudor Prince’s crest, and its minstrel gallery. occasional regional gatherings of and Jacobean gardens with the kind The next gathering is planned to take Fellows in the South West. permission of Adam Munthe and the place in Bath in the Autumn. The first took place on Saturday 25 manor’s trustees. There was then a June in the form of a picnic lunch. conducted tour. The many attractions All those interested should drop Nicholas Stephens (HF 1963-65), who of the manor , which dates back to an email to Peter at is the curator of Hellens, a fascinating 1096, include haunted rooms prepared [email protected]

Harkness Fellows Association c/o The ACU Woburn House, 20-24 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HF tel: 020 7380 6704, fax: 7387 2665 email: [email protected] website: www.harknessfellows.org.uk

12 Harkness Report Setember 2011 Newsletter design and layout by Mike Krage www.kragedesign.co.uk