40 Years of Inspiration Welcome to the Institute of Politics at Harvard University Jeanne Shaheen, Director
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JUNE 2006 40th Anniversary Under Way Galbraith Remembered Internships Go Global IOP Survey Unveiled Fellows Spring into Study Groups 40 Years of Inspiration Welcome to the Institute of Politics at Harvard University Jeanne Shaheen, Director The past six months have been very exciting for the Institute. In addition to welcoming new fellows and hosting fantastic forums and special events, we made nearly three decades of speeches and panels held in the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum available on our website (www.iop.harvard.edu). If you haven’t already, check it out! I am also pleased to let you all know that in September the Institute will cel- ebrate its 40th anniversary, allowing us the chance to rededicate ourselves to the mission of the IOP and begin an exciting new phase in IOP history. Below are a few highlights of some of our exciting programs: • In January we launched a searchable video archive of Forum pro- grams dating from 1978. Available on the IOP website, the Forum Archive is free to anyone with internet access. We are also in the early stages of podcasting recent and upcoming forums. • Our Resident Fellows kept the campus buzzing with excitement throughout the spring. They included a high ranking official in the Iraqi Transitional Government; the former Mayor of Cleveland, OH; the former National Editor of the Boston Globe; the former Deputy and Senior Director for Communications of the 9/11 Commission; the former Peruvian Ambassador to the United States; and the former Senior Political Editor of CBS News. • During April our National Campaign hosted its spring conference, which focused on voter registration and mobilization training. Representatives from 16 of our 19 partner schools were led by trainers from the Student Empowerment Training Project in how to excite and mobilize their campuses for the 2006 midterm elec- tions. To subscribe to the IOP’s e-mail list: • Our spring survey of America’s college students found that the Send an e-mail message to: majority of students believe religion is important in their lives but [email protected] are divided along party lines as to what role religion should play in In the body of the message, type: the political arena. In addition, morality and the moral direction of subscribe iop <your e-mail the country are major concerns for college-aged voters. address> (without arrows) Don’t forget to check our website—www.iop.harvard.edu—to learn more about our programs and events. I hope to see you soon! 1 INSTITUTE of poLITICS John Kenneth Galbraith Recognizing his role in the IOP’s creation In Memoriam John Kenneth Galbraith, economist, professor, diplomat and one of the founding fathers of the Institute of Politics, passed away April 29 at the age of 97. Galbraith worked in the Roosevelt and Truman administrations and was appointed Ambassador to India by President Kennedy. Following his return from India, he played a seminal role in the development of the Institute. Galbraith argued for a “center for students, graduate and undergraduate, doing research on the period or American politics and political history in general.” Upon further reflection, he became “uncharacteristically” discontented with his own proposal, declaring in a memo that such a center devoted solely to scholarship “would not be a living institution.” He concluded that, “We can only make it live with something that is itself alive.” Writing that research institutions were worthy but “[t]hey would not have been exciting to John F. Kennedy,” Galbraith put into words the concept that would become the cornerstone of the Institute. Galbraith pronounced, “If it is to have life and reflect an interest in the practices as distinct from the academic scholarship of politics, I conclude that this must be a center for undergradu- ates.” Galbraith envisioned a center that would organize discussions, coordinate seminars, bring in “political fellows” for set periods of time, and serve as “the place where visiting political leaders would meet undergraduates.” He went on to layout his rationale: “It is…the undergraduates who conduct the most active political discussions at Harvard. They would be the most interested in the political residents. John F. Kennedy would, I think, have liked the thought of undergraduates being encouraged to a more serious interest in politics. His own interest, as that of other members of the family, traces to the Harvard preoccupation with public affairs. It would fill a present weakness—the tendency for political discussion to become ‘detached from the working craft.’” President Kennedy’s predilection for action as opposed to research was expressed in Galbraith’s description of an institution that “undergraduates would be encouraged to make the…focus of their extracurricular political activity,” where they could be exposed to politics as it really is and politics as it should be. INSTITUTE of poLITICS 2 IOP Turns 40 Looking back on the history—and to the future—of the Institute of Politics President John F. Kennedy believed that fostering political engagement and To join our Anniversary political participation—particularly by young people—was critically impor- e-mail list for occasional tant to the future of our democracy. Following his death in 1963, the idea for a “living memorial” focused on achieving this goal began to develop. Three updates, or for more years later, a living memorial to President Kennedy was no longer just an information, please visit idea—the Institute of Politics became a reality. www.iop.harvard.edu/40th In the fall of 1966, the IOP officially opened and dedicated itself to encourag- or call 617-495-1360 ing young people to engage in politics and consider careers in public service. The IOP began operations by holding its inaugural board meeting, attended by Jacqueline Kennedy and members of the Institute’s original Senior Advisory Committee (see photo below). That night, dinner for eighty of the best and brightest in politics was held at Harvard in honor of the new Institute, includ- ing the ten members of the first class of IOP Fellows, a program that still attracts top political stars four decades later. Jacqueline Kennedy and members of the IOP’s inaugural Senior Advisory Committee open Institute operations in October 1966. This fall, the Institute of Politics will proudly celebrate its 40th anniversary. This important event will recognize the IOP’s historic past and rededicate the Institute’s future to fulfilling President Kennedy’s mission of inspiring young people to lives in politics and public service. The 40th Anniversary Committee, spearheaded by members of SAC, the Senior Advisory Committee and IOP staff, is developing an impressive agenda for the special two-day gala event on Friday September 29 and Saturday, September 30. 3 INSTITUTE of poLITICS Forty Years of Photos Looking back on the names and faces from the IOP’s history Key (top to bottom, left to right): 1. Jacqueline Kennedy with the first class of IOP Fellows in October 1966; 2. IOP Director Jonathan Moore and Speaker of the House John W. McCormack (D-MA); 3. Ted Koppel hosting Nightline from the Forum, 1982; 4. Bishop Desmond Tutu addressing the Forum in 1986; 5. Condeleeza Rice at the 1992 New Members of Congress Program; 6. Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-KS) and IOP Director Phil Sharp in 1997; 7. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright; 8. Spring 2003 Visiting Fellow Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk; 9. War Stories: Inside Campaign 2000 Forum (L-R: Maxine Isaacs, Karl Rove, Gina Glantz, Rick Davis, Donna Brazile, and Theresa Amato); 10. Former First Lady Barbara Bush INSTITUTE of poLITICS 4 Spring Fellows Class Spring Fellows make a splash with students and the broader community The IOP’s Spring Resident Fellows excited the Harvard campus this semester Spring Fellows through their weekly, not-for-credit study groups that discussed current issues in Background and American politics, media and international development. The Fellows Program is study group title a central component of the Institute’s dual commitment to inspire students to a life in public service and politics and to increase information sharing between the Nesreen Barwari academic and political communities. Fellows interact with students, participate Minister of Municipalities & in the intellectual life of the Harvard community and pursue individual studies Public Works, Iraqi Transitional or projects. Government “Re-inventing Iraq: Decon- Fellows this semester, who brought extensive and diverse experience in politics, di- structing & Constructing a plomacy, public relations and journalism, included a former minister in the Iraqi Nation” government, a former mayor, a former editor for the Boston Globe, the former Jane Campbell spokesman for the 9/11 Commission, a former Peruvian ambassador and a former Former Mayor of Cleveland, OH senior political editor for CBS News. “Voices and Choices: A Look into Urban Governing” “The Institute of Politics is very excited to host such great political practitioners, Ken Cooper whose extensive experience in print and television media, communications, gov- Former National Editor, Boston ernment and international affairs will benefit our students and the entire Harvard Globe community,” said Jeanne Shaheen, Director of the Institute of Politics. “Black and Brown Together, Forever? Black-Latino Coali- Our Resident Fellows also brought in numerous high-profile, stimulating guests tion Politics in the 21st this semester, including Joe Saba of the World Bank; Tim Roemer, former Con- Century”