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A Matter of Degree
USINFO | 2013-07-22 11:25
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — President Reagan has been invited to help Harvard University celebrate its 350th anniversary in September, 1986, but no commitment has been made because of questions about whether he would receive an honorary degree.
Harvard officials confirmed that Reagan has been invited, and a spokesman for the President says the invitation has been acknowledged.
The controversy has already begun, as academicians differ about the appropriateness of a Sept. 5, 1986, visit by Reagan.
The Boston Globe reported today that White House spokesman Peter Roussel, traveling with the President in Europe, said, "There has been an invitation received which has been acknowledged." But Roussel said it was too early for Reagan to make a commitment.
The Globe quoted an unidentified Harvard source as saying the Reagan Administration has asked university officials quietly if the President would receive an honorary degree and hinted that the White House might condition acceptance on Reagan's getting such a degree from the nation's oldest university.
But Harvard Vice President Fred Glimp, in charge of the steering committee for the anniversary celebration, said he has not heard of any such request.
Some faculty members don't want Reagan to speak and others oppose awarding an honorary degree.
"This is a man who has not honored education, who on so many occasions has viewed it as expendable," said Everett Mendelsohn, professor of the history of science.
Another professor, Ezra Vogel, called it "absolutely entirely appropriate" for Reagan to speak at the commemoration, but did not favor an honorary degree for the President.
"On the whole, (Harvard) doesn't grant heads of states honorary degrees, although of course they did so honor King Carlos of Spain," he said.
Henry A. Kissinger, an ex-secretary of state and former Harvard professor, called it "disgraceful" for Harvard to debate the question.
"When one looks over the list of honorees by Harvard, to raise any question about (honoring Reagan) seems to me almost obscene," Kissinger told the Boston Globe.
To that, a Harvard spokesman said, "We debate everything."
Harvard officials confirmed that Reagan has been invited, and a spokesman for the President says the invitation has been acknowledged.
The controversy has already begun, as academicians differ about the appropriateness of a Sept. 5, 1986, visit by Reagan.
The Boston Globe reported today that White House spokesman Peter Roussel, traveling with the President in Europe, said, "There has been an invitation received which has been acknowledged." But Roussel said it was too early for Reagan to make a commitment.
The Globe quoted an unidentified Harvard source as saying the Reagan Administration has asked university officials quietly if the President would receive an honorary degree and hinted that the White House might condition acceptance on Reagan's getting such a degree from the nation's oldest university.
But Harvard Vice President Fred Glimp, in charge of the steering committee for the anniversary celebration, said he has not heard of any such request.
Some faculty members don't want Reagan to speak and others oppose awarding an honorary degree.
"This is a man who has not honored education, who on so many occasions has viewed it as expendable," said Everett Mendelsohn, professor of the history of science.
Another professor, Ezra Vogel, called it "absolutely entirely appropriate" for Reagan to speak at the commemoration, but did not favor an honorary degree for the President.
"On the whole, (Harvard) doesn't grant heads of states honorary degrees, although of course they did so honor King Carlos of Spain," he said.
Henry A. Kissinger, an ex-secretary of state and former Harvard professor, called it "disgraceful" for Harvard to debate the question.
"When one looks over the list of honorees by Harvard, to raise any question about (honoring Reagan) seems to me almost obscene," Kissinger told the Boston Globe.
To that, a Harvard spokesman said, "We debate everything."
