Harvard's 28th President Drew Gilpin Faust speaks during her inauguration in October.
Martha Stewart
Harvard’s Conant Cites Specter of Nuclear War in 1951 Letter to 21st Century President
Newsletter Article, Belfer Center Newsletter
Spring 2008
Shortly after becoming Harvard's new president, Drew Faust was given a manila envelope from James B. Conant, president of Harvard from 1933 to 1953, with instructions that it be opened by his 21st century successor. President Faust opened the letter, written in 1951, with anticipation. It was addressed, as she said describing the event during her inaugural address, to "My dear Sir." It began "with an imminent send of danger."
Conant's letter expressed dread at the spectre of an impending World War III that would destroy everything, including Harvard. But he hoped the "prophets of doom" would be proved wrong and there would be a Harvard president alive in the 21st century to read the letter.
"There are many," Conant wrote, "who anticipate World War III within the decade and not a few who consider the destruction of our cities including Cambridge quite possible." The international situation "appears to have taken a turn for the worse," he wrote, and wondered how the free world "is going to get through these next fifty years."
"As in Conant's day," Faust said, "we face uncertainties in a world that gives us sound reason for disquiet. But we too maintain an unwavering belief in the purposes and potential of this university and in all it can do to shape how the world will look another half century from now."
"When Conant wrote his letter in 1951, nuclear war seemed a real possibility," said Belfer Center Director Graham Allison. "While a combination of international efforts, good fortune, and grace have over the years prevented that catastrophic event, we continue to face serious nuclear threats today," Allison said. "Conant's concerns and President Faust's charge remind us that there remains much to do to help ensure that in 2058 the president of Harvard can once again call on the university to 'shape how the world will look a half century from now.'"
For Academic Citation:
"Harvard’s Conant Cites Specter of Nuclear War in 1951 Letter to 21st Century President." Belfer Center Newsletter (Spring 2008).
| MOST VIEWED PUBLICATIONS | POLICY BRIEF: AUTO EMISSIONS |
|---|---|
Policy Options for Reducing Oil Consumption and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions from the U.S. Transportation Sector The goal of this paper is to contribute to the current policy debate about how to effectively limit or reduce oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the U.S. transportation sector. |
