Peretz Says Magazine Editing Won't Hinder Work at Harvard

Martin Peretz, master of South House, said yesterday that his new duties at the New Republic magazine will focus on "planning of issues" and "determining the general course of the magazine," but that his work there "will not take up more time than it has."

Peretz's comments came in the wake of the resignation Wednesday of Gilbert A. Harrison as editor-in-chief of the New Republic. Harrison sold the magazine to Peretz last fall, but had intended to stay on as editor until 1977.

The editorship of the magazine will be run a a "collegial" or collective basis, Peretz said, noting that the magazine had "become all too predictable" because Harrison "ran it as a one-man show."

"The day to day managing of editorial content will be done by Mr. [David] Sanford, the managing editor," Peretz said. The "collegial" editorship will continue indefinitely, he added, but over the long term, "I don't know exactly what will happen."

Peretz said that his past affiliation with the New Republic had not interfered with his duties at Harvard, and that the new work will not either. "I will only be doing a little bit of day to day editorial work," he said.

The resignation of Harrison came after "a lengthy negotiation," Peretz stated, saying that his departure resulted from a tense situation in which "one man sold a magazine, and then stayed on to run it." Asked whether Harrison will maintain any advisory connection with the New Republic, Peretz replied, "No."

One member of the magazine's staff, who asked not to be named, said Thursday that Harrison's resignation resulted from "problems of authority." "It was a very awkward situation," he continued, characterizing Peretz as "a guy that was not going to be a silent partner." But the staff member also said he felt that "the conflict has been overplayed."

Both Peretz and the staff member said that Harrison had not expressed bitterness at his resignation. Reached Thursday, Harrison said that he has no plans for the immediate future and declined to comment on his resignation.