Forbes, Cox Bid Farewell

When he reached the lectern Archibald Cox '34 received flowers, a polished red apple and several bottles of liquor, and when it was all over he got a standing ovation.

The Loeb University Professor and Watergate Special Prosecutor walked out of Austin Hall yesterday for the last time, having given the last Harvard lecture of his 39-year Law School career.

After an hour-long talk on individual and union grievance negotiation before 75 students, Cox leaned over the podium and asked if there were any questions. There were none, so he took a few moments to sum up his thoughts.

"It's the last day of this course for all of us, and the last day of teaching here at Harvard for me. And I can't resist pontificating for a bit," Cox said. The students laughed.

Cox continued, "I can say with all sincerity that you have made my last course here at Harvard a happy experience and a lot of fun--a challenge."

"Finally, the best I can wish to all of you is that you have an happy a time in this life as I have had, and expect to have for a good many more years." Cox said at the end of his speech. He thanked students for the presents given him, "especially for the polished apple." There was more laughter.

Cox offered to share his presents with the class in his office, and, wishing "good luck to all," walked out.

About 16 students look him up on the offer, drinking a bottle of Chivas Regal from styrofoam cups in Cox's office. He spoke about his early days in teaching, as a practicing lawyer and why he became interested in labor law.

Cox said his original impulse to practice labor law was based partly on "chance." "In the mid '70's there were very few courses on federal law, and I had a sort of a feeling that these were things that were going to be very important in the future." He also said he was inspired by the idea of "getting people to work out their differences together."

In an interview, Cox said, "for my part. Harvard has treated me far better than I deserved and I'm devoted to Harvard." Cox added that he is not bitter about retirement from Harvard, saying in fact he is grateful to Harvard for allowing him to teach for two years beyond the mandatory retirement age of 70.

But he added, while he will be teaching constitutional law course at Boston University Law School next year. Harvard "will still be my base." He will keep his office at Harvard.

Cox will also devote time to his job as chairman of Common Cause for about another two years, and is working on a trade book about the Supreme Court.

"Nobody's exactly happy when Father Time catches up with him." Cox said, adding, "but it's not the University's fault."

Some Law School students have complained about the retirement rule, and 39 students in Cox's IL signed a letter printed this week in the Harvard Law Record, stating "Mandatory retirement is a silly, demeaning policy at all times, but its evils are especially apparent in the case of Archibald Cox."

"He's irreplaceable," said first year student Tony Petitti, adding that Cox is "tough" as a teacher. "I thought he was the best professor we've had this year," he said.

Cox has taught at Harvard on-and-off since 1945, also working as U.S. Solicitor General. He was appointed Professor in 1946. After receiving his law degree from Harvard in 1937, he clerked for Supreme Court Justice Learned Hand before beginning practice himself.

He also served as chairperson of the Wage Stabilization Board starting in 1952 and Watergate Special Prosecutor from 1973 to 1974.

Cox said of his teaching career, "There's she intellectual challenges, getting to the heart of things and explaining it so that people can understand it."

He added. "If you're fortunate, there will always be people in the class who bring the excitement of dialogue, who have the ability to test your ideas, and to press vou pretty hard. That's the best of all