God Only Knows

Does this man know something we don't know? Probably. But does he know who the next president of Harvard will be? And could it be him?

Last fall, Harvard's presidential search committee outlined its ideal candidate--a young talented scholar with administrative experience, Harvard ties and a deep interest in education.

Now, the search is in the last stage, and committee members are likely focusing on more subtle qualities--character, personality and instinct for leadership.

In the past few weeks, the eight-member committee seemed deadlocked, interviewing top candidates and apparently struggling to decide among a small handful of respected individuals. So far, none has stood out as the obvious choice.

With a meeting of the Board of Overseers only three weeks away, the committee has stepped up the pace of its deliberations and is working to build a consensus for a final recommendation.

Originally, the selection was supposed to have been made at the beginning of February. Then, administrators began hinting at a March selection date. And two nights ago, one search committee member suggested that the appointment would not come until April.

When asked whether the committee will recommend a candidate by the April Overseers' meeting, Chair Charles P. Slichter Jr. '45 had only one thing to say. "God only knows."

The committee met for several hours at the New York offices of University Treasurer D. Ronald Daniel on Wednesday. As they left, members gave no indication that they had reached any sort of agreement.

The leading candidates are said to be Baker Professor of Economics Martin S. Feldstein '61, Andrus Professor of Genetics Philip Leder '56 and Neil L. Rudenstine, executive vice president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and former provost of Princeton University.

And in recent weeks, University of Chicago Provost Gerhard Casper has emerged as a potential front-runner.

At this point, Casper and Rudenstine appear to be the favorites, sources in the administration are saying. Both receive enthusiastic praise from their colleagues, and both boast valuable administrative experience.

Casper was one of Chicago's most successful law school deans, and he led a record-breaking capital campaign for that school. Appointed provost only two years ago, the 53-year-old scholar is already considered by many to be University of Chicago President Hanna H. Gray's heir apparent.

But search committee members may have reason to be concerned with how Casper would fare here at Harvard--which has a much less centralized administrative structure than Chicago. In addition, Casper holds no Harvard degree and has no clear ties with any of the faculties.

Casper's two-year tenure as provost also falls short of Rudenstine's successful ten years as Princeton's provost. And Rudenstine is said to have the strong Harvard ties that Casper lacks.

The 56-year-old Renaissance literature scholar earned his doctorate at the University, taught here for four years and has numerous friends on the Faculty. Indeed, Rudenstine and his wife are said to be close friends of outgoing President Derek C. Bok.

But Rudenstine, who is also considered a talented administrator, also has his faults. He lacks experience with professional graduate schools, and his decision to leave Princeton to follow former President William G. Bowen to the Mellon Foundation has raised some eyebrows.

But both Rudenstine and Casper have demonstrated an ability to do the job, and both are probably considered safe choices for the University's top post.

The search committee, however, may be looking for more than a safe choice--they might want someone who could be a bold leader and innovator in American education.

That's where Feldstein comes in. Well-respected in his field, the 51-year-old economist is the only candidate who can boast experience in the world of politics and business.

Last Sunday, several members of the committee met with Feldstein for more than three hours at a posh Fifth Avenue hotel in New York City.

But Feldstein has less administrative experience than Casper and Rudenstine, and his controversial stint as chief economic advisor to the Reagan administration may raise questions about his judgment. In addition, some observers say that Feldstein has not demonstrated a clear interest in broader educational concerns.

Leder is also very short on administrative experience. Once rumored to be the frontrunner, enthusiasm on behalf of the 56-year-old geneticist now appears to have flagged.

Some FAS professors have said they question Leder's committment to undergraduate education. Though all acknolwedge that his research accomplishments are impressive, some suggest his range of academic interests is too narrow.

In fact, many people now view Houghton Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Jeremy R. Knowles as a stronger candidate than Leder. Colleagues say Knowles, who chaired the Chemistry Department for three years, is known for his fine judgment and attention to detail.

Finally, there is the "Rosovsky Factor."

Speculation in recent weeks has centered on Acting Dean of the Faculty Henry Rosovsky--a 63-year-old member of the search committee.

Rosovsky denied his candidacy in no uncertain terms last June.

But some say that if the committee cannot muster enough support to endorse one of the other candidates, they might just name Rosovsky, either on an interim or permanent basis. Rosovsky would be a popular choice with both faculty and alumni.

In addition, although Rosovsky seems to have been present for the most recent round of interviews, he left Wednesday's New York meeting more than an hour before the other committee members, prompting some to speculate that the committee may have needed to discuss certain matters in his absence.

But several officials say that a Rosovsky appointment, though not impossible, is unlikely. Appointment of Rosovsky might be seen as a defeat, indicating that a full-blown search process could not yield a single acceptable candidate beyond the Harvard Corporation.

And that would not be a welcome admission from a body that has taken every precaution to orchestrate the "perfect" search process.