Ceremony Honors Roosevelt

A tree-planting ceremony yesterday morning paid tribute to one of Harvard's most famous alumni, former U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt '04. Roosevelt was a Crimson editor while at Harvard.

Just a day after the fiftieth anniversary of Roosevelt's death on April 12, 1945, members of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute joined with Harvard faculty, staff and students in planting an oak tree in the former President's honor in front of University Hall. The ceremony began at 11 a.m.

James Roosevelt '68, grandson of the 31st president, spoke at the ceremony, as did Professor John Kenneth Galbraith and Harvard Vice President for Administration Sally Zeckhauser.

Galbraith, who served in Roosevelt's administration starting in 1934, shared memories of his work with Roosevelt for those gathered at the ceremony.

Other speakers from the Institute included Harvard alumni John Sears and Phillip Johnston. Johnston is on the Institute's board of directors.

Tree-planting Project Manager Sara Oseasohn said the event drew a sizable audience.

"I thought it was a good turnout," she said. "The best thing was that the weather was beautiful. I think a lot of people turned out because they didn't have to stand under their umbrellas."

Oseasohn said she thought the crowd that gathered for the ceremony was a "fairly good mix" of students, staff and tourists who were attracted by the commotion while they strolled through Harvard Yard.

Faculty, staff, students and members of the Institute had a common expectation for the tree-planting, though, Oseasohn said. They were eager for Harvard to create a monument to Roosevelt.

"What people were really focused on was that Roosevelt was one of our most distinguished alumni, and what his grandson said was that other than a plaque in Memorial Church in his memory, there really isn't anything else at the University that commemorates him," Oseasohn said.