Ex-Labor Secretary Reich to Teach at Brandeis

Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, who announced his resignation from the post last November, will return to academia.

But Reich, who taught at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government before joining the Clinton administration, may be spurning Harvard for Brandeis.

Spokespersons at Brandeis said Reich is expected to join the faculty there, the Boston Globe reported Saturday.

While on the faculty of the Kennedy School, Reich taught a number of classes on policy-related issues, including ethics and management.

During his years at Harvard, Reich also authored or co-authored six books. His most recent book, The Work of Nations, published in 1991, has been translated into 15 languages, according to Reich.

In an interview with The Crimson after he announced his intention to resign, Reich said he would move back to Cambridge this month to spend more time with his wife and two sons.

"I love my job, but I love my family more," Reich said. "My boys are 12 and 15 years old, and I want to spend more time with them. My wife is an associate dean at Northeastern Law School, and I also want to see more of her."

"To be a member of the Cabinet is a marvelous job, but it typically entails 12 to 15 hour days and often claims significant parts of weekends," Reich said. "It does not make for much of a balanced life."

Reich said in the interview that he hoped to continue his involvement in academia and government.

"I love teaching and writing, and I will stay involved in public affairs," Reich said. "I will also continue to be involved in issues of jobs, wages and the social and economic consequences of inequality, as I have been for the last 20 years."

But in the interview, Reich also seemed to give an indication that he might not return to Harvard.

"I am a believer in the old adage that one doesn't return precisely to what one was doing before," he said.

Clinton nominated White House aide Alexis Herman to replace Reich.