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Lawrence Summers And The Battle For The World's Most Powerful University

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Published in Harvard Rules: Lawrence Summers And The Battle For The World S Most Powerful University

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In 2001, Lawrence Summers became the 27th president of Harvard University. He was a brilliant economist and a former U.S. Treasury Secretary. He was also a controversial figure, known for his outspoken views and his aggressive management style.

Summers' presidency was marked by a series of controversies. In 2005, he made a speech in which he suggested that women were underrepresented in science and engineering because they were not as innately talented as men. The speech sparked outrage and led to calls for his resignation.

Harvard Rules: Lawrence Summers and the Battle for the World's Most Powerful University

by Richard Bradley

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Summers also clashed with faculty members over issues of academic freedom and free speech. In 2006, he vetoed the appointment of Cornel West, a prominent African-American studies scholar, to a tenured position. The decision led to a faculty revolt and further damaged Summers' reputation.

In 2006, Summers announced that he would step down as president at the end of the academic year. His departure was a major victory for his critics, who had accused him of being arrogant, insensitive, and out of touch with the values of Harvard.

Lawrence Summers' presidency was a tumultuous time for Harvard University. His controversial views and his aggressive management style alienated many faculty members and students. However, he also made some significant contributions to the university, including increasing financial aid for low-income students and expanding the university's global reach.

Summers' legacy is a complex one. He was a brilliant and ambitious leader who made some significant contributions to Harvard University. However, he was also a controversial figure who alienated many people with his outspoken views and his aggressive management style.

In his new book, Lawrence Summers And The Battle For The World's Most Powerful University, journalist Daniel Golden provides a gripping account of Summers' presidency. Golden draws on interviews with Summers, his colleagues, and his critics to paint a vivid portrait of a complex and controversial figure.

Golden's book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of Harvard University or the role of universities in society. It is a fascinating and thought-provoking account of a tumultuous time in the life of one of the world's most prestigious institutions.

Additional Information

Lawrence Summers was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1954. He graduated from Harvard College in 1975 and from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1978.

After graduating from MIT, Summers worked as a staff economist for the Council of Economic Advisers under President Jimmy Carter. He then taught economics at Harvard University and the University of Chicago.

In 1991, Summers was appointed Chief Economist of the World Bank. He served in that position until 1993, when he was appointed U.S. Treasury Secretary by President Bill Clinton.

Summers served as Treasury Secretary until 2001, when he became president of Harvard University. He stepped down as president in 2006.

Summers is currently a professor of economics at Harvard University. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Timeline of Events

1954: Lawrence Summers is born in New Haven, Connecticut.
1975: Summers graduates from Harvard College.
1978: Summers graduates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
1991: Summers is appointed Chief Economist of the World Bank.
1993: Summers is appointed U.S. Treasury Secretary.
2001: Summers becomes president of Harvard University.
2005: Summers gives a speech in which he suggests that women are underrepresented in science and engineering because they are not as innately talented as men.
2006: Summers vetoes the appointment of Cornel West