HARVARD GAZETTE ARCHIVES

Kahns Establish KSG Professorship To Honor Kirkpatricks

Leo Kahn '38 and Emily Gantt Kahn, ALB '89, have endowed a professorship at the Kennedy School of Government in honor of Jeane J. and Evron M. Kirkpatrick.

"The Kennedy School, like other parts of Harvard, is planning for the future with a strong awareness of the increasingly international dimensions of contemporary life," said President Neil L. Rudenstine. "The new Kirkpatrick Professorship, recognizing two distinguished leaders in international affairs and political science, will advance the Kennedy School's efforts in a major way. We are very grateful to the Kahns for their deep interest in linking scholarship and education concerning international affairs to public policy and public service."

Longtime admirers of Jeane Kirkpatrick, the Kahns wanted to establish a permanent tribute to recognize the lives, careers, and legacies of Jeane and Evron Kirkpatrick.

A widely respected scholar, Jeane Kirkpatrick is Leavey Professor of Government at Georgetown University and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). She served for more than four years as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and was a member of the Cabinet during the Reagan administration. She chaired the Secretary of Defense Commission on Fail Safe and Risk Reduction from 1991 to 1992 and served as a member of the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board from 1985 to 1990 and the Defense Policy Review Board from 1985 to 1993.

In addition to her responsibilities at Georgetown and AEI, Kirkpatrick writes and speaks frequently on foreign policy and security affairs. She has written nine books on international relations, politics, and government affairs. She received a bachelor's degree from Barnard College, and master's and doctoral degrees from Columbia University, and studied at the Institute de Science Politique in Paris.

Among the numerous awards bestowed on Kirkpatrick is the Medal of Freedom -- the nation's highest civilian honor.

Evron Kirkpatrick, who died in 1995, also led a noted career in academia and public service, teaching at the University of Minnesota, Howard and Georgetown universities, and, from 1954 until his retirement in 1981, serving as executive director of the American Political Science Association (APSA). He fostered the organization's growth from about 7,000 to more than 15,000 members and endeavored to keep it from becoming politicized. In 1981 he became a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. His publications include Foundation of Political Science (1970) and The Past and Future of Presidential Debates (1979). He wrote on the development of the world communist movement as well.

Evron Kirkpatrick received bachelor's and master's degrees in political science from the University of Illinois and a doctorate in political science from Yale.

"Jeane Kirkpatrick has been an outstanding figure in both international relations and academia and Evron Kirkpatrick was a distinguished political scientist," said Leo Kahn. "I am happy to be able to establish a chair for someone who may reflect not necessarily Jeane Kirkpatrick's views, but rather her successful marrying of politics and academia."

"It is wonderful for Leo and Emily to have endowed a new professorship," said Dean of the Kennedy School of Government Joseph S. Nye Jr. "The opportunity to add a senior international relations scholar is especially valuable as we focus ever more closely on regional studies and governments around the world."

Leo Kahn first became involved at the Kennedy School as a supporter and founding board member of the Institute for Social and Economic Policy in the Middle East, headed by director Leonard J. Hausman. "The Institute -- by bringing together Israelis and Arabs -- has been an important vehicle for calm analysis and honest foresight," said Kahn. "I am proud of its many concrete accomplishments in reinforcing the dreams of enduring peace in the Middle East."

The genesis of the Kahns' interest in establishing the professorship was an article by Professor of Yiddish Literature and of Comparative Literature Ruth R. Wisse, in which she urged area universities to step forward and honor Kirkpatrick.

"I felt very few people are as worthy of honor as Jeane Kirkpatrick," said Wisse. "She has been a remarkable figure in international relations and, in particular, she is someone for whom Jewish people should be most grateful."

Loyal alumnus Leo Kahn responded and now the search process for the first Kirkpatrick Professor has begun.

After graduating from Harvard College, Leo Kahn earned a master's in journalism from Columbia University. He served as captain navigator in the Air Corps during World War II. He then joined his father in a grocery store business and built a major operation, including the Purity supermarket chain (which merged with Supreme to become Purity Supreme), warehouse food stores, pharmacies, and convenience stores.

On selling the businesses in 1984, he embarked on another venture -- Staples Inc. -- with fellow Crimson basketball fan Thomas G. Stemberg '71, MBA '73. After serving as chair of Staples's executive committee for several years, Kahn became a founding investor in the Maryland-based Fresh Fields natural foods grocery stores. He is now developing natural foods grocery stores called Nature's Heartland in the Boston area. While his professional commitments keep him busy ("He's at the office eight days a week!" jokes Emily Kahn), Kahn has found time to train for and run in three marathons.

An enthusiastic Harvard supporter, Kahn is a member of the Committee on University Resources and the Friends of Harvard Basketball. He has frequently participated in Harvard College Fund activities.

Previously, he established in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences the Morris Kahn Associate Professorship in memory of his father. Economist Caroline Minter Hoxby is its fourth incumbent.

Emily Gantt Kahn graduated cum laude from the Extension School and shares her husband's enthusiasm for the University. "It was the best education I could imagine," she said of her social studies curriculum. "Leo, I, and two of our children -- plus a nephew, a cousin, and Leo's brother -- have had the benefit of a Harvard education. One of the reasons we wanted to establish another professorship was to express our gratitude."

The Kahns have five children and one grandchild. Lisa Birk is an adjunct professor of English at Boston University. Joseph Kahn '87, AM '90, lives in Hong Kong and reports on China for the Wall Street Journal. Andrea Birk is studying midwifery in Florida. Danny Kahn '88, after serving in the Israeli army for three years, returned to Boston with his wife and child and is a Nature's Heartland executive. Libby Kahn is a third-year law student at Boston University.