None Dare Call It Commencement

After attending Harvard's commencement last June, Congressman John M. Ashbrook '52 (R-Ohio) entered the following remarks into the Congressional Record for June 27, 1975, under the title, "Why Some of Us Don't Support Harvard." Ashbrook saw a lot of things he didn't like. Photographer Bob Ely, who was also around for commencement, saw a lot of the same things, and recorded them with his camera.

Mr. Speaker, on a number of occasions I have been asked why I do not support my old alma mater, Harvard. The answer is simple. As an institution of higher learning it is dedicated to promoting ideas which are not objective but subjective, it is hopelessly liberal and has very little balance in political ideology, either on campus or in their speaker program.

The best example came earlier this month. Dick Gregory and John Galbraith were the graduation speakers, Archibald Cox spoke at the Alumni Association. Now that really covers the political spectrum, does it not?

I heard Dick Gregory some years ago when Muskingum College was in my Ohio district. At that time he was brandishing the student body with such radical inspiration as tearing this country down brick by brick. Just the type of man we need on campus. Professor Galbraith would be right at home at Harvard so enough said about that one.

I believe in academic freedom. I believe in presentation of contrasting ideas. Harvard exercises its freedom to present what I think is a biased point of view and emphasis of liberal ideas which I do not support. That is well and good. Hopefully, Americans who are graduates of Harvard will exercise their freedom in the same spirit and not contribute to those institutions and causes which are in opposition to our ideas and which promote the very concepts, people and movements we are struggling against.