CHARTER DAY, December 13, 1969

The College Has An Historic Birthday Party

A BOUNTEOUS harvest of affection and honor was heaped on John Sloan Dickey '29, now in his 25th year as President of Dartmouth, as the College celebrated its 200th birthday at a giant Charter Day Dinner in Hanover on December 13.

Approximately 1200 men of Dartmouth and their ladies, representing the entire Dartmouth family, gathered in the three-acre space of Leverone Field House to celebrate "with a joyful noise" the Bicentennial of the signing of the College Charter on December 13, 1769. But they stayed on to make it a night of tribute to the towering, 62-year-old "dean" of Ivy League presidents, who is planning to step down sometime this year - as soon as a successor is named.

And when it was over, President Dickey could say only that "my cup is filled to an unseemly overflowing. For today's Dartmouth, and the Dickeys, I can only say thank you, good and true friends, for lives sustained and lives enriched beyond any man's knowing."

Master of ceremonies for the evening was Trustee Charles J. Zimmerman '23, of Hartford, Conn., chairman of the Bicentennial Committee, and chairman of the board of Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Co., who introduced six other college presidents who attended the Dartmouth Charter Day celebration. They were: Presidents Dale Corson of Cornell University, Roger Howell of Bowdoin College, John McConnell of the University of New Hampshire, Joseph Palamountain '42 of Skidmore College, Lyman Rowell of the University of Vermont, and Everett M. Woodman '39 of Colby Junior College.

The dinner was preceded by a cocktail hour at the west end of the Field House. Curtained off, the other two- thirds of the huge structure was converted into an attractive banquet hall, with a raised dais for the head table at which the Trustees of the College sat. About 150 candle-lit tables, each seating eight persons, were provided for the 1200 guests who were served with impressive dispatch by the Dartmouth Dining Association, thanks to six buffet lines for the main course.

In President Dickey's honor, Trustee Rupert C. Thompson Jr. '28, chairman of the Dartmouth Third Century Fund, announced that $42.6 million has been given or pledged toward a June 15 goal of $5l million in a capital campaign started a year ago to assure the modern university complex of Dartmouth a strong start into its third century. According to Mr. Thompson, chairman of the board of Textron, Inc., the amount received to date "is the largest gift Dartmouth alumni and friends have ever made to their college," and inspires confidence that the fund will "go over the top."

If President Dickey thought he could retire this year after presiding over the education of more than a generation of Dartmouth men, or a majority of the college's 33,000 alumni, he underestimated the holding power of his Dartmouth colleagues. He was informed that he has been named the first Bicentennial Professor of Public Affairs, effective upon his retirement as President to continue until his full retirement at age 65.

In a sense, the appointment, announced by Francis W. Gramlich, Stone Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy and senior member of the faculty Committee Advisory to the President, completes a circle for President Dickey. A history major, who was graduated from Dartmouth with honors in 1929, he had carved a distinguished career in public affairs — for many years as a Special Assistant and finally Director of Public Affairs in the U.S. Department of State - when he took over the reins at Dartmouth in 1945. And shortly after his assumption of the presidency, he anticipated the contemporary student demand for relevance, initiating at Dartmouth the celebrated Great Issues Course, mandatory for seniors to prepare them with an understanding of the major social issues they would confront in society on graduation.

After Professor Gramlich's announcement of the appointment, formally voted only the day before by the Trustees, President Dickey was given, as a symbol of the professorship, a key to his future office in Silsby Hall by Prof. Frank Smallwood '51, director of the Dartmouth Public Affairs Center, an activity which grew out of the Great Issues Course.

So now President Dickey has at least three more years on the Dartmouth scene, not in the luxury of retired spectator as he had planned, but still, as he said in his response, continuing to sit as he has for nearly 25 years "on a hot stove, striving to make it hotter even while counseling a cooling down of the rhetoric of our crowded overheated academic kitchens."

With both the Third Century Fund and the Bicentennial Professorship looking to the future, others remembered Dartmouth's past in their gifts to President Dickey.

Harvey P. Hood '18, honorary chairman of the Bicentennial Committee, a former Trustee, and chairman of the Trustees Nucleus Fund for the Third Century Fund, presented Mr. Dickey a gold Bicentennial Medal, struck by the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. The medal is a twin to one given last June at the start of the Bicentennial Year to the ninth Earl of Dartmouth.

Recalling that he had worked with Mr. Dickey through most of his 24 years as Dartmouth president, Mr. Hood, retired chairman of the board of H. P. Hood & Sons, said, "I for one know that the last quarter century's great accomplishment... would never have occurred as fast or as far or as full except for the amazing energy and tremendous enthusiasm of the builder, and his ever-present desire to create not just for today but for a larger tomorrow."

In the same vein, representing Dartmouth's more than 3800 undergraduates and graduate students, Paul Gambaccini, a senior from Westport, Conn., presented Mr. Dickey a bronze copy of the same medal for his personal possession, knowing, he said, that the gold medal would "inevitably come to rest in the College archives." Although made of bronze, the medal carries with it, Mr. Gambaccini said, "the respect and affection that we trust make it worth at least as much as the gold."

Mr. Gambaccini, general manager of the student-operated radio station WDCR, went down the list of such honored "giants" in the "Wheelock Succession" as the Founder, William Jewett Tucker, and Ernest Martin Hopkins, and predicted that "tomorrow's students, and, in retrospect, today's, will place you, Mr. Dickey, in this select group."

Judge William Timbers '37, of Darien, Conn., chief justice of the Second U.S. District Court, and president of the Dartmouth Alumni Council, presented to Mr. Dickey two volumes of letters from Trustees, former Trustees, Alumni Councillors, and hon- orary degree- recipients who, he said, "want you to know that what you have done and been for 24 years has enriched us all."

Frederick Schleipman, an instrument maker at Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering, made a replica of the 1773 sundial which had been given to Eleazar Wheelock for his garden and is today the oldest piece of dated scientific equipment in the possession of the College. In behalf of the non-academic, non-administrative personnel of the College, from library workers to groundskeepers, he presented the product of his craftsmanship to both President and Mrs. Dickey.

Borrowing from President Dickey's injunction in his Convocation Address in September to members of the Dartmouth community to "accord each other the respect that alone binds diverse men together," Mr. Schleipman said, "The doctrine of respect was not only preached by you, sir, but you also practiced it during the past 25 years and in return you have received our respect."

Then, turning to Mrs. Dickey, he recalled that behind every man there is "a great influencing factor that greatly affects the man and also the institution in which he serves," and he added "our President and Dartmouth are today both great because of the influence of Mrs. Dickey."

Finally, Lloyd D. Brace '25, of Needham, Mass., chairman of the Trustees of Dartmouth College and retired chairman of the board of the First National Bank of Boston, noted to President Dickey it may be "another generation before the full measure of your accomplishments for Dartmouth will be appraised, and in those generations to come, when Dartmouth men read or look back on your term in office, we also want to make sure that they will know what you looked like."

In behalf of the Trustees, he then presented Mr. Dickey with a large color portrait by the distinguished Canadian photographer, Yousuf Karsh, L.H.D. '6l, to "hang in Parkhurst Hall along with the portraits of your predecessors" in a possible break with the tradition of oil portraits. He also gave the president three small black and white Karsh portraits for his children.

Earlier, Drama Professor Rod Alexander narrated a historical chronicle written by Ralph Nading Hill '39, of Burlington, Vt., author and historian, highlighting the achievements and problems of Dartmouth's twelve presidents whose portraits decorated the field house and were spotlighted in turn during the narration.

When it came to President Dickey, the narration reviewed his accomplishments, from rebuilding a strong faculty of teacher-scholars to the "refounding" of the Medical School, from pioneering in time-sharing computers for education to making Dartmouth the arts center of northern New England through the Hopkins Center. Turning to figures, author Hill reported that during Mr. Dickey's 24 years as President, the College's assets have grown from $31 million to $196 million, not counting proceeds from the Third Century Fund; general endowment increased from $22 million to $145 million; scholarship funds more than doubled from $4 million to $9.5 million; annual Alumni Fund giving was boosted from $300,000 to more than $2 million, and the operating budget soared from $2.25 million to nearly $30 million.

"These achievements," it was stated, "are unprecedented in the history of the College, but there has been an even larger growth in the values of Dartmouth's presence in the educational world."

The Dartmouth Glee Club sang at several points during the narration, and it also gave a short concert of Dartmouth songs at the start of the after-dinner program. Although the Christmas vacation had begun, the Glee Club and a number of other undergraduates stayed over to be a part of the Charter Day celebration.

At the conclusion of the planned program, Toastmaster Zimmerman turned to President Dickey and said, "John, since we want this to be an evening you will remember with pleasure, we aren't going to ask you to make a speech. But perhaps you would like to say just a few informal words in response to some of the things that have been said here this evening."

Mr. Dickey thanked each speaker in turn for the gifts presented to him, but left little doubt that he was most deeply touched and most pleased by the Bicentennial Professorship which came to him as a complete surprise. "If God had asked me what I wanted most, this would have been it," he said.

President Dickey then turned to a philosophical summing-up of his 24 years in the presidency and said:

"I would that I had the privilege at this point to limit my participation to repeating the observation made by the late Mr. Justice Holmes on the celebration of his 90th birthday when he told the radio audience: "My part in this symposium is only to sit in silence."

"Of course, that great jurist did go on from the perspective of his ninety years and the vantage of his wisdom to speak perhaps the most poignant words of our time on a man's being reconciled to the conclusion of his magnum opus without himself calling it quits.

"Having neither Holmes' 90 years nor even more manifestly his wisdom, I shall speak only a few pre-retirement words from the vantage of a no-longer young man who learned much of what he thinks he knows sitting on a hot stove for 25 years, striving to make it hotter even as he has counselled cooling down the rhetoric of our crowded, overheated academic kitchens.

"When I came to this job in 1945 I had the good fortune (I, of course, like to think it was my good sense) not, as the phrase goes, to put the world of higher education down with an inaugural address. At that time I rationalized my shyness about revealing my relationship to the Almighty by telling myself that I'd wait until the time came to unbuckle my armor when, if things turned out as they should in any divinely commissioned mission, it would be unnecessary for me to prove my omniscience, - I could just admit it.

"But that great day is not yet. I've discovered the gods sometimes nod after sending a mere mortal out on their business and this can result in others not getting the message. And at least until the next runner is in sight, I shall not tempt the Lord to strike me down for self-confessed omniscience

unbecoming a mere messenger. Moreover, on a purely practical basis, regardless of the undressed fashion of these days, I am as yet in no position to unbuckle what shred of armor is still left to my loins. So let's just say that we all still have something to look forward to!

"We could, of course, whet our appetites and perhaps our swords by dangling before our eyes such questions as what mix of liberal, professional and continuing education should we seek as our distinctive service to a Nation about to follow Dartmouth into a third century; what mixture of private and public money is essential to preserve both the private character and the fundamental public purposes of the place; how can civilization be both constantly challenged and at the same time constantly conserved within a single institutional organism; what mix in an academic community of those viceversa virtues, democracy and authority, will both permit us to be ourselves and yet command an institutional leadership that can help each of us to be larger than self; and above all how can we be as concerned about being right, as we must, without introducing into the heartland of free inquiry the virus of self-righteousness and destroying that free marketplace of ideas where alone on earth error must ultimately meet the only enemy it cannot defeat - a truer answer.

"'And then there is this very special place with its unique heritage of adventure, independence and devotion; how can our time make its contribution to this coral reef of institutional character?

"Each of us might put these questions differently but if there is anything I dare not not say to you after a quarter of a century of on-the-job learning, it is that these questions are more at issue in our daily doing than in any inaugural or farewell address. However these questions are put and however they are answered by any now generation, past, present or future, they must constantly be answered afresh if this place is to remain as it has now been for 200 years a very special institutional person in the wide, wide world of institutions. That I take it is the meaning that abides in our motto Vox Clamantis In Deserto; that I take it is the abiding joy the Dartmouth family motto enjoins on us: GaudetTentamine Virtus.

"I cannot yet say my cup runneth over but it surely is filled to what would be an unseemly overflowing if I were to attempt on behalf of today's Dartmouth, and the Dickeys, to say more than thank you, good and true friends, for lives sustained and lives enriched beyond any man's knowing, let alone my saying tonight."

GREETINGS FROM PRESIDENT NIXON

Messages to the College on the occasion of its 200th birthday were received from President Nixon in Washington and from Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada, and were read at the dinner. Among many other telegrams were those from Sir John Freeman, British Ambassador to the United States, and Robert Finch, Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. President Nixon's message read:

As Dartmouth College observes the 200th anniversary of its founding, I am pleased to congratulate its faculty, students and alumni. You can look back with special pride on your impressive history, and derive abundant satisfaction for your responsive and responsible leadership in the academic community. And as you do so, I know you will also be looking forward with renewed resolve to carry your admirable traditions into another successful century. By continuing to expand the boundaries of educational opportunity to rapidly increasing numbers of students, and at the same time raising the standards of scholastic excellence, you will be preparing the future leaders of our country for useful, satisfying, constructive careers in the ever progressive, prospering society we seek. I am confident that you will bring continuing credit both to Dartmouth and to the country.

Greetings from Prime Minister Trudeau were as follows:

Through the changes of the past two centuries Dartmouth College has served well your nation and the world. For one eighth of that time Dr. Dickey has presided over its varied life with great distinction. Canadians share your gratification tonight at both outstanding records. The more so because of Dartmouth's many connections with Canada over the years and President Dickey's special contribution to better understanding of the complex relations between our two countries. Canada warmly salutes Dartmouth College and President Dickey on this historic and happy occasion.

President Dickey laughs when Paul Gambaccini '70, representing the students, tells him heis not expected to keep the Trustee gold medal.

Alumni Council president William H. Timbers'37 presents two volumes of personal letters.

Trustee chairman Lloyd D. Brace '25 presentssmaller version of color photograph by Karsh.

Frederick Schleipman, for the College staff,gives Mr. and Mrs. Dickey a modern replica,which he made, of Wheelock's 1773 sundial.

President Dickey responds to the tributes of the Charter Day program.

Among guests of honor at the dinner were college presidents (left) John McConnell of University of New Hampshire, (center) Dale Corson of Cornell University, seated right rear, and (right) Lyman Rowell of University of Vermont, standingright. Ralph N. Hill '39, who wrote the "Wheelock Succession" script for the evening, is seated left in center picture.

Among guests of honor at the dinner were college presidents (left) John McConnell of University of New Hampshire, (center) Dale Corson of Cornell University, seated right rear, and (right) Lyman Rowell of University of Vermont, standingright. Ralph N. Hill '39, who wrote the "Wheelock Succession" script for the evening, is seated left in center picture.

The Dickey family with Mr. and Mrs. Emil Mosbacher Jr. 43 at the dinner.Shown (l to r) are Sylvia Dickey, Mrs. Mosbacher, Mrs. Dickey, Mrs. JohnDickey Jr., Stewart Stearns Jr. '54, his wife, the former Christina Dickey, andJohn Dickey Jr. '63, of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Lab in Cambridge, Mass.

Alumni Council presidents with President Dickey. Front row (I to r): William H-Timbers '37, George C. Nickum '31, Mr. Dickey, Ellwood H. Fisher 21, John L.Sullivan '21; back row: Orton H. Hicks '21, Howland H. Sargeant '32, MorrisonG. Tucker '32, George I. Davis '28, and M. Carter Strickland '29.

Where is Tom Murdough? Third Century Fund chairman Rupert C. ThompsonJr. 28 seeks Mr. and Mrs. Thomas G. Murdough '26 in the dinner audience ashe announces their $2-million birthday present as a highlight of Charter Day.

More than forty Third Century Fund area chairmen were in Hanover for theCharter Day celebration. They are shown at a December 13 meeting at whichprogress reports were made and the Fund leadership discussed campaign plans.

At the joint dinner meeting of Trustees and Alumni Council members on December 11 seven Dartmouth graduates who will receive the Council's DartmouthAlumni Award during this year were honored at the head table. They are (top,l to r) Edgar R. Oppenheim '39, G. Doane Arnold '27 and Charles E. Rauch '30with Council president William N. Timbers '37, who presided; (bottom) Prof.William A. Carter '20, Forrest C. Billings '28, Jack D. Gunther '29 and RichardW. Lippman '42. Fifteen of Dartmouth's 16 Trustees, 44 of the 53 Council members, and 81 former Council members (a record attendance) were present forCharter Day.

At the joint dinner meeting of Trustees and Alumni Council members on December 11 seven Dartmouth graduates who will receive the Council's DartmouthAlumni Award during this year were honored at the head table. They are (top,l to r) Edgar R. Oppenheim '39, G. Doane Arnold '27 and Charles E. Rauch '30with Council president William N. Timbers '37, who presided; (bottom) Prof.William A. Carter '20, Forrest C. Billings '28, Jack D. Gunther '29 and RichardW. Lippman '42. Fifteen of Dartmouth's 16 Trustees, 44 of the 53 Council members, and 81 former Council members (a record attendance) were present forCharter Day.