1934

By an accident of the publishing calendar, the first time I can tell you anything about this year's Class Officers Weekend, which took place in early May, is now in the MAGAZINE'S October issue.

In the class newsletter, Bill Scherman wrote about some of the informal doings of the weekend. However, he left it to ye sec, as John Foley used to call this office when he so ably occupied it, to announce the citations earned by 1934 for our 1979-80 accomplishments as a class. Honorable mention was awarded us for a "strong informal reunion program, including a unique Christmas gathering; an achievement record in the Alumni Fund [say that again!]; a record-breaking 45th reunion; unusually strong communications and executive committee involvement." Such kudos are not earned without a lot of work by a lot of people; compliments are extended to all responsible.

So numerous are the accomplishments of Oscar Ruebhausen that a whole column could easily be devoted to him. What brings Oscar's name to light blindingly bright light, indeed is that in May he was elected president of The Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Presiding partner in the law firm of Debevoise, Plimpton, Lyons & Gates, Oscar was an advisor to former governor Nelson Rockefeller for 30 years. He organized Democrats for Rockefeller in several of the gubernatorial campaigns in New York State from 1958 through 1970.

One element that makes his ascendancy to the role of Bar Association president different is that while most of his predecessors (among the most noted of whom were Elihu Root, Charles Evans Hughes, and Cyrus R. Vance) were experienced primarily in litigation and other confrontational aspects of the law, Oscar's career has been that of a problem solver. He has been counselor to both government and the private sector working toward avoidance of disputes in areas like nuclear energy, privacy, and public health.

Perhaps you noticed in a recent issue of this magazine that the admissions office, filling the class of 1984, had aimed at a total of 1060 students 657 men and 403 women. Back in the fall of 1930, according to that most venerable of publications, the 1934 Green Book, 664 freshmen matriculated as the class of 1934. The virtual identical-ness of 664 for the entire class of '34 and, 50 years later, 657 for the male members of the class of '84 points up the declared policy of the College, when it went coeducational, not to reduce the number of males, but to build on top of it. As the College pursues its new course of student selection without regard to sex, the figures offered above may be helpful to remember, as a point of departure.

Word comes this way that John P. Spiegel is now Professor of Social Psychiatry Emeritus at the Florence Heller School. I realize that this is a far from definitive report about John Spiegel. There have been innumerably more items in the Spiegel catalogue for John to become emeritus of (from?) than the Florence Heller School. So I just offer this as one piece of the immense puzzle for Spiegel watchers to fit into its proper place.

Ever hear of back-to-back athletic cham- pionships, won 30 years apart? That feat has been accomplished by John Anderson, our indomitable tennis player of the near Middle West. John has made Cleveland headlines again by winning the men's doubles championship in the annual tournament-picnic of the University School Tennis Club, just as he did three decades ago, in 1950.

As these notes go into the typewriter, a welcome telephone call comes from Louise Stern revealing that Sig is resting comfortably after having had some surplus flesh removed from his vocal cords. This has been done to him before, so he's used to having a two-week period in which he may listen but not talk, an improbable program for an M.D. I wish I could get my doctor to have this operation.

The last paragraph is an appeal for news. I used to be able to bank on bumping into you on a street corner, La Guardia Airport, or the automat. But now, like the fellow in Duke Ellington's song, I don't get around much any more. News from every avid reader of this column will be most welcome, and for the fun of it I'll also point a couple of fingers at guys who were part of my checkered past but not recently. Maury O'Connor, how about bringing me up to date on everything that's happened since the summer of 1940? Bill Knibbs, despite the delight of seeing you and Lila at reunion, I need everything you told me put. on paper. Everybody else, the floor is yours, so please write and claim it.

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