Presidential Perks

All this and a salary, too?

Biggest perk of all: Advance copies of the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine are hand delivered.

Frequent flights: Between a full schedule of alumni speaking tours (15 to 18 annually), development trips, and other College business, the president is away from Hanover an average two days a week. There is international travel involved as well: during his last year in office, President McLaughlin visited Australia, China and Germany.

Academic Accolades: Historically, Dartmouth's presidents have been honored by some of the nation's top institutions—and a few of the modestly noteworthy. Among his many citations, including an honorary degree from Norwich University conferred upon him this spring, President McLaughlin is the nation's only college president to have been named an "Honorary Pooh Bear" by the Dartmouth Day Care Center.

Worst view of the parade: The president always leads the procession on Dartmouth Night. We were told by the president's office that this is a perk, but we are dubious. The parade is a special event, but who can see it from the front?

Car and driver: The 1985 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham parked behind Roger's Garage is no mere car. It is VOX 1, the chauffer-driven presidential Caddy.

Seats on the 50-yard line: The First Fan gets a president's eye view of the Big Green.

Personal parking place: This spot, located conveniently behind Parkhurst, is increasingly valuable in car-crowded Hanover. Why is the space empty? President McLaughlin usually walked to work.

A mansion: The president's house has 25 rooms and 11 baths, but the occupants report that the neighborhood can be noisy at times.