TOWERVIEW’s Kate Stamell spoke with former James B. Duke Professor of Political Science Robert Keohane and Malcolm Gillis, former president of Rice University, about Presidents Richard Brodhead and Nan Keohane, inaugural addresses and future plans.
TOWERVIEW: How did President Brodhead’s inauguration compare to President Keohane’s 11 years ago?
KEOHANE: It was inside. I mean, they were both spectacular. They were two of the best inaugurations I ever saw. This one, I thought, was perfect. Everything was perfect. I find no fault with it at all, except for the weather, but even then the Chapel, being in the Chapel, gave it a kind of closure, although a lot of people couldn’t come. The ceremony 11 years ago was on the Chapel Quad, and it was a beautiful day. Terry Sanford was there presiding, and Terry was remarkable and had a certain aura about him—he was Mr. North Carolina. President Keohane’s speech and President Brodhead’s speech were both excellent. They were both wonderful.
TV: Was there a main point that President Brodhead centered on that you agreed or disagreed with or that you thought would be good for Duke University?
KEOHANE: Well, I thought, folks here on financial aid. You have to keep the doors open for everybody, and I was delighted to hear that. He’s also very right when he sees Duke as a place where people work across boundaries and work theory to practice. I like that. I was at Harvard, for example; Harvard is very good at working across boundaries, but there are walls between the places. Walls, and moats, and castles.
TV: So what is next for you?
KEOHANE: We’re going to make a final decision this fall. We relaxed all summer in Maine. We’re now on leave in California doing our own research which is very, very great. I’m working on anti-Americanism.
TV: What did you think of the inauguration?
GILLIS: I thought it was extraordinary. When Nan took over I was quoted as saying the University is in extremely good hands. I say again, now, the University is in extremely good hands. You had an extraordinary President in Nan Keohane and now you’ve got another one in Richard Brodhead. Duke is extremely fortunate to have found both of these people.
TV: How did the inauguration at Duke today compare to your inauguration at Rice University?
GILLIS: Well we were just talking about that today and we can’t remember much about it, 11 years ago. I will tell you this, that Richard’s speech was extraordinary. He took the vows of marriage, you know, “Will I be a representative of everyone here, of all the faculty, of all the staff. I will. Will I take this University to as high a level as it can possibly reach. I will.”
KEOHANE: I thought it was a wonderful device, didn’t you think so?
GILLIS: I did, a wonderful device.
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