What's Going on With Neil Rudenstine?
First, the former president gives a talk
at the unveiling of his portrait that raises eyebrows and may or may not have caused Larry Summers to leave the room.
Then, at the funeral of former Corporation fellow Bob Stone, Rudenstine delivers what many (including me) thought was a pointed and political elegy, at least in part.
While remembering Stone, Rudenstine talked about two things that could have been interpreted as a criticism of Rudenstine's successor, Larry Summers. He talked about how Stone was never a numbers man, never believing that numbers really said anything about a person, but instead suggesting looking to "the character." And he said that while Stone was a great believer in debate at a university, that it was always tempered debate, never contentious. (I'm paraphrasing and condensing.)
Given that Larry Summers is renowned for his emphasis on data, and that he has been associated with contentious debate—and especially on the heels of the portrait incident—the remarks were heard by some as an implicit rebuke of Summers.
A number of people with whom I spoke after the funeral were struck by Rudenstine's words, and thought that they were pointed and deliberate.
If Rudenstine did intend either or both of his sets of remarks as a commentary on Summers, all agreed, such public criticism was very much out of character for him.
So what would explain it?
Perhaps years of being unfavorably compared to Larry Summers, years of having the accomplishments of his own presidency slighted. (In fact,
I've argued that Rudenstine's presidency was successful if one defines success as fulfilling stated goals.)
I still think of Corporation fellow D. Ron Daniel telling the New York Times Magazine, "We agreed that we needed somebody more aggressive, more pushy, bolder," than Neil Rudenstine.
So if Neil Rudenstine is venting some pent-up frustration—well, it would be admirable if he could transcend his anger, or bitterness, or whatever it may be. (For surely, these moments do feel like kicking Summers when he's down.)
But can you really blame him if he can't?
