James Harlan Cleveland ’38

Harlan was born Jan. 19, 1918, in New York. He was blinded in his right eye in a childhood accident, making him ineligible for military service during World War II. His left eye, which was cosmetically perfect, became telescopic.  

For 90 years, Harlan was an avid intellectual explorer. He was founding dean of the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. He found himself on the cutting edge of many ideas, including examining the changing para- digms for global governance and marketplace of the information revolution. He was a journalist, executive editor, and publisher of The Reporter magazine in New York.  

He served as assistant secretary of state for international organization affairs in the Kennedy administration, as U.S. ambassador to NATO under President Johnson, and as president of the University of Hawaii. During his term, Hawaii added a medical school, a law school, and an international astronomy project. He authored many books on leadership and public policy. His intellectual pursuits amazed many academic colleagues.

Harlan is survived by Lois, his wife of 66 years; two daughters, Melantha and Zoe; a son, Alan; and a grandson, to all of whom the class extends condolences.