December 1972
Although Nixon and Kissinger repeatedly assertthat the U.S. and North Vietnam are near a ceasefire, December, 1972 rolls around without thematerialization of a peace accord. It proves to bea month of contradictions in other respects aswell. One day after Kissinger tells the publicthat the two sides have almost reached agreement,President Nixon orders stepped-up bombings ofNorth Vietnam (December 17). A 100-persondemonstration in Boston is held to protest thisdecision, but it does not compare with student-rundemonstrations held a year earlier.
January 1973
January features a number of importantcollege-wide and nationwide events. On January 11,John T. Dunlop resigns his position as Dean of theFaculty to join the Nixon administration. OnJanuary 16, Harvard Coop employees cease theirattempts to unionize due to harassment from Coopmanagement, but the Coop still faces a NationalLabor Relations Board lawsuit concerning unionsurveillance. On January 20, The Crimsoncelebrates its 100th anniversary, and the nextday, President Nixon celebrates his secondinauguration. On January 26, the military draftofficially ends.
February 1973
Franklin L. Ford is appointed acting Dean ofthe Faculty in February, and the search for apermanent dean begins. Four upperclass Housesapprove a plan, proposed by physics professorWilliam Paul, to revise the CRR. However, thereforms are rejected by the Faculty Council.
February also sees a cease fire in Vietnam thatallows for the return of 142 American POWs.
March 1973
Facing the Kraus plan for reduction infinancial aid for graduate students, therecently-formed Graduate Student Union's 639members opt to strike on Monday, March 19, in aneffort to gain recognition as the solerepresentative body for graduate students atHarvard.
The same day, undergraduate class attendancedrops 30 percent, and picketers surroundUniversity buildings. After four days, the unionends its strike, although Bok never recognizes theunion or capitulates to its demands.
Teaching fellows consider withholding gradesfrom undergraduates but never take action.
April 1973
As the Class of 1973 anticipates its upcominggraduation, the University votes on keyreferendums for several of the companies in whichit invests. On April 11, Harvard's AdvisoryCommittee on Shareholder Responsibility votes withshareholders to demand that the CaterpillarTractor Company disclose information on itsoperations in South Africa.
Barely a week later, Harvard votes to have thePhillips Petroleum Company withdraw from Namibiaand for General Electric to disclose informationon its activities in South Africa.
May 1973
On May 1, students are greeted by Crimsonheadlines reading, "Nixon Accepts ResignationsFrom Four Top Aides."
On May 11, the Pentagon Papers trial isdismissed after charges surface against Nixonaides who break into the office of Ellsberg'spsychiatrist.
Over the course of the month, Harvey C.Mansfield '53 becomes chair of the governmentdepartment, Henry Rosovsky becomes Dean of theFaculty and George Putnam '49 is chosen as the newUniversity treasurer.
On May 18, Law School professor Archibald Cox'34 (below) is appointed special Watergateprosecutor by the Justice Department, and severaldays later, President Nixon admits to ignoringwarnings about a Watergate cover-up in the WhiteHouse.