Leontief who has taught in Harvard's Economics Department for 44 years, stressed last night that his remarks were limited "very strictly to the department and not the University in general."
"I have not the slightest complaint against the administration or the rest of the University," he said. "I will miss the University. It is a great and marvelous and unique institution."
James S. Duesenberry, chairman of the Economics Department, said last night from Washington that he is "sorry to see Leontief go," but added that because of retirement rules, Leontief had only a few more years of tenure in the Economic Department.
He declined to comment on the reasons Leontief gave for his resignation.
Duesenberry is in Washington to testify before the House Ways and Means Committee on President Ford's economic proposals.
Dean Rosovsky could not be reached for comment last night