The gin was Tanqueray, the Scotch was Johnny Walker Black Label, and the decor was centuries old, as about 100 Harvard luminaries gathered in Houghton Library last night to celebrate the publication of Partners in Liberty.

A `German Hercules'

At a reception for Luke I. Pontifell '90, who recently published the limited edition of Helmut Kohl's address at last year's Commencement Exercises, German Consul-General Walter Gerhardt praised his country's chancellor as "the German Hercules."

Gerhardt punctuated his remarks by presenting copies of the book--bound in Moroccan goatskin and valued at $375 each--to several of the most prominent guests at the event, including Stanley H. Hoffmann, the Dillon professor of the Civilization of France, and John Kenneth Galbraith, Warburg professor of economics emeritus.

These copies had been signed by Kohl on the day of German unification.

Although some of the most prominent names invited to the reception--President Derek C. Bok, Gov.-elect William F. Weld '66 and U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry--failed to show up, most of those attending seemed not to mind the absences.

Many speakers, however, did have difficulty reading their notes in the subdued lighting of the library's Hyde room.

"It was a far cry from the usual Harvard gathering, but the surroundings and the people made up in taste and distinction what it might have lacked in sweat and effort," said Taran J. Davies '93.

Pontifell, who founded a smallscale publishing house called Thornwillow Press in 1985, plans to release 2000 of the 44-page books, which outline Kohl's vision for a unified Germany within the framework of Europe. The books also contain a short introduction by the German chancellor.

Christmas Joy

His first publishing effort was a limited-edition children's book entitled Hello Sun. Since then, Pontifell has published books by Walter Cronkite, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. and William Shirer, among others.

The books, which Kohl is using as his official Christmas presents to other heads of state this year, will sell at prices ranging from $75 to $375.