In response to the radical protests of the late1960's and early 1970's there was a moreconservative climate on campus, Lynn says, thatmanifested itself both in the politicalinvolvement and career choices of students.
"We arrived in '74 and there were certainly alot fewer campus activists than there had been,"Lynn says. "There were a lot of people who werefocussed on getting into med school, law school orbusiness school."
Reflections on the Candidate
Those who knew Roosevelt as an undergraduatehere remember this year's democratic gubernatorialcandidate for his social consciousness, hisambition and his sense of humor.
Although Roosevelt was hard-working, he was notoverly competitive, Lynn says.
"He was driven," Lynn concedes. "But he was notlike the vast majority of driven students I knewin College."
Nor did Roosevelt's prestigious lineage givehim a pretense for arrogance, friends recall.
"If you take the confidence a typicalundergraduate has, and you pitch it up even moreto a truly high level of self-confidence, that wasMark," Alter says. "But it was leavened with asense of humor and the ability to not take himselftoo seriously."
Even his current political rivals applaudRoosevelt for his political involvement.
"Although we belong to different parties, Icommend him for going out there and fighting thegood fight," Republican Malone says. "The strengthof the democratic process is good people going outthere and running."
Roosevelt, however, is less proud of hispersonality during his Harvard years. "I was veryself-righteous, overly critical of other people,"he says. "I probably still am."
In the 16 years since he left Harvard,Roosevelt may have shed some of theself-righteousness he describes. But traces ofthat critical nature remain--especially when itcomes to his life-long passion for politics.
Just ask Bill Weld.