In the 1992 election, Bill Clinton received 58 percent of the class' votes, while George Bush drew 34 percent and eight percent chose "other" candidates--notably Ross Perot. A full 92 percent of the respondents are glad of the presidential vote they cast, according to the poll.

Members of the Class of '44 have little faith in the United Nations as a force for international peace.

Eighty-three percent say the U.N. is not now capable of ensuring a stable new world order. But they also say there's still hope: 76 percent feel the U.S. can "play a role" in making the U.N. more effective.

A Turbulent Time

While World War II affected students of 1944 more than perhaps any other historical event in their life-times, the turbulent period since graduation has also touched their lives in many ways.

The class was divided on which events affected them the most. Relatively few sent children to Vietnam, and Atherton notes the Vietnam, conflict drew far less support from members of the class than World War II had.

Only eight percent said the sexual revolution of the 1960s had "great impact" on them, though one noted on the survey that he regretted coming to late for it.

The civil rights revolution had "some" or "little" impact for most, with only 13 percent citing it as extremely influential.

The feminist movement had "some" or "little impact on 64 percent of the all-male class, while 22 percent said it didn't affect them at all.

Atherton says he feels the most "remarkable" thing about his class is its feeling of unity.

Due to the war, "we didn't have the bonding you think of at college," he says. "We have since gradually begun to find our identity as a class."

Sixty-four percent of the class feels "very favorable" about its Harvard education today. Opinion is a bit more tepid about "Harvard today": 34 percent are "very favorable," and 32 percent are "somewhat favorable."