As Congress recesses, Rowe and Casey will "plan for the next Congress, to plan for what we've now come to realize are very competitive and difficult times for research funding," Casey says.
Casey and others hope Rowe's Washington savvy will translate into the needed money. Rowe is making no promises.
"The issues are complex in Washington, D.C.," Rowe says. "Funding for everybody is u in the air."
Already, those who work with Rowe say he is making progress. Nan F. Nixon, director of governmental relations at Harvard's Washington office, says Rowe has already won over some D.C. politicos.
"He's been down here talking with people on the Hill, talking with members of the staff, and he made a very good impression," Nixon says.
City Relations
Hoping to head of any town-gown tensions, Rowe has also spent time with city officials. He has met with Cambridge's aloof and occasionally temperamental mayor, Kenneth E. Reeves '72, who criticized Harvard at several points during the 1993 city council campaign.
"I think we have really good relations with Cambridge," Rowe says, hopefully.
Isaac Graves, Reeves' chief of staff, says he hopes Rowe will help improve relations between the city and the University.
"Clearly as, I don't want to say your landlord, but as your neighbor, it's in our interest to have Harvard be an active neighbor and not to turn inward," graves says.
Comprehensive Review
Rowe has contracted outside analysts to conduct a comprehensive review of the mission and past performance of his office. The review has nothing to do with the public relations nightmare of the spring, Rowe says. It's simply good administrative practice.
"I figure if I don't do this now I might never get around to it," Rowe says.
The review includes an assessment of the purpose of each of the office's three components--government, community and public affaire.
"We need really to assess the reviews, to talk in a comprehensive way with the people around us and see what possible steps might be taken," Rowe says.
Despite Rowe's long, early strides, Casey cautions that it will take a long time for the vice president to make significant changes.
"He's still getting his feet on the ground interns of the university," Casey say. "When I came to work for Harvard, coming from the political sector myself, it takes a long time to find out where the Xerox machine is."