"The is the most important national set of decisions in a long time," says Dean of the School of Public Health Harvey V. Fineberg '67. "We have a 50-year partnership between government and universities which has produced a tremendous amount on everything from diets to heart disease."

"That Wonderful success story is in jeopardy because of very short-sighted decision to turn away from these investments," he says.

But the situation is not as dire today as it was a few months ago. Since his return to office in February from a three-month medical leave, Rudenstine has done significant lobbying in person and by telephone with members of Congress. Deferred interest for undergraduate loans now appears safe, he says, although cuts still loom for graduate students.

In addition, although proposed cuts in research funding are still drastic, they are less severe than originally planned, he says.

But although the immediate dangers appear to have subsided, Rudenstine will spend the rest of the decade facing a much tougher political climate than did any of his recent predecessors.

Under President Nathan M. Pusey '28, who was in office from 1953 until 1971, there was almost no regular involvement with the federal government. Quite the contrary, Pusey tried to keep away from the government whenever possible.

According to Pusey's successor, Derek C. Bok, there were three factors that changed around 1971, when he took office: federal money allocated to research began to level off, student aid began to be used on a larger scale and universities became subject to federal regulations such as Title IX and affirmative action.

"Before 1970, the role of government was giving an endlessly increasing research support and [very few] questions were asked," Bok recalls. "Then research assistance to higher education began to level off and sometimes decline in real terms."

Bok established Harvard's Office of Government, Community and Public Affairs to keep tabs on changes in funding and government regulations.

In the 1980s, the Reagan Administration targeted financial aid as part of a large-scale assault on social programs.

"Mr. Reagan would repeatedly come in with proposals for major reductions in student aid," Bok says. "It seems like every year I went down to Congressional hearings and testified."

(Rudenstine has not testified in front of Congress during his four years as president, according to the Congressional CIS index. Bok testified eight times during his presidency, but only once in his first seven years in office.)

But even those challenges under Bok pale in comparison to the present threats.

"I saw Derek when there were some minor financial aid crises, but the one now and even more importantly the research issues is going to be a serious issue for the country," says Fred L. Glimp '50, vice president for development and alumni affairs.

This sentiment is echoed by Jane H. Corlette, a University director of government relations.