So he prefers to spend time with theAssociation of American Universities (AAU), afederation of about 75 research schools.

With the AAU, he attends semiannual meetingsand has periodic discussions with other members.In fact, he says much of his lobbying is a "highlycoordinated effort on the part of the AAU."

He says the largest higher educationassociation, the ACE, is too unwieldy forHarvard's current aims. And he does not list othergroups he is involved with.

Rowe mentions the Science Coalition, a group ofabout 15 research universities has set up "withNeil's encouragement" last fall. All theUniversities in the group are also in the AAU, andRowe says he meets each week in Washington withthe group.

But Rowe says the ACE and the AAU' are the mainones."

Others in similar positions seem to have beenmore involved, including Bok, who is answeringquestions about this area, strongly emphasizesthat his associations and activities were built upover his 20-year tenure in office and did not takeplace primarily during the first five years of hisadministration.

Bok was quite active in the ACE, serving on theexecutive committee for several years and as chairfor one.

"Bok helped to guide our government relations,set priorities, gaining access for us and makingphone calls," says ACE president Atwell. "He wasenormously [active]. Rudenstine has not been."

As chair, Bok set the agenda for thisinfluential group.

"I spent a lot of time responding to proposalsof the White House with respect to budget itemsfor higher education, and we would respond andcommunicate to congress," Bok says. "It's not justa question of [visiting] senators, it'smarshalling all the facts and information to dealwith them."

Bok also led the push to redefine the scope ofthe AAU.

"When I first came on board , it was an...oldmen's club, and it was a place where you gottogether under the guise of discussion, andexplained what you were doing on your campus," hesays.

So Bok headed up a task force to reconsider theAAU's role. He wrote a report stressing thechanging landscape and importance of Washingtonwith respect to higher education. He concludedthat the association's activities and missionshould change. Ultimately, the AAU became a majorforce in the education lobby.

"It did lead to some significant changes,particularly in the level of activity in theWashington office," AAU President Cornelius .Pints says of the Bok committee's report.

The proactivity of Bok's involvement withnational groups is shown further by his role on acommittee of university presidents dealing withintercollegiate athletics.