The committee, which Bok chaired, tackled theproblems of low graduation rates for collegeathletes--particularly minorities--and theaccentuation of academics in their lives.

"They were threatening to legislate...and theydidn't do so much because we were making a veryserious effort," Bok says.

The committee produced the landmark Proposition48, penned by Bok himself.

Proposition 48 sets minimum high school gradeand SAT score requirements for athletes to beeligible during their first year.

Bok, of course, had 20 years to developrelationships in Washington and with otheruniversity presidents, so any comparison withRudenstine may be unfair.

But MIT President Charles M. Vest, who beganhim term in October, 1990--five months beforeRudenstine was named president ofHarvard--provides a more appropriate analog.

Vest is a member of the President's Committeeof Advisers on Science and Technology.

He serves on the council on Competitiveness,composed of industry captains and academics whoreview the nation's overall abilities to producegoods.

Two years ago, he chaired a committee ofscientists to review the space station, turningout a report that helped change its design.

"It's a very important part of his strategy,"Ronald P. Suduiko '72, an assistant to MIT'spresident, says of Vest's participation on theCommittees.

Progress With Congress

At the end of the last session of Congress,shortly before elections, Rudenstine sat down with10 senior staffers from Congressional committees.

The president proceeded to explain in a clear,easy-to-understand manner, his positions ontuition, financial aid and need-blind admissions.

The staffers were impressed, insiders say, byRudenstine's willingness and ability to grasp andcommunicate the complexities of such a broad arrayof issues. Furthermore, Rudenstine was well-versedon several other national issues--from student aidto welfare reform--that arose.

In fact, Rudenstine has received praise allaround for his individual lobbying ofCongressional representatives and staffs. He isrenowned for the breadth of his knowledge,garnered from years of feverish reading. And he isknown for his ability to convey a clear sense ofthe benefits of higher education. Both of thesetalents help him immensely in his congressionallobbying.