But, behind all of the glamour, the search was an intensive 11-month project involving extensive research, hundreds of interviews, and hours of contentious debate.

In the Beginning

Harvard announced the nine- member search committee in July, three months after President Derek C. Bok said he would resign. Most of the members came from the business world. Of the nine, three were academics.

On a weekend early in September 1990, the committee met and compiled a list of names. The Crimson reported at the time that between 50 and 100 names comprised the list, which would later grow even larger.

The Corporation spoke about the qualifications it sought through university spokesman Peter Costa. "The corporation has not issued a set of required prerequisites for the new president, but he or she should have a distinguished intellect and be a recognized scholar. The president also must be a strong leader, and have a keen sense of management and a deep concern for Harvard and for higher education," he said.

In interviews in the fall, several overseers said that the new president should be young enough to be in office for as long as two decades, as Bok had been.

As the end of September neared, The Crimson reported that the committee had completed compiling its list; it was now 200 strong, and the committee would shift its focus to culling candidates.

Two hundred thousand letters soliciting input from the Harvard community were mailed in October.