Shattuck, who was not available for comment, is also the first leader of the foundation that did not personally know the late president.

"John takes office as firsthand memories of John Kennedy fade," Kirk said. "We want to be sure that the foundation isn't just nostalgic. [Shattuck will] bridge the gap."

The Harvard Connection

The Kennedy Foundation has been closely linked to Harvard since its establishment after the assasination of President Kennedy, a member of the Class of 1940 and a former Crimson editor.

The relationship, however, has sometimes been a rocky one. Plans calling for the Kennedy Library and Museum to be constructed on Harvard's campus were derailed in 1975 because of town-gown tensions.

"We hadn't really thought through the implications of bringing to an already very crowded area a magnet that would draw two to three million people a year," said former University President Derek C. Bok. "That came as a bit of a shock and resulted in a sudden decision to relocate the library."

But since the library opened in 1979 at Dorchester's Columbia Point , officials say there have been no lasting bad feelings between the foundation and the University.