NEW YORK--The Harvard Board of Overseers, the University's second highest governing board, met yesterday on the 64th floor of a Rockefeller Center skyscraper in midtown Manhattan to confirm Lawrence H. Summers as the 27th president of the University.

Eighteen of the 30 Overseers arrived at the G.E. Building shortly after 10 a.m. Summers arrived earlier in the morning.

The presidential search committee began the 10:30 a.m. meeting, held in a private conference room with a view of the Twin Towers and the Empire State Building, by formally recommending Summers as the successor to outgoing University President Neil L. Rudenstine.

Overseers present at the meeting said committee members individually explained their reasons for selecting Summers--highlighting his intelligence, vision and focus on undergraduates. Afterwards, Summers himself discussed the importance of Harvard's mission, describing it as a catalyst for new ideas.

Overseer C. Dixon Spangler Jr., who was present at the meeting, described Summers' presentation as "well thought-out."

Summers and members of the Harvard Corporation then left the room, allowing the Overseers to conduct a private vote.

The vote was unanimous--18 yeas, zero nays.

"The Fellows recommended, and we discussed, considered and approved that choice," Spangler said.