Politics

Dear Historically Inclined,

Roosevelt’s New Deal “Brain Trust” included Columbia law professors Raymond Moley and Adolph Berle Jr. as well as economist Rexford Tugwell. When it came to naming a Cabinet, he chose Frances Perkins (GSAS’1910) as secretary of labor, the first female Cabinet member in U.S. history. She held the position throughout Roosevelt’s presidency, from 1933-1945, the longest tenure ever of a labor secretary.

In his 2014 book, Maximalist: America in the World from Truman to Obama, Stephen Sestanovich argued that since World War II U.S. policy makers have alternated between overdoing it and “underdoing” it.

David Dinkins, New York City’s 106th mayor and now a professor at Columbia University, celebrates his 90th birthday July 10 with a celebration at Gracie Mansion, the mayoral residence where he once lived. It will be hosted by the city’s current mayor, Bill de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray, and attended by Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger.

Sarah Cole and Fredrick Harris were appointed divisional deans in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Harris, professor of political science, is the new dean of social science, effective July 1. 

Dear Seeking Intel,

In fact, William “Wild Bill” Donovan (CC’1905, LAW,’1908) is recognized as the “father of American intelligence” for his service in creating, and then leading, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the country’s first centralized spy agency. Columbia can boast of having played a central role in Donovan’s remarkable career.

In 2014, President Barack Obama took a big step to normalize relations with Cuba. Less than two years later, his successor announced a rollback of many of those policies.

The nation turned its attention to Washington on June 8 as James Comey testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee, providing greater detail about President Trump’s conversations with the former FBI director regarding the inquiry into former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn’s ties with Russian officials.

Richard K. Betts, the Arnold A. Saltzman Professor of War and Peace Studies in the political science department, is widely known as an expert on U.S. foreign relations and national security. He is director of Columbia’s Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies and the international security policy program at the School of International and Public Affairs.