Hackney's history

President Sheldon Hackney received President Clinton's nomination to be chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities last night, following months of Washington rumors about the probable appointment. Hackney has indicated since mid-February -- when his name was first associated with the NEH position -- that he will accept the post, assuming his nomination is confirmed by the Senate. Hackney, 59, is a 12-year veteran of the University and the second-longest sitting Ivy League president. He is nationally recognized as a spokesperson for freedom of speech and expression. The president was on a train bound for New York's Penn Station when the White House made the official announcement. Hackney and his wife, Lucy, attended a development dinner in New York last night, according to Assistant to the President Linda Hyatt, and could not be reached for comment. But Hyatt read from a statement which Hackney had previously prepared for the University's News and Public Affairs Office. "I am honored that President Clinton intends to nominate me for the National Endowment for the Humanities chairmanship and, if I am confirmed by the Senate, I will be honored to serve," Hackney said. Hyatt added that Hackney would make a public statement at the end of the week. There is no information from Washington on when the Senate confirmation hearings will take place or when, if confirmed, Hackney will leave the University. Hackney reportedly submitted his own name to the White House for consideration as a candidate for the four-year post in February, but he said he met with the Clinton administration's personnel officials for the first time last Friday. For months, Hackney has been cautiously optimistic about the NEH nomination. "The NEH is a wonderful institution," Hackney said last Thursday before boarding an Amtrak Metroliner bound for the capital. The agency has a $177.5 million budget -- less than one-fifth of the University's annual budget -- and a smaller staff than the University, but is also considered a prestigous institution and powerful source of funding by the academic community nationally. The National Humanities Alliance -- the chief umbrella lobbying organization of humanities groups nationwide -- considered Hackney one of the top contenders for the job and has been lobbying the administration on behalf of the president since Clinton's term began. "He has a scholarly record of distinction," John Hammer, chairperson of the organization, said in February. "He has shown an interest in public aspect of the humanities." Throughout his tenure at the University, Hackney took it upon himself to improve the school's financial standing and assumed the position of super-fundraiser. Hackney has lead a successful $1 billion fundraising campaign, which, at the $940 million mark, is far ahead of schedule. In recent years, he has also dealt with such major campus-wide issues as diversifying Locust Walk, the possible removal of the Reserve Officer Training Corps, the demolition of Smith Hall and the planning of the Revlon Center. The president's staff seemed geniunely happy for their boss when they heard the news last night. "That's great news," said Hyatt. "I'm very glad for him." Assistant to the President Nicholas Constan said the nomination is a good opportunity for Hackney. "It's been great while we had him," said Constan said. "I think he'll go down as a very good president." Both Republican and Democrat members of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee's Education, Arts and Humanities Subcommittee -- the committee responsible for confirming the NEH chairperson -- said yesterday that they have heard positive things about Hackney. "Hackney's reputation precedes him," said Lucy Mondale, legislative assistant to liberal Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.). "Senator Wellstone is also an advocate of freedom of expression." A spokesperson for conservative Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) said he does not expect Hackney will have a problem during confirmation hearings, but said that some controversial issues may arise. "[Thurmond] wouldn't be objecting to [President Hackney] unless there's a financial disclosure," aide Todd Atwater said yesterday. "[But] some moral issues may come up around the NEH."

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