Obama taps Leach ’64 to chair NEH

Visiting Wilson School professor and former Republican congressman Jim Leach ’64 has been nominated by President Obama to chair the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

“I am convinced that little is more important today than trying to understand and reflect to the world the values of our unique American civilization,” Leach said in an interview. “The humanities — history, religion, literature and philosophy — are all about understanding ourselves and others, about providing perspective to our lives and to events of the days.”

Leach added that he believes the humanities are more important now than ever in an increasingly globalized society.

“Our times are hallmarked by change and its acceleration — also social and international traumas,” he said. “Little is more important in these circumstances than developing perspective to allow governments to determine paths to peace and prosperity and to allow citizens greater capacities to cope with family and community challenges. The humanities are at the heart of our national being.”

The decision to accept Obama’s appointment was a difficult one, Leach said.

“I had no intention of returning to Washington,” he explained. “My wife and I like this community so much, and I enjoy teaching so much. But the humanities is really the center of a lot of my interests, and I believe that it has never been more central to our time.”

A former University trustee and member of Ivy Club, Leach represented Iowa in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 to 2007. He served as interim director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government from September 2007 to September 2008. As a member of Congress, Leach founded and co-chaired the Congressional Humanities Caucus and also served as chair of the House Committee on Financial Services.

The NEH, created in 1965, supports scholarship and teaching in the humanities. Obama requested $171.3 million for the agency in the budget for the 2010 fiscal year that he sent to Congress last month.

“I am confident that with Jim as its head, the National Endowment for the Humanities will continue on its vital mission of supporting the humanities and giving the American public access to the rich resources of our culture,” Obama said in a statement. “Jim is a valued and dedicated public servant and I look forward to working with him in the months and years ahead.”

Leach, a Republican, broke party ranks in August 2008 and endorsed then-Sen. Barack Obama for president. Leach also spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Denver later that month. After Obama’s election last November, Leach served as an emissary with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright for Obama at an international economic summit in Washington.