Richard Elliott Neustadt, 1919‐2003: A Tribute

Richard Elliott Neustadt was an academic who throughout his lifetime combined politics and practice in his area of American politics in a unique manner benefiting the academic and governmental institutions in which he worked. Neustadt died October 31, 2003, as a result of complications from a recurrence of sciatica. He was important to the community of students and scholars who read and continue to read his work, to those working in the executive branch, to the John F. Kennedy School of Government, and to his two generations of students and to his extended family and many friends. Throughout his life, he was known for his mental acuity; his understanding of how government operated and how its institutions related to one another; his ability to effectively operate within its timetables; the confidence of those in senior governmental positions had in him; and his ability to motivate those with whom he dealt, whether they were students, administrators, or government officials. His web of relationships was an important part of his effectiveness, as he knew who to bring into an argument in the halls of government or just the right person to bring into the classroom. When he was 31 and working in the Truman White House, all of these qualities that served him so well were evident and appreciated by senior level White House staff. "His mind is quick, alert and imaginative. At the same time he has those superior qualities of good sense and good judgment which do not necessarily go with superior intelligence," commented Administrative Assistant Stephen J. Spingarn for whom Neustadt came to work in May 1950 (Spingarn, 395-396). In an October 9th, 1950, memorandum to Personnel Director Donald Dawson, Spingarn advocated a raise in grade for Neustadt. "His approach to problems is down-to-earth and practical. His knowledge of Government and what makes it tick is exceptional," he commented. "He knows and has the confidence of key men in almost every agency in the Government as well as on the Hill, and he is able to get the necessary staff work done on any given problem and place it in a position for policy decision by the President or other appropriate officials with a minimum of fuss and feathers and a maximum of dispatch." Whether it was at the White House or when he was at Harvard or at the Presidential Debate Commission, Neustadt enjoyed the cooperation of those with whom he dealt. "He is extremely effective in dealing with people and in securing their cooperation," commented Spingarn. Charles Murphy, Presidenr Truman's chief political and policy staff member, on the same day, October the 9th, wrote to Dawson: "I have examined the attached recommendation for promotion for Dick Neustadt which is being sent to you by Steve Spingarn. I want you to know that I agree fully with what Steve has to say concerning Dick's outstanding ability and the exceptional quality of his work" (Spingarn, 396). As a political scientist, Neustadt was interested in understanding the operations of government and in improving the functioning of its institutions. As a staff member in the Bureau of the Budget and in the White House of President Harry S. Truman, he brought rigor to the arguments made and presented to the president he served. As an academic interested in integrating teaching and practice, he brought together both through his work developing the John E Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. His active teaching, writing, and governmental careers spanned the time from his work in the Bureau of the Budget until barely a week before he died. "How can one think of the death of an 84 year old as premature?" queried political scientist Nelson Polsby who provided the answer to his own question. "But his old age lasted 10 days at most." In addition to the intellectual and common sense approach he brought to the institutions where he served, Neustadt will be missed for his warm presence. "Personally he had a very explosive laugh that you heard down the hall," commented his White House colleague, Ken Hechler. …