memorial to JKG

THE BLOG
of John Gelles

May 26, 2006

Below is an abridged HTML version of the formal program announcement
for the memorial tribute to John Kenneth Galbraith
at Harvard University
May 31, 2006

I will remember John Kenneth Galbraith as the man who should have been King of the World—after the Allied Victories in 1945 (when he was 36)—for the next sixty-one years. (When I once long ago by mail informed him of our need that he reign he politely agreed.)

Who better to have advised the West (and the East) in the years when we lost the political will (but should not have) to implement the bill of economic rights of January 11th, 1944 asked for by President Roosevelt in addressing the state of the union?

Now we are again engaged is a war for human rights with an uncertain political will to see them enacted in law. All of us who will share in this memorial (at Harvard or on line) owe John Kenneth Galbraith and the world he left behind our devotion to this cause for which he lived.

The Thirty-first of May
Two thousand six
At two o’clock

Harvard University
The Memorial Church
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Order of Service

PRELUDE	Frederic Chopin Franz Schubert
INVOCATION	The Reverend Professor Peter J. Gomes
WELCOME	Derek C. Bok
FIRST WORDS	James K. Galbraith
TRIBUTES	Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. William F. Buckley Jr. Gloria Steinem
HYMN	“O God, Our Help in Ages Past”
SECOND WORDS	J. Alan Galbraith
TRIBUTES	George S. McGovern Richard Parker Amartya Sen
Crossing the Bar Alfred Tennyson	Jean Galbraith
HYMN	“Now the Day Is Over”
TRIBUTE	Edward M. Kennedy
LAST WORDS	Peter W. Galbraith
BENEDICTION	The Reverend Professor Peter J. Gomes
RECESSIONAL	“Auld Lang Syne”

TRIBUTE FROM PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH:

“I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing away of Professor Galbraith. In his passing away, India has lost a dear and trusted friend, the discipline of economics has lost a most lucid interpreter, the people of America have lost a great liberal and a voice of reason, and his admirers around the world have lost a profound teacher, thinker, philosopher, diplomat, and a man of peace. Professor Galbraith shaped our thinking about the postwar world and the dynamics of modern capitalism. His deep insights into the workings of an industrial society, the monetary system, and the world economy gave us reasons to be optimistic about our future. His wry wit, sarcasm, and evocative language brought to life the dry discipline of economics, educating and entertaining millions of students of the dismal science.”

THE FAMILY WOULD LIKE TO THANK:

John Anderson, Bob Backus, Sylvia Baldwin, Cislyn Barrett, Jean Campbell, Joanne Cotter, Barbara DeLutis, Proscovia Hefflin, Doris Herbert, Ellen Howell, Sushila Karintikal, Helen Kass, Joanne Kerwin, Edith Mondesir, Taffy and Peter Morgan, Joanna Nakasinde, Godfrey Nserko, Benedicta Opara, Regina Pinckney, Erlene Roberts, Blossom Sinclair, Joel Siner, Margaret Studier, Obed Swarez, Andrea Williams, and the staffs of Grace Cottage Hospital, Mount Auburn Hospital, Youville Hospital, and Americare for their extraordinary and affectionate help over many years.

The service is conducted by The Reverend Professor Peter J. Gomes.
The Pianist is Laurence Berman ‘56.
The Organist is Edward E. Jones.
The Sexton is Richard D. Campbell.

Following the service, a reception will be held at Annenberg Hall, Kirkland Street, Cambridge.

A video of today's service will be available online in June at
rtsp://video2.harvard.edu/galbraith/galbraithmemorial.rm

http://video2.harvard.edu/galbraith/galbraithmemorial.rm