acknowledgments
cknowledgments
Many individuals - all good friends and close to me - contributed to
the preparation of this oral history. First of all, my daughter, Joan
Curhan, deserves top recognition for her persistent and affectionate
efforts to persuade me to undertake these memoirs. Aided by my wife,
Muriel, she urged me onward. And once the process started, Joan
became involved in every facet of the work. Wordsmith and
phrasemaker, she read and reread the manuscript, recalling stories,
suggesting revisions, checking for consistency and accuracy,
contributing to the design phase, and holding all participants to
high professional standards. Truly, I am deeply indebted to her for
all that she has done.
It Was Joan who suggested that Carl M. Brauer serve as editor and
narrator of the memoirs. While I had known Carl before he undertook
the commitment to this project, the hours we spent together as he
carefully questioned me about the many facets of my life experience
cemented our friendship. Carl was patient but thorough in his
probing, and brought extensive professional skills to this task.
Next, Joan enlisted Susan Michaelson, a colleague of hers at Harvard
University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, to edit the
manuscript that Carl had woven from our many hours of interviews.
Without Susan, this manuscript would not be in its present form. I
thank her for her fine insights, valuable suggestions, and skillful
editing.
Muriel, my wife, made a prodigious effort to locate and retrieve old
photographs, many of which are now reproduced in the memoirs. A
critical reviewer of the drafts of the memoirs, she often reminded me
of meaningful events that should be cited. Above all, she was very
supportive of me throughout this entire process.
My special thanks go to Stuart Altman, Jenifer and Jared Curhan, Ruth
Fein, Edward Saxe, and Helen Spaulding for their participation in
interviews conducted by Carl Brauer, and to Peter Gunness, former
headmaster of the Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, for his
gracious letter. Their contributions of valued time and considered
thought enrich these memoirs.
As I reviewed this oral history in its final form, I recognized that
many good friends who played a role in my life in various and
effective ways are not mentioned. They must forgive me. From the
outset of this endeavor, I did not intend the memoirs to cover all my
life experiences.
My secretary, Elaine Flynn, was the principal manuscript typist. She
spent many hours transcribing the numerous tapes of the interviews
that Carl had conducted, and then patiently and efficiently typed
successive drafts of the manuscript. I was encouraged by her reported
enjoyment as she read the early versions of the work.
I was very pleased when my long-time friend Gill Fishman of Gill
Fishman Associates agreed to design this manuscript. The expertise,
which he has evidenced on many prior projects in which I have
participated, ensured that the work would be of high quality. I also
gratefully acknowledge the creative contributions to the design
format by Michael Persons, Senior Designer at Gill Fishman
Associates. Once again, Gill, you have my warm appreciation.
I owe much to my son-in-law Ronald Curhan, my grandchildren] Jenifer
and ]ared Curhan, and their friends Peter Beinart and Aaron Panner,
who spent many long hours carefully reading and ably critiquing the
manuscript. Their helpful comments and thoughtful suggestions have
improved the final product. I am deeply touched by Peter's superbly
written and meaningful letter that forms the conclusion of the
memoirs. To my sons, Bill and David, I am grateful for their comments
and suggestions.
Robert S. Cummings, the Managing Partner of Peabody & Brown, kindly
permitted the use of excerpts from Peabody & Brown: A History, and
has always been a supportive friend.
To all of you, I extend my wholehearted thanks.
David R. Pokross September 1994