CONVERSATION WITH DEAN H. B. VAN GORDER, HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-06367A000100030012-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 19, 2000
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: November 3, 1966
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Rel ,se 2000/08/21 : CIA-RDP78-06347AO00100030012-4
November 1966
MEMORANDUM FOR : THE RECORD
SUBJECT : Conversation with Dean H. B. VanGorder.
Harvard Business School
1. As is customary, a call was placed this morning to
Dean Van Gorder, Assistant Dean, Administrative Director of
Advanced Management Pro ram 2f ,.mess School.
tt
the Dean a little advance warning,
Thin e e gned to perari t
prior to the written submissions. of the name and a little brief
background on the Agency candidate. His greeting was warm and
after a few pleasantries I told him that I was calling as usual to
give him the normal preview of coming attractions.
I started to give a run down including Mr. 25X1A9a
date of birth. when he interrupted to ask whether this might not be
the PMD (Program for Management Development) candidate - that
he seemed unusually young. I confirmed the date of birth saying
25X1A9a that Mr. had been a GS-15 for several years and had
occupied senior and responsible positions and that he had been very
carefully chosen by the normal selection process. VanGorder then
said that while age was not the sole factor, the average age was
about 44. He felt that the age might well. independent of other
background. jeopardize his admission by the admissions
committee and wondered whether we might want to reconsider in
view of this possibility. He was completely apologetic in tone and
I feel genuinely concerned that the Agency might be embarrassed.
He did not say he would be rejected but rather strongly implied that
an older candidate, preferably at the GS-16 level, would be better.
I told him that I understood his feeling and said it would be
communicated to others and that he would be recontacted.
4. Dean VanGorder throughout was most pleasant and 25X1A9a
apologetic and to reiterate did not say definitely that
couldn't be put in "with a waiver"; there is no question, however,
that he recommended strongly that we defer - for the time 25X1 A9a
being. It is perhaps germane to point out that we have considerable
evidence that there is tremendous pressure on Harvard for entries
App l e8rb e%ffff were:
 Approved For ReJ ase 2000/08/21 : CIA-RDP78-0"67A000100030012-4
25X1A9a
25X1A9a
25X1 A9aBoard is Mr.
GS-16. CCS. DUB 1919.
25X1A9a
Grade Awe
GS-17 43
GS-15 40
GS-18 47
CS-16 so
GS-16 so
5. The first alternate selected by the Training Selection
Approved For Release 2000/08/21 : CIA-RDP78-06367A000100030012-4