Malcolm Moos
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Charles Moos was an American political scientist.
He received his bachelors and masters degrees in political science
from the University of Minnesota
. He went on to receive his doctorate, also in political science, from the University of California, Los Angeles
. After receiving his Ph.D. Moos taught for several years at Johns Hopkins University
and was employed by the Baltimore Evening Sun as an associate editor.
His writing on American politics
brought him to the attention of Sherman Adams
, who was the assistant to President Dwight Eisenhower. Moos joined Eisenhower's staff as a special assistant in 1957 and became his chief speech writer in 1958. Among the many speeches Moos wrote for President Eisenhower, he is credited with Eisenhower's valedictory speech which warned of the influence of the military-industrial complex
. Following his work for Eisenhower's administration, Moos went on to write speeches for Nelson Rockefeller
and worked for the Ford Foundation
.
In 1967, Malcolm Moos became the first native Minnesotan and alumnus to serve as a University of Minnesota president. Dr. Moos' term as university president (1967–1974) is one of the most socially and economically turbulent of its history. Civil rights
and anti-war protests were at their height during this time. Malcolm Moos supported activism; during his speech to the student body in 1967, he courageously acknowledged this support, but urged students to express themselves responsibly. He is credited for his diplomatic handling of student demonstrations including the Morill Hall takeover on Jan 14, 1969. His diplomacy and rapport with both students and community is also credited for leading the university through this period of unrest with only one major protest in May 1972.
During his tenure as president of the University of Minnesota, Dr. Moos is also credited with advocacy regarding what is referred to as "communiversity", a closer relationship among students, faculty, and the community. During his presidency, the university established programs in African American Studies
, Native American Studies
, Chicano Studies, Women's Studies
, and the Center for Urban and Regional Studies. Perhaps the most amazing accomplishment of these tumultuous years was Dr. Moos' ability to remain accessible to both students and the community through it all.
Malcolm Moos left the University of Minnesota in 1974 to accept the position of executive director at the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions
in Santa Barbara, California
. He returned after spending a year in Santa Barbara and died in his sleep at his home in northern Minnesota in 1982. He was said to have a heart condition.
He received his bachelors and masters degrees in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. He went on to receive his doctorate, also in political science, from the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
. After receiving his Ph.D. Moos taught for several years at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
and was employed by the Baltimore Evening Sun as an associate editor.
His writing on American politics
American politics
American politics is an area of study within the academic discipline of political science. It is primarily, but not exclusively, studied by researchers in the United States...
brought him to the attention of Sherman Adams
Sherman Adams
Llewelyn Sherman Adams was an American politician, best known as White House Chief of Staff for President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the culmination of a relatively short political career that also included a stint as Governor of New Hampshire...
, who was the assistant to President Dwight Eisenhower. Moos joined Eisenhower's staff as a special assistant in 1957 and became his chief speech writer in 1958. Among the many speeches Moos wrote for President Eisenhower, he is credited with Eisenhower's valedictory speech which warned of the influence of the military-industrial complex
Military-industrial complex
Military–industrial complex , or Military–industrial-congressional complex is a concept commonly used to refer to policy and monetary relationships between legislators, national armed forces, and the industrial sector that supports them...
. Following his work for Eisenhower's administration, Moos went on to write speeches for Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Rockefeller
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller was the 41st Vice President of the United States , serving under President Gerald Ford, and the 49th Governor of New York , as well as serving the Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower administrations in a variety of positions...
and worked for the Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
.
In 1967, Malcolm Moos became the first native Minnesotan and alumnus to serve as a University of Minnesota president. Dr. Moos' term as university president (1967–1974) is one of the most socially and economically turbulent of its history. Civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
and anti-war protests were at their height during this time. Malcolm Moos supported activism; during his speech to the student body in 1967, he courageously acknowledged this support, but urged students to express themselves responsibly. He is credited for his diplomatic handling of student demonstrations including the Morill Hall takeover on Jan 14, 1969. His diplomacy and rapport with both students and community is also credited for leading the university through this period of unrest with only one major protest in May 1972.
During his tenure as president of the University of Minnesota, Dr. Moos is also credited with advocacy regarding what is referred to as "communiversity", a closer relationship among students, faculty, and the community. During his presidency, the university established programs in African American Studies
African American studies
African American studies is a subset of Black studies or Africana studies. It is an interdisciplinary academic field devoted to the study of the history, culture, and politics of African Americans...
, Native American Studies
Native American Studies
Native American Studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that examines the history, culture, politics, issues and contemporary experience of Native peoples in North America, or, taking a hemispheric approach, the Americas...
, Chicano Studies, Women's Studies
Women's studies
Women's studies, also known as feminist studies, is an interdisciplinary academic field which explores politics, society and history from an intersectional, multicultural women's perspective...
, and the Center for Urban and Regional Studies. Perhaps the most amazing accomplishment of these tumultuous years was Dr. Moos' ability to remain accessible to both students and the community through it all.
Malcolm Moos left the University of Minnesota in 1974 to accept the position of executive director at the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions
Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions
The Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions in Santa Barbara, California was an important think tank from 1959 to 1977, declining in influence thereafter. The Center held discussions in a variety of areas that it hoped would influence public deliberation...
in Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
. He returned after spending a year in Santa Barbara and died in his sleep at his home in northern Minnesota in 1982. He was said to have a heart condition.