Oral history interview with Thomas H. Kean, 2013.

Biographical Note

Governor of New Jersey (1982-1990) and Trustee of Carnegie Corporation of New York

Scope and Contents

Path to position on board of Carnegie Corporation of New York: work on topic of education during governorship; McKinsey & Company report; involvement of trustees in grantmaking; process of hiring Vartan Gregorian as president of Carnegie Corporation: search committee, impressions of Vartan Gregorian, comparison with David A. Hamburg; communication: board involvement in policy, national and international presence; role of board chairman; comparison with other nonprofit boards; work as chair of 9/11 Commission: influence of Carnegie leadership experience, advantage of background outside national security; return to Carnegie board in 2005; board involvement in investments; development of trustee ethics code; second term as chairman: reorganization of committees, discussion of meeting structure; centennial celebration: reconnection with Carnegie family and Carnegie institutions; personal and organizational philosophy of risk in grantmaking; program review under Vartan Gregorian: staff turnover, Carnegie legacy, history; education programming: collaboration with Gates Foundation, importance of teacher education and recognition, racial and economic inequality in American school systems, special program for New York City schools; democracy programming: efforts to increase voter registration, importance of civic education; Islam Initiative; impact of Carnegie Corporation; future of philanthropy.

Subjects

• Carnegie Corporation of New York.
• Clark, Mary Marshall, interviewer.--http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/ivr
• Educational change--United States.
• Endowments--Officials and employees.
• Grele, Ronald J., interviewer.--http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators/ivr
• Interviews.
• Kean, Thomas H.--Interviews.
• National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States.
• New Jersey. Office of the Governor.
• Oral histories (literary works)
• Politicians--United States--Interviews.
• September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001.

Access Conditions

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