Andrew W. Cordier
Andrew W. Cordier | |
---|---|
15th President of Columbia University | |
In office 1968–1970 | |
Preceded by | Grayson L. Kirk |
Succeeded by | William J. McGill |
Personal details | |
Born | Canton, Ohio, US | March 1, 1901
Died | July 11, 1975 Manhasset, New York, US | (aged 74)
Andrew Wellington Cordier (March 1, 1901 – July 11, 1975) was a United Nations official and President of Columbia University.
Early life
Cordier was born on a farm near
He became an international security advisor at the U.S.
United Nations
From 1946 to 1961, Cordier served as Undersecretary in Charge of General Assembly and Related Affairs and took on assignments as a special representative of the Secretary General in the Korean War and the Suez Canal and Congo crises. Cordier was dubbed a "demon parliamentarian" for his ability to cite the specific rules governing matters of procedure on the spot.
Cordier is noted for convincing Dean Rusk and Ambassador Yakov Malik to meet in the basement of his Great Neck, New York home to discuss how to lessen U.S.–Soviet tensions.
Cordier was considered responsible[by whom?] for facilitating the first US-supported coup against Congo Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba by closing airports and radio stations to him while his opponents had such facilities available to them.[1][2] Both Belgian and UN documents show Cordier as doing this purposefully.[3]
In 1962, Cordier resigned from his post after the Soviets criticized him for usurping too much of the Secretary General's responsibilities.
Columbia University
After leaving the U.N., Cordier joined Columbia University as the Dean of the School of International Affairs (SIA). When Grayson L. Kirk resigned in 1968, Cordier assumed the presidency on an interim basis while remaining Dean of SIA. The trustees were sufficiently pleased with his work that they gave him the permanent title in 1969; Cordier accepted on the condition that the search for a new president continue. He was president until 1970, when he was succeeded by William J. McGill. Cordier continued as Dean of SIA after leaving the president's office.
As president he enjoyed moderate success in dealing with student unrest and unhappiness by maintaining an open-door policy (facilitated by Ted Van Dyk, brought in the CU by the Trustees), attending student rallies (sponsored by Students for a Restructured University (SRU), led by Neal H. Hurwitz, College grad '66 and Graduate Student/teaching assistant) to listen and respond to student concerns, and speaking out against U.S. involvement in Vietnam. Columbia College awarded him its highest honor, the Alexander Hamilton Medal, in 1970.
Later years
Cordier, aged 74, died of cirrhosis of the liver at the