John P. Roche

John P. Roche (died in 1994), "a political scientist, counselor to Presidents and emeritus professor at Tufts University..

"He had taught at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts since 1973.

"He reached emeritus status as the John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of American Civilization and Foreign Affairs last August, but he continued to teach into this year. His main areas of scholarship were political theory, constitutional law and the formative era of the American Republic.

"Professor Roche was a prolific author of books and articles. He was also a syndicated columnist, and once described his politics as "Social Democrat." He was a consultant to John F. Kennedy when Kennedy was a Senator and later when he was President. He was also a special adviser to President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1966 to 1968....

"In the 1950's he was active in the civil-rights movement. He was a cofounder of Americans for Democratic Action and served as its president from 1962 to 1965. In the 1960's, he also wrote speeches for Hubert H. Humphrey, beginning when Humphrey was a Senator and later Vice President.

"Professor Roche's governmental positions included service on the Eisenhower Commission on International Radio Broadcasting, the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, and, most recently, the President's Advisory Committee on Arms Control and Disarmament..

"After his White House service under President Johnson, Professor Roche wrote a syndicated column titled "A Word Edgewise" for 14 years. It drew readers not only from among liberals but also conservatives, who strongly disagreed with him. He also shared writing duties with Patrick J. Buchanan and Kevin Phillips, among others, for the "Newswatch" column in TV Guide, and his articles appeared in many other publications...

"He was a past Fellow of the Hudson Institute, a member of the National Council on the Humanities, a trustee of the Smithsonian Institution's Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a trustee of the Dubinsky Foundation and a director of the A. Philip Randolph Institute."

Related Sourcewatch

 * Committee on the Present Danger
 * Coalition for a Democratic Majority