Education: Kudos: Jun. 15, 1962

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A university awarding honorary degrees has some of the problems of a Washington hostess: how to snare the most eminent guests, fulfill obligations, perceive who's up and who's down, and keep the party lively with "interesting" people. Some honorary-degree recipients have become the equivalent of Supreme Court Justices on the Washington party circuit—distinguished figures with lifetime tenure. Eleanor Roosevelt and Ralph Bunche long ago lost count of their degrees. Herbert Hoover has 85, Chief Justice Earl Warren 50.

Cabinet members on active duty usually get honored by at least one school, and most college presidents can comfortably rely on their colleagues for a degree every few years.

But each year has its own ingroup.

Among men, this year's big catch is Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, who was offered eight degrees and is accepting four. The woman with the most cachet is Rosemary Park, president-elect of Barnard College, who in four successive days last week got four honorary degrees (from the University of Bridgeport, Brown, Columbia and New York University). The Peace Corps' Sargent Shriver and the Alliance for Progress' Teodoro Moscoso are much in demand; each gets three degrees this season. Bruce Catton and Scotty Reston, often honored in recent years, are again in cap and gown.

A sampling of other honors, minus those that, though indubitably deserved, are clearly expectable:

ALBION COLLEGE

George Romney, president. American Motors Corp.. Republican candidate for Governor of Michigan LL.D.

Imaginative captain of industry and independent judge of measures that contribute to the public good.

AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE Katharine Cornell, actress L.H.D. Jacques Placard, sea explorer. . Sc.D.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Chester R. Huntley, TV commentator L.H.D.

Archbishop Makarios, President of the Republic of Cyprus D.D.

You have joined deep religious convictions with dedicated statesmanship.

BROWN UNIVERSITY Artur Rubinstein, pianist Mus.D.

BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY Carl F. Hansen, superintendent of schools, Washington, D.C. LL.D

COLLEGE or WOOSTER Henry R. Luce, editor-in-chief. TIME INC. . L.H.D.

Over the years, you have held that the moral law was our only guide through whatever jungle to any place of order and peace.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Harry F. Guggenheim, president. Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation (New

York's Guggenheim Museum) LL.D.

Gerard Piel, editor and publisher. Scientific American L.H.D.

Llewellyn E. Thompson Jr., U.S. Ambassador to Russia LL.D.

DEPAUL UNIVERSITY Richard Daley, Chicago mayor LL.D.

He has walked with Presidents—indeed, has helped to elect them.

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY Bob Hope, comedian L.H.D.

He made us laugh when we had but too much cause for tears.

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY Robert R. Gilruth, director. Project Mercury Sc.D.

KENYON COLLEGE Alan S. Paton, author, leader of South

Africa's Liberal Party Litt.D.