Remembering Walter LaFeber

In Memoriam - Walter La Feber (1933-2021)

We were deeply saddened to hear of the death of Walter LaFeber yesterday. He was simply a giant in the field of U.S. foreign relations, whose books defined and redefined the field.  Ranging from his 1963 The New American Empire to his 1999 Michael Jordan and the New Global Capitalism, his scholarship literally spanned the globe and the centuries and always left us thinking anew. Walt LaFeber

Probably the only thing more impressive than his scholarship was his teaching and mentorship of more than a generation of diplomatic historians. His lectures on American diplomatic history at Cornell University, where he taught for 46 years, were legendary for attracting 300 or more students every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday for decades.

Walt was, of course, an active member of SHAFR, serving as its president in 1999.  He also served on the Historical Advisory Committee to the State Department, helping speed the processes of declassification and publication of the FRUS volumes from 1971 until 1975. The November 2004 issue of Diplomatic History reflected upon his impact on the field, but it is likely his kindness and generosity that will be remembered most fondly by SHAFR members and so many others whose lives he touched.

Please feel free to share your memories of Walt LaFeber by commenting on this post.

From Peter Schuck:

I was among Walt's first students at Cornell and we continued to communicate thereafter.  [...] I'm hoping that you will insert the following, which is a poem that I wrote for/to him when he retired. [...] Thanks.  Peter Schuck

For Walt LaFeber on the Occasion of His Retirement

Can it be that he’ll retire
when in his belly there’s still fire,
when colleagues he can still inspire,
and students who their prof admire?

Cornell cries out “This cannot be,
The lecture hall he must not flee
Clio says, lugubriously,
“This day is dark for History” 

But retirement day should not appal
Friends of Walt – let us recall
There’s life beyond McGraw Hall
Like teaching grandkids basketball

More hours with Sandy and to write
Rather than hone lectures late at night
More time for reading books to cite
Continuing to set history aright

So friends of Walt, don’t be sad
Retirement won’t be so bad
The finest teacher whom we had
Is, geologically, still a lad. 

With appreciation and friendship

     Peter Schuck ‘62
     March 30, 2006

 

I was among Walt's first students at Cornell and we continued to communicate thereafter.  I tried to insert a comment but could not do so; the site asked for my password, I didn't know what it was, and requested an email to enable me to set one but never received it.  I'm hoping that you will insert the following, which is a poem that I wrote for/to him when he retired.  Also, if you know his widow Sandy's address, I would like to write to her.  All I have is Walt's email address.  Please let me know what you decide.  Thanks.  Peter Schuck

 

For Walt LaFeber on the Occasion of His Retirement

 

Can it be that he’ll retire

when in his belly there’s still fire,

when colleagues he can still inspire,

and students who their prof admire?

 

Cornell cries out “This cannot be,

The lecture hall he must not flee

Clio says, lugubriously,

“This day is dark for History”

 

But retirement day should not appal

Friends of Walt – let us recall

There’s life beyond McGraw Hall

Like teaching grandkids basketball

 

More hours with Sandy and to write

Rather than hone lectures late at night

More time for reading books to cite

Continuing to set history aright

 

So friends of Walt, don’t be sad

Retirement won’t be so bad

The finest teacher whom we had

Is, geologically, still a lad.

 

 

With appreciation and friendship

     Peter Schuck ‘62

     March 30, 2006

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