Garry Wills Honored

The story behind the John Evans Center

Chemistry Professor Wins Nobel
John Pople unlocks the theoretical properties of molecules.

The British-born Pople, a Board of Trustees Professor who has been in the chemistry department since 1986, went out of his way to praise others, calling himself "a container for the work of my predecessors over the last 50 years.

"I consider this a great honor not only for myself, but for all the students who have worked with me over the years," he said. "I've been blessed with superb colleagues and students, many of whom are in positions of eminence themselves. This is for them as well."

Pople's Nobel was the eighth for Northwestern faculty or alumni. He shared the honor - and half the $978,000 award - with Walter Kohn, professor of physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, whose research is similar to Pople's but is more focused on the properties of solid materials, such as metals.

"This is a great honor for John and Northwestern," said provost Lawrence B. Dumas. "We've known for many years that his work was worthy of this recognition. We have an outstanding chemistry department, and this reaffirms the importance of John's pioneering research in computational chemistry."

Pople was rewarded, in the words of the Nobel Prize Committee, "for developing computational methods making possible the theoretical study of molecules, their properties and how they act together in chemical reactions. These methods are based on the fundamental laws of quantum mechanics."

In 1970, the first version of the Pople-designed GAUSSIAN computer program, which made his computational techniques easily accessible to scientists, was published. Today, subsequent generations of the program are used by thousands of chemists in universities and commercial enterprises throughout the world.

"We've now reached a point where theoretical chemists can begin to make reliable predictions about the properties of molecules without actually having to carry on experiments," he explained.

Pople's research "revealed a world that could not have been known before," said Eric J. Sundquist, dean of the Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, shortly before he uncorked a bottle of champagne and offered the first official Northwestern toast to the soft-spoken Nobel laureate.

Pople's breakthroughs are widely applicable in such fields as medicine, pharmacology and environmental science. Using his models helps researchers to predict, for example, the effect of certain drugs on the body or the long-term consequences of air pollution.

Asked if there is an end in sight to the abilities of computers, especially in his field, Pople expressed doubts and marveled at how advanced computers have become over his career. "I would estimate their efficiency has gone up by eight powers of 10 - that's a factor of 100 million - in the last 20 years or so," he said. Pople added that 10 minutes after he told a reporter what he had eaten (fried eggs and sausage) the morning he got the news about the prize, he saw that tidbit of information on the Internet.

Among other appointments, Pople has been a research fellow and mathematics lecturer at Cambridge University; Carnegie Professor of Chemical Physics at Carnegie Mellon University, where he was a faculty member for 22 years before coming to Northwestern; and John Christian Warner University Professor of Natural Sciences at Carnegie Mellon.

He received his doctorate in mathematics at Cambridge in 1951 and has been a foreign associate of the National Academy of Sciences; a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; a member of the American Chemical Society; a fellow of the American Physical Society; and a fellow of the Royal Society in London.

Aside from his trip to Stockholm in December to accept the prize, Pople did not expect the award would have a major impact on his life. However, at Dumas' invitation, the chemist/mathematician, who is unfamiliar with American football, attended Northwestern's Homecoming game against the University of Michigan and received a warm reception by Wildcat fans.

Garry Wills Honored in White House Ceremony
Northwestern historian cited for his eclectic contributions.

"This is very flattering and pleasing," said Wills, who has taught at Northwestern since 1980.

The award, given to individuals or groups whose work has deepened the nation's understanding of the humanities, was presented by President Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The awards ceremony came approximately a month after Wills had called for Clinton to resign.

The chief executive got a big laugh when he said, "I want to choose my words rather carefully now before honoring one of America's leading students of presidential rhetoric.

"Whatever his subject, politics or popular culture, the classics or even boxing, [Wills'] insight is unsurpassed," Clinton continued.

Northwestern President Henry S. Bienen was delighted with Wills' recognition. "I'm absolutely thrilled that our distinguished colleague has been recognized for his major achievements," he said. "This is an honor for him and for the University."

On behalf of Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Martha Lavey (S79, GS86, 94), artistic director of the renowned troupe, accepted the National Medal of Arts at the same ceremony. Other medal winners included Wills' fellow historians Stephen E. Ambrose and Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.; author E.L. Doctorow; literacy advocate Diana L. Eck; and educator Vartan Gregorian. "It's good company to be in," the Northwestern professor said.

Wills is the author of many widely read books on American culture and politics and a syndicated news columnist. His book, Lincoln at Gettysburg (1993), won the Pulitzer Prize for its close textual analysis of the Gettysburg Address, words that Wills claims remade modern America.

His other books include Nixon Agonistes (1970), Inventing America: Jefferson's Declaration of Independence (1978), Reagan's America (1987), Under God: Religion and American Politics (1990) and John Wayne's America: The Politics of Celebrity (1997).

In addition to the Pulitzer Prize, Wills has received the National Book Critics Award twice, the Organization of American Historians Merle Curti Award and the Yale Graduate School's Wilber Cross Medal. A member of both the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he is a frequent contributor to newspapers and magazines.

Times Past: This Old House

Now, new tenants have joined those organizations: the staff of Northwestern magazine.

Situated on the corner of Sheridan Road and Clark Street and overlooking Lake Michigan and Centennial Park, the center reflects tradition in its dignified, high-ceilinged rooms; dark, paneled walls; and broad lawns and terraces. The original structure that the alumni now call home was designed by architect Edward Baumann in Queen Anne style. It was built in 1880 at an estimated cost of about $20,000. Containing 20 rooms, including a library, reception room, parlor, sitting room and ballroom, it was a private residence for L.D. Norton, president of the Norton Can Co., and his family.

In 1905, the house became the property of Rufus C. and Helen Gates Dawes, who moved in two years later.

Rufus Dawes, brother of former U.S. Vice President (and fellow Evanstonian) Charles G. Dawes, was head of several gas and electric companies and president of the Chicago World's Fair of 1933, "A Century of Progress."

Ten years after buying the house, Dawes asked architect Ernest Mayo to completely remodel the exterior from Queen Anne to its present Tudor style. The front entrance was moved from Sheridan Road to Clark Street, and, for a short period of time, the address became 411 Clark St. However, it is said that Helen Gates Dawes preferred the more prestigious Sheridan Road address, and so, although the entrance remains on Clark, the listing is 1800 Sheridan Road. Northwestern University bought the house in January 1943. After some interior remodeling, the building opened that summer as the Student Center for Religious and Social Services.

In 1955, the University chaplain moved to the newly opened Alice Millar Religious Center and the Alumni Relations Department relocated to the stately house. The center also became headquarters for the Associate Alumnae (now the Alumnae of Northwestern University), a service group of women graduates, and the John Evans Club, the major donor society for Northwestern alumni and friends, established in 1954.

The interior of the house was redecorated in 1974-75 by Wesley Snyder (S58), but much of the furniture and silver service in place when Northwestern acquired the building are still there. Many donors have given furniture and paintings, as well, including the often-remarked-upon marble bust of University founder John Evans in the living room. In the past 40-plus years, the house has hosted countless gatherings, conferences for Northwestern leaders from around the country, receptions for graduating seniors and social events. More than 8,000 purple and white crocus bulbs in the front lawn still sprout their beauty each year.

Despite the changes over the years, the gracious character of the house remains, making it a true center of hospitality for alumni and other visitors.

- Lee Prater Yost