John P. Lewis
Encyclopedia
John Prior Lewis was an American
academic and presidential advisor who was a strong advocate of aid to help build developing countries as a matter of foreign policy
.
Lewis was born on March 18, 1921, in Albany, New York
. He was raised in Hudson Falls, New York
and earned his undergraduate degree from Union College
. Lewis later attended Harvard University
, from which he received a Master of Public Administration
and was awarded a Ph.D.
in political economy and government. During World War II
he served in the United States Navy
.
Lewis was a staff member to the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers
from 1950 to 1953. While he was a professor at Indiana University, he was named to serve on the three-man Council in December 1962 by President John F. Kennedy
. President Lyndon B. Johnson
named him in 1964 to head the United States Agency for International Development
's efforts in India
. From 1969 to 1974 he was the dean of Princeton University
's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
. President Jimmy Carter
named him to chair the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's development assistance committee.
Lewis was bothered by inequality in the United States and around the world, and was a strong advocate of the argument that aid to developing nations was a necessary component of American foreign policy, despite the budgetary costs and the potential for misuse, a position reflected in books he wrote and co-authored, including his 1995 book India’s Political Economy: Governance and Reform and his 1997 work The World Bank: Its First Half Century.
He died at age 89 of natural causes on May 26, 2010 in Montgomery Township, New Jersey
, where he lived at the time of his death in a retirement community. He was survived by two daughters, six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. His wife, the former June Estelle Ryan, died in 2009, and a daughter died in 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
academic and presidential advisor who was a strong advocate of aid to help build developing countries as a matter of foreign policy
Foreign policy
A country's foreign policy, also called the foreign relations policy, consists of self-interest strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its goals within international relations milieu. The approaches are strategically employed to interact with other countries...
.
Lewis was born on March 18, 1921, in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. He was raised in Hudson Falls, New York
Hudson Falls, New York
Hudson Falls is a village located in Washington County, New York, USA. The village is in the southwest part of the town of Kingsbury, on US Route 4. Hudson Falls is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 6,927...
and earned his undergraduate degree from Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
. Lewis later attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, from which he received a Master of Public Administration
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration is a professional post-graduate degree in Public Administration. The MPA program prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state/provincial, and federal/national government, and increasingly in nongovernmental organization and...
and was awarded a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in political economy and government. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
Lewis was a staff member to the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers
Council of Economic Advisers
The Council of Economic Advisers is an agency within the Executive Office of the President that advises the President of the United States on economic policy...
from 1950 to 1953. While he was a professor at Indiana University, he was named to serve on the three-man Council in December 1962 by President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
. President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
named him in 1964 to head the United States Agency for International Development
United States Agency for International Development
The United States Agency for International Development is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. President John F. Kennedy created USAID in 1961 by executive order to implement development assistance programs in the areas...
's efforts in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. From 1969 to 1974 he was the dean of Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs is a professional public policy school at Princeton University. The school has granted undergraduate A.B. degrees since 1930 and graduate degrees since 1948...
. President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
named him to chair the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's development assistance committee.
Lewis was bothered by inequality in the United States and around the world, and was a strong advocate of the argument that aid to developing nations was a necessary component of American foreign policy, despite the budgetary costs and the potential for misuse, a position reflected in books he wrote and co-authored, including his 1995 book India’s Political Economy: Governance and Reform and his 1997 work The World Bank: Its First Half Century.
He died at age 89 of natural causes on May 26, 2010 in Montgomery Township, New Jersey
Montgomery Township, New Jersey
Montgomery Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,254, which represents growth of 27% since 2000 and more than 130% since the 1990 Census population figure of 9,612.Montgomery Township was...
, where he lived at the time of his death in a retirement community. He was survived by two daughters, six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. His wife, the former June Estelle Ryan, died in 2009, and a daughter died in 2008.