The Harvard Boys

This Monday, Piñera’s agenda will be completely monopolized by Obama’s visit, with one exception. He will give a few minutes to receive Drew Faust, the president of an institution more powerful than many countries: Harvard University. The Chilean president’s motivation is evident: It is his alma mater, where he obtained his doctorate in economics.

Afterward, during the meal in honor of Obama, Faust will also be present as a special guest, given that the president of the United States is also an alumnus of Harvard — specifically, of the exclusive law school. Of course, it’s not surprising that both presidents are from Harvard. But for Faust, it’s one more statistic in the university’s history, which is full of leading figures in the political world. In fact, Piñera is number 28 on the list of presidents who studied at Harvard, turning this university, next to Oxford, into the biggest producer of leaders outside the U.S.

In the case of Chile, the influence is notorious. In the economic plane, for example, the last four governments have had Treasury ministers trained at Harvard. Aninat, Eyzaguirre and Larraín all received their doctorates in economics from this university, while Velasco did his postdoctorate there, and went through the process of becoming a full-time professor at the Kennedy School. In this way, the Harvard Boys have replaced completely the Chicago Boys of the Pinochet era. For many, the change is obvious; Chicago is known as a conservative and purist school in regards to free market policies. Those from Harvard, on the other hand, are less dogmatic and more political, which explains why they are able to work better with democratic governments.

With Piñera as president, Harvard has practically taken over the government. Three of its star ministers studied there: Bulnes, Larraín and Kast. But that’s not all. Three undersecretaries — in Housing, Treasury and Education — are also alumni. And to top it off, Ignacio Rivadeneira — the influential director of content about Piñera, the man responsible for all the president’s speeches — was also trained at Harvard.

Is it possible to distinguish a Harvard alumnus? From their ideas it’s not easy, because even though they tend to identify with North American liberal thinking, the alumni are very diverse. The fact that Obama and Bush Jr. are both Harvard alumni is proof of this. But there are things that reconcile this. All, without exception, know how to become part of the world’s intellectual elite. And note — all, regardless of their political preferences, are members of the same club: the powerful network of Harvard graduates. It is, by far, the university most oriented toward the search for political, business or any other power. In short, they are definitely not people who were educated to go unnoticed.

Therefore, it will not be unusual for Piñera and Obama to spend a few minutes of their tight schedule remembering their Harvard days. For them, this is not merely sharing anecdotes; it is a point of reference — one that, in spite of their differences, makes them familiar, almost accomplices. It’s no wonder; both are members of the most powerful club in the world.