The Gold and the Blue by Clark Kerr University of California President Autobiography — page 1

The Gold and the Blue: A

Personal Memoir of the

University of California,

1949–1967

Clark Kerr

"The university is so many things to so many different people that

it must at last be transmitted that it is a multiversity."

The Gold and the Blue by Clark Kerr University of California President Autobiography — page 3

Introduction: The Multiuniversity

My life has been inextricably linked with the growth of the University of

California. To understand my journey is to understand the evolution of

the modern American university—what I termed the 'multiversity.' This

memoir reflects on a period of unprecedented expansion, social

upheaval, and the persistent pursuit of academic excellence amidst the

golden hills of California.

The Gold and the Blue by Clark Kerr University of California President Autobiography — page 4

Chapter 1: The Loyalty Oath and the

Berkeley Years

I arrived in Berkeley in 1945 as an associate professor of industrial

relations. However, my baptism into the complexities of university

governance came with the Loyalty Oath controversy of 1949. The

Regents demanded a non-Communist disclaimer, a move that fractured

the faculty. I stood with the 'non-signers' on principle, though I had

signed myself, working as a mediator. This experience shaped my

chancellorship (1952-1958), where we focused on transforming Berkeley

into a world-class research powerhouse while healing the wounds of the

previous years.

The Gold and the Blue by Clark Kerr University of California President Autobiography — page 5

Chapter 2: The Master Plan for Higher

Education

In 1958, I assumed the Presidency of the University of California. My

greatest challenge and proudest achievement was the 1960 Master Plan

for Higher Education. We faced a tidal wave of students. We needed a

system that ensured access for every Californian while maintaining the

elite research status of the UC. We defined the roles: the UC for research

and doctoral degrees, the State Colleges for teacher training and

masters, and Junior Colleges for vocational and transfer paths. It was a

social contract for the future of the state.

The Gold and the Blue by Clark Kerr University of California President Autobiography — page 6

Chapter 3: The Free Speech Movement and

the Winds of Change

The fall of 1964 changed everything. The Free Speech Movement (FSM)

at Berkeley was a catalyst for a decade of student activism. I found

myself caught between a student body demanding radical change and a

Board of Regents—and a growing political right wing—demanding

order. My philosophy was one of negotiation and tolerance, but in the

heat of the 1960s, the middle ground was a dangerous place to stand.

The Gold and the Blue by Clark Kerr University of California President Autobiography — page 7

Chapter 4: Political Conflicts and the Final

Act

The election of Ronald Reagan as Governor in 1966 signaled the end of

my tenure. Reagan had campaigned on 'cleaning up the mess at

Berkeley.' In January 1967, in a tense meeting of the Regents, I was

dismissed. I left the presidency not with bitterness, but with a deep

sense of accomplishment for what we had built: a university system that

was truly the envy of the world.

The Gold and the Blue by Clark Kerr University of California President Autobiography — page 8

Timeline of Key Events

1911:

Born in Reading, Pennsylvania.

1945:

Joins UC Berkeley faculty.

1952:

Appointed first Chancellor of UC Berkeley.

1958:

Becomes 12th President of the University of California.

1960:

California Master Plan for Higher Education is enacted.

1964:

Free Speech Movement erupts at Berkeley.

1967:

Dismissed from the Presidency by the Board of Regents.

2003:

Passes away in El Cerrito, California.

The Gold and the Blue by Clark Kerr University of California President Autobiography

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