ABSTRACT

Among the natural forces on the Berkeley campus in 1932 when the author entered Berkeley was the robust, buoyant personality of Robert Gordon Sproul, president since 1930. Of Sproul it was said, in paraphrase of a famous compliment to a California orange, "Doubtless God could have created a better president of the University of California, but doubtless God never did." Sproul looked like the president of a great university when he climbed the steps leading up to the platform and strode masterfully to the podium. He served as president of the University for twenty-eight years, an almost unbelievable length in times when any president who survives ten years becomes a heroic figure. Sproul majored in engineering, and gave himself generously to campus activities. Sproul's position was equivocal at best, and he had foes on both sides, faculty and Regents.