Herter Led Active Undergraduate Life

"Oh, Sadie, won't you be our leading lady?

Do not think the stage is shady, Be our heroine do."

The composer of these lines for the Hasty Pudding Show, "The Fattest Calf," given 41 years ago, was not destined to be a run of the mill Tin Pan Alley hack; in fact, these were probably the last musical lyrics he ever wrote.

But Governor Christian A. Herter, '15, who was recently appointed Assistant Secretary of State, was not only a lyricist in his undergraduate days at the College. Entering college as a young, tall and frail youth, he did not participate in the major sports of the day although many of his friends remember him as "a damn good tennis player."

Herter's real forte lay in games of mental exercise, particularly bridge. "He was an expert bridge player then, and still is," one friend commented.

As a sophomore, Herter and a group of friends rented the entire top floor of Apthorp House, the old colonial building in the courtyard of Apley Court. "Our room was the envy of the rest of the class," one roommate recalled, "since Chris's mother did the decorating job for us." This group stayed together through their senior year, moving into Holworthy their final year--the privilege of being a senior in those days.

Herter's background naturally led him into an interest in both international affairs and the fine arts. He was born in Paris, France, but moved as a child to New York where his father worked as an architect. Although most of his friends did not remember him as having specific desires for a political career, Herter did major in government, graduating cum laude. "He always had a yen for foreign affairs," one roommate commented.

Herter's other activities included active participation in several clubs. He was President of the Signet Society and Vice President of the Signet Society and Vice President and Librarian of the Spee Club.