Lawrence Summers, the former Harvard president and one of the country’s best-known economists, is leaving his teaching job at the university. His decision comes after newly released documents raised fresh questions about his past ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Summers made the announcement Wednesday. He will retire from the faculty at the end of this academic year. That means he will finish up in June.
Who is Lawrence Summers?
He is not just any professor. Summers ran Harvard from 2001 to 2006. Before that, he was the U.S. Treasury Secretary under President Bill Clinton. Later, he worked for President Barack Obama as a top economic adviser. He is the kind of person who advises presidents and shapes big policies.
At Harvard, he held one of the most honored teaching jobs. It was called the Charles W. Eliot University Professorship. That title alone shows how important he was on campus. His main office was at the Harvard Kennedy School, which is where leaders and policymakers often study.
What Triggered the Resignation?
Emails disclosed in November showed Summers and Epstein exchanged messages about women, politics, and Harvard projects from at least 2012 to July 2019, the day before Epstein’s arrest. A December Justice Department release named Summers as a potential successor executor in a 2014 draft of Epstein’s will, though Summers’ spokesperson said he had no knowledge. Harvard launched a review of Summers’ Epstein connections as part of a broader probe into university ties to the financier.
What Roles Is Summers Leaving?
He is relinquishing his University Professorship, the school’s top faculty honor, and all teaching appointments effective end of the academic year. Summers resigned Wednesday as co-director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center and stepped back from teaching this semester, with colleagues covering classes. He has been on leave since November amid the Epstein fallout.
What Happened After Emails Surfaced?
Summers stepped back from public commitments in November, then resigned from boards including OpenAI, The New York Times, and Bloomberg. The American Economic Association issued a lifetime ban against him. In November, he took leave from the Mossavar-Rahmani Center during Harvard’s review.
Summers’ Statement: “I have made the difficult decision to retire from my Harvard professorship at the end of this academic year. I will always be grateful to the thousands of students and colleagues I have been privileged to teach and work with since coming to Harvard as a graduate student 50 years ago. Free of formal responsibility, as President Emeritus and a retired professor, I look forward in time to engaging in research, analysis, and commentary on a range of global economic issues.”
Who was Jeffrey Epstein?
Who was Jeffrey Epstein in this Harvard story? Jeffrey Epstein was a financier convicted of sex trafficking minors who died in prison in 2019 awaiting federal charges. Documents showed his ongoing contacts with high-profile figures like Summers post-conviction. President Trump recently signed a bill for more Epstein document releases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When does Larry Summers leave Harvard?
A: Summers retires from all roles at the end of the current academic year but stays on leave until then.
Q: Why did Summers resign from Harvard?
A: The resignation follows Harvard’s review of documents on his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, including emails showing a personal friendship.
Q: Will Summers teach at Harvard again?
A: No, he will not teach this semester or take new advisees, and he resigns fully at year-end.
​Q: What other groups did Summers leave?
A: He resigned from OpenAI board, American Economic Association (banned for life), and others like New York Times and Bloomberg.
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources
