In Memoriam: Harry McPherson

22 February 2012

It is with great sadness that we share the news that New Perimeter lost a beloved friend, Harry McPherson, on February 16 after a brave battle with bone cancer.

New Perimeter was honored to have Harry serve as an Advisory Board member since the founding of our organization. We are humbled that a man of such distinction, intellect and humanity would share his time and talents with us.

Harry began his Washington career as an aide to then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson and went on to hold ranking positions in the State and Defense Departments. In 1965, Harry became President Johnson's counsel and speechwriter and became one of the President’s most trusted counselors. Harry advised the President on a range of issues, including civil rights, poverty relief and curtailing the bombing in Vietnam, among others. After leaving the White House, Harry joined what was then Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand, a firm that merged with DLA Piper in 2002. Harry is the author of A Political Education, a book which received acclaim for its poignant analysis of politics in Washington.

Beyond his vast professional accomplishments, we remember Harry as a man of dignity, fairness, and kindness. DLA Piper partner and long-time friend of Harry’s, Berl Bernhard, put it well: “It is not excessive to declare him one of the most talented, sweetest and most extraordinary persons who ever lived. He spent a life committed to individual well-being, the future of his country, personal freedom, equality of opportunity and just plain fairness. The scope of his achievements and his interests was quite beyond what any humble being should possess.”

We extend our deepest condolences to Harry’s wife Patricia, and his children, Peter, Coco and Sam.

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