Hesburgh: A Biography

Father Theodore Hesburgh is known for his rare energy and ability to carry out a staggering variety of assignments with distinction. During his career, he combined an exceptional blend and balance of qualities - intellect, character, personality, spirituality, and management skill. A man of enormous good will, he tried to embody the compassion of Christ. Father Hesburgh served as president of the University of Notre Dame from 1952 to 1987. This book examines Father Hesburgh’s personality, leadership qualities, management strategies, and central role as a priest. It chronicles his prominent position in advancing civil rights and explores his relationship with famous people, among them John and Robert Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, and Pope Paul VI. Finally, the biography investigates unfamiliar aspects of his life: his relationship with women and his six adopted children, his attitude toward Notre Dame’s high profile football program, and his sometimes controversial views on the Vatican, celibacy, birth control, abortion, and homosexuality.