"Dad’s influence on us was large," Wriston said. "We used to argue about so many things around the dinner table with books spread all around us."

Henry Wriston taught history at Wesleyan and eventually became president of Lawrence College and Brown University.

"While at Lawrence, Wriston displayed a knack for hiring people of talent, including Victor Butterfield, later Wesleyan’s president, and Nathan Pusey, who subsequently taught at Wesleyan before becoming president of Harvard," according to a university press release. "Under Wriston’s leadership extending over two decades, Brown University was transformed from a small Baptist school to one of America’s noted universities."

Henry Wriston also served in several high positions during the Eisenhower administration.

"Eisenhower tapped him to handle a major reorganization of the State Department," according to the release. "At Eisenhower’s request, Wriston became president of the American Assembly, devoted to furtherance of public policy. He also headed the Council on Foreign Relations."

The elder Wriston also wrote more than 20 books, including "The Nature of a Liberal College," which every graduating senior at Lawrence receives. He also wrote "Challenge to Freedom," an argument against socialism, and during World War II wrote "Prepare for Peace," where he laid out a prescient program for the post-war era.

To contact Szymon Twarog, call (860)347-3331 Ext. 220 or email stwarog@middletownpress.com.