In his 1968 Commencement speech, Iran's shah proposed a Universal Welfare Legion

Unruffled by protesters, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi suggested a way to remove the "roots of the curses that afflict humanity" in his 1968 speech.

Mohammed Reza Pahlavi

The shah of Iran addressed alumni and new graduates on Commencement afternoon in 1968, proposing an “international counterpart of the Peace Corps” in the name of entering “a holy struggle for rendering real service to humanity.” As he began his speech, a group of student protesters marched down a center aisle carrying banners emblazoned “No degree for a dictator.” Routed by ushers, they continued their demonstration, alongside Iranian students, outside the Yard.

Read excerpts from his speech in this PDF from the July 1, 1968 issue of the Harvard Alumni Bulletin.

Most popular

Mark Carney on the Limits of Soft Power

At the 2026 Davos summit, the Canadian prime minister echoes Harvard’s Joseph Nye.

Why Men Are Falling Behind in Education, Employment, and Health

Can new approaches to education address a growing gender gap?

Harvard Board of Overseers Candidates Describe Priorities

Alumni will vote for the University governing board in April and May.

House - Email

Explore More From Current Issue

Historic church steeple framed by bare tree branches against a clear sky.

University News

Harvard’s Financial Challenges Lead to Difficult Choices

The University faces the consequences of the Trump administration—and its own bureaucracy.

A jubilant graduate shouts into a megaphone, surrounded by a cheering crowd.

Commentary

For Campus Speech, Civility is a Cultural Practice

A former Harvard College dean reviews Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber’s book Terms of Respect.

Four young people sitting around a table playing a card game, with a chalkboard in the background.

K-12

On Weekends, These Harvard Math Professors Teach the Smaller Set

At Cambridge Math Circle, faculty and alumni share puzzles, riddles, and joy.