Lucius Nathan Littauer

Lucius Nathan Littauer (January 20, 1859 – March 2, 1944) was an American politician, businessman, and college football coach who represented New York in the United States House of Representatives for five consecutive terms from 1897 to 1907. A member of the Republican Party, he participated actively in the legislative process during a significant period in American history, representing the interests of his constituents in the House of Representatives.

Littauer was born on January 20, 1859, and came of age during the post–Civil War era, a time of rapid industrialization and political realignment in the United States. He pursued higher education at Harvard University, where he graduated in 1878. His years at Harvard helped shape his later interests in public affairs, business, and education, and established a lifelong connection with the institution that would become central to his later philanthropic work.

Soon after completing his studies, Littauer became involved in the early development of intercollegiate athletics. In 1881 he served as Harvard’s first head football coach, guiding the Crimson to a record of 6–1–1. His role came at a formative moment in the organization of American college football, when the sport was evolving from loosely organized student contests into more structured, coached teams. Littauer’s brief but notable coaching tenure reflected both his leadership abilities and his continuing engagement with his alma mater.

In addition to his early involvement in athletics, Littauer pursued a career in business, aligning himself with the expanding commercial and industrial economy of the late nineteenth century. His business experience informed his later work in Congress, where issues of economic development, trade, and federal policy toward industry were central concerns. By the mid-1890s he had established himself sufficiently in public and civic life to seek national office as a Republican.

Littauer entered national politics as a Republican Representative from New York, winning election to the United States House of Representatives and taking his seat in March 1897. He served five consecutive terms, remaining in office until 1907. His decade in Congress coincided with the presidencies of William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and the early years of William Howard Taft’s era, a time marked by the Spanish–American War, the emergence of the United States as an international power, and the beginnings of the Progressive Era. Within this context, Littauer contributed to the legislative process, participating in debates and votes on matters of national policy and representing the concerns of his New York constituents in the House.

After leaving Congress in 1907, Littauer returned to private life and continued his involvement in business and public affairs. He maintained close ties to Harvard University and increasingly turned his attention to philanthropy and educational reform. His post-congressional years were marked by efforts to strengthen institutions that trained future public leaders, reflecting his belief in the importance of professional, academically grounded preparation for government service.

Littauer’s most enduring legacy in higher education came in 1936, when his donation of $2 million helped found Harvard’s Graduate School of Public Administration. This gift provided the financial foundation for what became one of the leading institutions for the study of public policy and administration. The school was later renamed the John F. Kennedy School of Government, commonly known as the Harvard Kennedy School, in honor of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy. It is routinely ranked among the world’s top graduate schools for public policy, social policy, international affairs, and government, and stands as a lasting testament to Littauer’s commitment to public service and education.

Lucius Nathan Littauer died on March 2, 1944. By the time of his death, he had left a multifaceted legacy as a businessman, early college football coach, five-term Republican Representative from New York, and major benefactor of professional education in public administration. His life bridged the Gilded Age, the Progressive Era, and the early twentieth century, and his contributions to both Congress and higher education continued to influence American public life long after his passing.