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University of Wyoming

UW TO CONVEYS HONORARY DEGREE TO ATTORNEY JAMES NEAL

James NealThe University of Wyoming will convey its highest award, the honorary doctor of laws degree, to attorney James F. Neal, a UW graduate who successfully prosecuted Watergate figures John Erlichman and H.R. Haldeman and was the defense lawyer for numerous other high profile cases. He will be recognized during commencement ceremonies scheduled Saturday, May 17.

Neal, since 1971 a partner with Neal & Harwell of Nashville, Tenn., has been described as the “nation’s most famous prosecutor turned defense lawyer.” He came to UW in the 1940s to play football under Coach Bowden Wyatt, graduating in 1951 from the College of Education with a B.S. degree in physical education. He served in the Marines, graduated first in his class at Vanderbilt Law School, and then earned a master’s degree in tax law at Georgetown University. He went on to be a successful attorney, civic leader and educator. Neal received a UW Distinguished Alumni Award in 1984.

“The University of Wyoming game me enormous opportunities for self improvement,” Neal says. “I owe a lot not only to the university, but to the people of Wyoming. They were just marvelous.”

After law school, Neal established a practice in Washington, D.C. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy appointed him to his staff, and, at age 31, Neal was the first to obtain a conviction of labor leader Jimmy Hoffa.

After serving as U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, Neal was a trial lawyer in private practice in Nashville. In 1974, at the request of Special Watergate Prosecutor Archibald Cox, Neal returned to Washington and successfully prosecuted Haldeman and Erlichman during the Watergate trial. Haldeman and Erlichman, President Richard Nixon’s assistants, were convicted of conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Many more famous cases followed, including the criminal defense of Ford Motor Company when Ford was charged with reckless homicide in the deaths of three young women who were killed when their Pinto’s gas tank exploded; the successful defense of movie director John Landis, who was charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter after a helicopter crashed during the filming of “Twilight Zone: The Movie,” killing actor Vic Morrow and two Vietnamese child actors; the successful defense of Dr. “Nick” Nichopoulos, accused of authorizing drug prescriptions that allegedly killed Elvis Presley; and the defense of Exxon after the oil spill caused by the Exxon Valdez.

While at UW, Neal witnessed the groundbreaking and eventual construction of the College of Education building at a time when UW enrollment increased dramatically as a result of the GI Bill that provided educational assistance to veterans.

In nominating Neal for the honorary degree, Michael Day, associate dean of the College of Education, wrote, “Jim’s preparation as a physical education teacher helped to develop his obviously effective communication skills, commitment, civic values, ability to deal with complexity and ambiguity, and helped further the development of the moral compass that guided his life.”

NOTE: Following is a transcript of honorary degree recipient James Neal’s acceptance speech, which he presented at the spring 2003 College of Education commencement ceremony.

 “ It is important to my wife and me that we are honored by the College of Education.
“About nine months ago, our daughter informed us that she was leaving the business world, going back to school for a master’s degree, and then do what she has always wanted to do – teach grade school.
“We are proud of her decision. If she saves one child from drugs and despair or helps one child achieve his or her potential, she will exceed anything I have done in my life, which, for the most part, has consisted of putting ‘not such bad people’ in prison or keeping ‘not such good people’ out of prison.
“I have never been known for my modesty; but as I think of a few words for you, I am overwhelmed by that virtue. What can I say?
“Perhaps just this:
“Today you are young, vigorous and educated at a great university. Yet, you will face failures and disappointments. Do not fear failure. Fear of failure can, in the words of President Theodore Roosevelt, cause you to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, but live their lives in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.
“Dreams and great goals are important, but don’t despair if they do not all materialize. Sometimes the gods take pleasure in testing dreamers.
“In this regard, forgive me for a personal reference.
“In 1963, as a young lawyer in the Kennedy administration, I dreamed that President Kennedy would be re-elected and, though young, I might be considered for a higher government post. Then came Dealey Plaza in Dallas.
“In 1968, I dreamed that my friend, Bob Kennedy, would be president and at some point I might be on a short list for attorney general.
“After the assassinations in 1963 and 1968, I simply decided that my goal would be to do my very best in every situation and that would have to be enough.
“So far, I have managed to muddle through and today I am here to accept this great honor.
“Thank you so much.”