Nicholas Murray Butler
Ruler of Columbia for over four decades (1902-1945). Accused of suppressing professorial dissent to two world wars, attepting to turn Columbia into the preserve of elite WASPs, trying to erase Columbia College by privileging grad schools, and conferring legitimacy upon Nazi Germany.
He also won a Nobel Peace Prize and was a candidate for Vice President. Butler Library is named after him.
He's also an alumnus: Columbia College class of 1882.
See also
- Nicholas Miraculous, a biography of Butler by Columbia English professor Michael Rosenthal
