In 1970 John Sloan Dickey stepped down after 25 years as Dartmouth's president. Dickey is credited with raising the College to university-caliber in the post-WWII era, and it was expected that his successor would be extraordinarily busy just maintaining the standards Dickey had set. When John Kemeny was asked to serve as president he agreed with one condition: that he be allowed to continue teaching. At first, the board of trustees balked - the job was too demanding. When Kemeny asked what the board would say if he wanted two hours off each week to play golf, they relented: two classes a year.

Jean Kemeny wrote: "When the committee began its search for a new president of Dartmouth, John and I jotted down numerous reasons why he would not be picked. It became a game." They came up with 15 reasons. Fortunately the trustees never saw that list.