Honoring the Life and Legacy of Joseph S. Nye, Jr.

Dear Members of the Belfer Community,

Earlier today, Dean Weinstein shared the heartbreaking news of the passing of Professor Joe Nye. For decades, we were graced to have Joe as a friend, colleague, teacher, mentor, and inspiration. Now, we say goodbye to him – a parting that brings great sorrow even as we celebrate the incredible life of this extraordinary man. 

Joe was a towering figure in international affairs. He was a scholar of unmatched influence and a public servant of the highest integrity and deepest decency. His intellectual contributions spanned more than half a century and changed the way that generations of students, scholars, and leaders thought about power and, as a result, how they wielded it. Joe was one of Harvard University’s most visible and influential intellectual leaders.  Widely regarded as a guiding voice in both scholarship and public life, Joe served with distinction as Dean of the Kennedy School, a role he cherished deeply, as well as Director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.  

Joe was not content to shape the world of ideas alone. Serving in multiple roles in the U.S. government, he transformed how the United States navigated vexing security issues in both the Cold War and post-Cold War eras. Whether helping to curb the spread of nuclear weapons or devising a new American approach to China and Japan, Joe left an enduring legacy in areas that remain vital to U.S. interests today. Joe’s powerful combination of brilliance, humility, and civility enabled him to build lasting communities and to forge agreements across divides, something he demonstrated as a founding member and leader of both the Trilateral Commission and the Aspen Strategy Group. 

Joe’s books, ideas, and policy underpinnings constitute a staggering legacy. But his greatest gift to all of us is what he put into people – be it his students, colleagues, counterparts, or fishing buddies. Today, thousands of Joe’s former students, in every corner of the world, will stop and reflect on how Joe touched their lives. Many more will appreciate the greatness of this man from a distance. Joe was – and will remain – a powerful example to us all of how one can be a towering intellect without crowding out the voice of others, a leader even after passing the reins to the next generation, and a family person even while at the pinnacle of a career.   

Indeed, no one was more important to Joe than his family. His partnership with Molly—full of joy, respect, and mutual admiration—was a love story that spanned decades and anchored his life. Together, they raised their sons with the same quiet strength and moral clarity that defined Joe’s public work. He lit up when speaking about his grandchildren, and it was clear to all of us who knew him that, for all his global influence, the role he cherished most was that of husband, father, and grandfather. For Joe, great professional heights were never incompatible with devotion to family.  

It is hard to think of our community without Joe present. He was with us to the end, contributing to Belfer events and public debate, even after the devastating loss of Molly last year. He leaves behind enduring ideas, memories of laughter, and a model of what it means to live a good life.  

In the coming days, we at the Center will be in touch again as we gather tributes and reflections from colleagues and friends across our community. These remembrances will be shared on our website as a way to honor Joe’s extraordinary legacy and lasting impact.    

We will miss you, Joe. 

-- Meghan L. O'Sullivan, 
Director of the Belfer Center