To help meet some of the urgent needs

Arthur. T. Mosher

Soon after World War II Mr. John D Rockefeller, 3rd decided that he wanted a major part of his philanthropy to be related to Asia. He was quite clear about what he wanted to accomplish, but less certain about how to go about it. He wanted his activities to help meet some of the urgent needs of people in Asia. He also wanted to recognize, and bring to the attention of Americans, some of the cultural achievements of Asians.

What kind of the program would best serve those purposes? What kind of an organization could create that program?

It was at that point that Don McLean came into the picture and played a unique role. To reflect the breath of Mr. Rockefeller's interests in Asia. Work with Mr. Rockefeller in selecting an appropriate name - The Council on Economic and Cultural Affairs - to reflect the breath Mr. Rockefeller's interest in Asia. He played the leading role in selecting a Board of Trustees composed of persons who had had long-term personal acquaintance with Asia. He made the talent search to identify an appropriate Chief Executive Officer - one who would have the personal support of Mr. Rockefeller and the professional technical standing to develop and direct the council’s activities in Asia

When, after 10 years, Don perceived that it would be better to separate the cultural affairs of the Council from its economic activities and to give the latter a more descriptive name he played a leading role in creating the JDR, 3rd Fund to concentrate on cultural affairs and the Agricultural Development Council to concentrate on economic and human problems in in rural development in Asia.

In these various activities, Don brought a combination of skills not frequently found together. His training as a lawyer enabled him to give appropriate administrative structure to each proposed program. His close rapport with Mr. Rockefeller enabled him to interpret to him the significance of what professional technical people were proposing in the way of programs. His warmth as a human being contributed substantially to a productive camaraderie among staff, officers, and trustees of each organization.

Don became an elected member of the Trustees of the Agricultural Development Council in 1965 and President of the Trustees in 1974. He continued in that position until 1979, when he reached the councils mandatory retirement age for trustees.

Don had strong convictions about how an organization should be run. To him, the responsibility of a Board of Trustees was to select a Chief Executive Officer, and then either back or replace him; it was nothing Trustees role to participate in day-to-day administration.

His concept of his role in those Rockefeller organizations was consistent with that. "I am no expert on that" he frequently said, "but I know how to find and recruit the cooperation of those who are."

He certainly did! 

Art Mosher was Executive Director and the President of the Agricultural Development Council. At the age of 23 he went to India to become instructor in agricultural engineering, developing an extension service serving 500 villages. In the mid-1950s fifties he made an in-depth study of agricultural programs in Latin America. He has written many articles and consulted widely on programs of agricultural development.