In 2004, it hosted two Iraqi Kurdish women after their visit to the National Constitution Center. At the institute gathering, Dr. Sicherman quipped, "They've been given a tour of the title deeds of American democracy."
In an appreciation of Dr. Sicherman forthe National Interest, a bimonthly foreign policy journal, Dov Zakheim, vice chairman of the institute, wrote:
"Harvey was an unabashed Republican, but one of the old school.
"He never personalized policy differences - Democrats and Republicans all felt comfortable around him."
Dr. Sicherman worked as speech writer and analyst, Zakheim wrote, for three U.S. secretaries of state: Alexander Haig, George Shultz, and James Baker.
Among other efforts at the institute, "he sponsored conferences on military personnel issues and regional affairs that had a direct impact on government policy; he started an innovative history program for high school teachers."
And, Zakheim wrote, he had style.
"He wore a homburg, saddle oxfords, and often carried a cane . . .
"And he was funny: he could be as wry, witty, and gently critical about the administration policy of the day as about the Torah portion of the week" at synagogue services.
Born in Detroit, Dr. Sicherman earned a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Scranton in 1966 and a master's degree in political science from the University of Pennsylvania in 1967. He earned his doctorate there in 1971, also in political science.
He held a Salvatori Fellowship in 1969-70.
In 1970, he was a U.S. youth delegate to the 25th anniversary session of the United Nations.
He began his career in 1969, as a research assistant at the institute, before becoming a consultant to the Davis Institute for International Relations at Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1972-73.
