Francis Keppel

Francis Keppel
United States Commissioner of Education
In office
December 10, 1962 – May 21, 1965
PresidentJohn F. Kennedy
Lyndon Johnson
Preceded bySterling McMurrin
Succeeded byHarold Howe
Personal details
Born(1916-04-16)April 16, 1916
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 19, 1990(1990-02-19) (aged 73)
Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
EducationHarvard University (BA)

Francis Keppel (April 16, 1916 – February 19, 1990) was an American educator. As U.S. Commissioner of Education (1962–1965) he was instrumental in developing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and in overseeing enforcement of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the schools. In 1966, he became head of the General Learning Corporation. Keppel later served on the New York City Board of Higher Education (1967–1971) and on Harvard's Board of Overseers (1967–1973). In 1974 he became founding chairman of the Lincoln Center Institute and director of the education policy program at the Aspen Institute.