If You Live by the Sword: Politics in the Making and Unmaking of a University President

If You Live by the Sword offers an honest portrayal of the human struggles faced by a university president and it explains how these seldom discussed stresses of the position are intensified by the intrusion of politics. Pettit goes behind the scenes and writes openly about intrigue, betrayal, anxiety, and the contention for power that is faced within the university system. In a career that has mixed academia and politics for over forty years, the author was fired more than once for his politics. And when he ran a gubernatorial campaign, he actually had to fire the candidate’s mother. On a more personal level, the author experienced two divorces because of the turbulence of his career, and had to fend off false rumors of sexual impropriety and endure politically inspired audits.

Lawrence K. Pettit has been a U.S. Senate staff member, campaign manager for a Governor, a Washington representative for higher education, and once ran for Congress. He has been a university chief executive officer in Montana, Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania, and now enjoys a vigorous retirement in Montana.