Many young Obama aides leaving for Harvard

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WASHINGTON, June 17 (UPI) -- About a dozen of President Obama's junior staff are leaving Washington for Harvard, half of them for Harvard Law School.

Obama is an alumnus of Harvard Law, where he was the first black editor of the Law Review. Those not opting for law are going to President George W. Bush's alma mater, Harvard Business School, or plan to pursue graduate studies in an academic area, Politico reported.

"We're all proud of these remarkable young people who've worked late nights and long weekends over the last several years on the campaign and in the administration," Jamie Smith, the deputy press secretary at the White House, said. "Of course, the president isn't at all disappointed that so many of them have chosen to pursue a bright future at his alma mater, and he is grateful for their dedicated service."

Eric Lesser, most recently an assistant to Austan Goolsbee at the Council of Economic Advisers, said Obama has been "supportive" of staffers seeking admission to Harvard. He and other staffers would not say if the president provided references.