Nearly sixty years ago, Highland Park High School’s Shoreline newspaper buzzed with the same energy found in today’s weekly meetings. However, rather than the digitized version we’ve all become accustomed to, Shoreline was a carefully crafted physical paper. While editors scrambled together newspaper clippings in order to get to print on time, there was one editor in particular who found appreciation in the newspaper’s meticulous and creative process. He later utilized these very skills to build not just a remarkable career, but a life well worth living. Whether it be through his time crafting a multi-billion dollar company, working as the United States Ambassador for Norway, or a member of the Clinton and Bush administrations, HPHS alum Marc Nathanson is an extraordinary figure.
Mr. Nathanson (or as he asked us to call him, Marc) grew up in Highland Park. His passion for all things politics sparked from a young age. Growing up, his neighbor was John Barlow Martin, a journalist and speech writer for Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson, and an ambassador to the Dominican Republic under President John F. Kennedy. As Mr. Nathanson grew up, his neighbor became a role model for him, guiding his career and aspirations.
When he entered Highland Park High School, those passions became even more emboldened. He cited Shoreline as a reason for that. Nathanson’s involvement in the newspaper became an experience that would provide him with “stepping stones for the rest of [his] career”. Under the guidance of Shoreline advisor Dr. Munski, Nathanson would become a managing editor for the newspaper, a position that opened up new opportunities for him, such as participating in journalism competitions, learning to form integral relationships, and even meeting Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird. He also cited his summer traveling in Europe with his close friend, Ned Robertson, as a formative trip that helped him “develop his love for international affairs” and eventually led to his career as an ambassador.
Nathanson, one of Shoreline’s own managing editors, has gone into a unique career fused with television, politics, and international affairs. A career laced with vast coverage of multiple different industries, Nathanson certainly has a story distinct from any we have heard. After HPHS, he attended the University of Denver, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in mass communications. Yet, due to his “passion for the blend of politics and communications”, he decided he wanted to dive deeper into his studies. He completed his master’s thesis on the regulation of cable television and its relation to politics from University of California, Santa-Barbara, and began developing his company, Falcon Cable. With the focus of the American people in mind, Falcon Cable was a pioneer in the field of cable television, allowing millions to access news and media from the comfort of their homes.
However, Mr. Nathanson still wanted to interact with the people with whom he was serving. Turning his focus to the political capital of the US, he decided in 1995 to begin operating in DC. Through his law-focused connection with the former First Lady, Secretary of State, and lawyer, Hillary Clinton, he developed a relationship with her husband. With this connection in mind and his overdeeming qualifications, former President Bill Clinton appointed him to the newly formed United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM). There, he was in charge of all US non-military communications for a total of seven and a half years under Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush. Subsequently, he had one more passion he wanted to pursue: diplomacy.
After several decades serving on the board of trustees of the American-Albanian Enterprise Fund (AAEF), supporting economic development in Albania, he was appointed as a Norwegian diplomat under former President Joseph Biden. It was here he found his true passion, being able to “interact with those whom he was impacting directly.” He served as ambassador from 2022-2024.
Nathanson, once a Giant himself, had some words of advice for the students of today. Throughout his interview, Nathanson was extremely clear that he believes all students should take advantage of Highland Park High School. He noted that their teachers, their peers, and their coaches are top of the line; there are so many experiences that HPHS provides its students that will continue to guide the people we will become. Because of all that HPHS offers, Nathanson also encourages students to get involved with things that excite them, to pursue their passions.HPHS offers a place to do just that, he reminds students not to waste that. Nathanson also encouraged all HPHS students to read and participate in Shoreline. He emphasized the importance of “dialogue in today’s day and age” and encouraged the younger generations to do their best to stay informed and engage in conversation about the world around them.
Upon every conversation we segwayed into with Mr. Nathanson, he always found a way to connect it back to the power of Shoreline. He credits his curiosity about the world, passion for journalism, and civic engagement as skills that the newspaper instilled in him. Reminding all of us Highland Park students to seek adventure in life, but to remain humble and considerate of the people and places that made it all possible. His life is a beautiful example of how our high school experiences will empower and impact the rest of our lives, making now the perfect time to discover our passions and pursue them.