A graduate of Yeadon High School, he failed at the College of William and Mary but went on to graduate from Drexel University. From there, he earned a law degree at the University of Pennsylvania, a master's degree in law and diplomacy from Tufts University, and a master of laws from Harvard University. In 1963, he became a professor at Temple Law School, and later served as its dean for eight years before he was elected president of the university.