 In 1961, Harlow was hired by Procter & Gamble to create their first governmental relations office in Washington, D.C. His connection with the company was through Neil H. McElroy, former Procter & Gamble president and now chairman, who had served as Eisenhower's Secretary of Defense.Harlow was the company's main representative to Congress and federal agencies until his retirement in 1978.At the time of his retirement, he was called the "unofficial dean of Washington corporate representatives."