As a lawyer he specialized in banking and brokerage before working at the New York Stock Exchange, where he became vice-president.

Its reputation recently damaged by charges of mismanagement, in 1962 the American Stock Exchange named Etherington its president.

In 1967 he became president of Wesleyan, where he increased minority enrollment and restored a coeducational environment.

In 1970 Etherington left Wesleyan to make an unsuccessful run for the United States Senate as a Republican candidate from Connecticut.

He was appointed by President Richard M. Nixon to head the National Center for Voluntary Action.