Last night when I got into the car, I heard the tail end of a story on NPR: "...at Wesleyan commencement this weekend." Huh? Turns out that Barack Obama is going to give the commencement speech at my alma mater in place of Teddy Kennedy:
I graduated in 1984. Teddy Jr. was supposed to graduate in '83, but he had taken a year off from school (to campaign for his dad, as I recall), so he graduated with my class. Teddy Sr. received an honorary degree that day. He was going to give the commencement speech this year because it's Teddy Jr.'s 25th reunion weekend (he understandably feels more a part of the class of '83 than '84) and because his step-daughter will be graduating.
My commencement speaker was David McCullough—here's a photo of him with Teddy Sr. et al.
"Ted and I talked about me filling in for him at Wesleyan University earlier this week. Considering what he's done for me and for our country, there's nothing I wouldn't do for him. So I'm looking forward to standing in his place on Sunday even though I know I won't be able to fill his shoes," Senator Obama said.How exciting!
I graduated in 1984. Teddy Jr. was supposed to graduate in '83, but he had taken a year off from school (to campaign for his dad, as I recall), so he graduated with my class. Teddy Sr. received an honorary degree that day. He was going to give the commencement speech this year because it's Teddy Jr.'s 25th reunion weekend (he understandably feels more a part of the class of '83 than '84) and because his step-daughter will be graduating.
My commencement speaker was David McCullough—here's a photo of him with Teddy Sr. et al.
Can you use your clout to get me a ticket to the commencement? Can you? Please?!
Posted by: Elena | May 23, 2008 at 12:28 PM
I find it so interesting that you remember your commencement speaker. I work at a university and just about every alum I run into can't remember theirs.
Posted by: J | May 25, 2008 at 12:20 PM
That is wicked cool, as you locals like to say. (And I hope you will overlook Sen. Obama's grammatical error above and vote for him just the same, come November.)
My commencement speaker at Michigan (undergraduate degree) was Lawrence Kasdan, and he was terrific. My commencement speaker in graduate school, also at Michigan, was Murray Louis, and I remember little of what he said. No clue who spoke at my conservatory graduation.
Posted by: Naomi | May 26, 2008 at 09:01 PM
He made another one in the address itself: "My father left my mother and I when I was two. " Eek. Nice speech though: http://www.wfsb.com/news/16389467/detail.html
Posted by: Karen | May 26, 2008 at 09:59 PM