OT: Clinton to be Convocation Speaker

[Pete Godenschwager]

[Q]I can't imagine what he could possibly tell the Class of 2004 that would give them a leg up on their coming journey through post-collegiate life. [/Q]

In all honesty, 99% of people probably don't even remember what the hell their commencement speaker said anyway.  The only point of a commencement speaker is so you can say "My speaker was so and so" and everybody can act impressed and then tell you who their speaker was.  

[KenP]

The '92 convocation speaker was Geraldine Ferraro.  Excellent speaker.  The '92 commencement speaker did not speak due to heavy rain and near freezing temperatures.

[KenP]

Is the speaking fee payable to Mr. W J Clinton, or is his speaking contingent on a donation to the Clinton Library Fund (or whatever it's called)?  If the latter, it's reasonabe to charge higher fees due to the tax benefits.

[ugarte]

[Q]KenP Wrote:

 The '92 convocation speaker was Geraldine Ferraro.  Excellent speaker.  The '92 commencement speaker did not speak due to heavy rain and near freezing temperatures.
 [/Q]
Bingo.  Thanks, KenP.  Ferraro was running for Senate herself in 1992 (didn't make it past the primary, though). It was her own stump speech that I remember being annoyed by.  I have no idea why I replaced her in my memory with Hillary.

The commencement speaker was always Frank Rhodes, wasn't it?  He was great at all of the graduations I saw him at, but in 1992 he was especially kind - he kept it as short as possible and let us get out of the rain.  What a brutal day.

[KenP]

[Q]ugarte Wrote:

The commencement speaker was always Frank Rhodes, wasn't it?  He was great at all of the graduations I saw him at, but in 1992 he was especially kind - he kept it as short as possible and let us get out of the rain.  What a brutal day.[/Q]

For some reason I remember there being two speakers on the program.  Maybe it was just Frank.  I do remember his cutting the speech way short.  What a day!

[jtwcornell91]

One of the things that makes Cornell's commencement ceremonies a lot shorter and more bearable than other schools' (along with not reading the names of all the graduates) is that the invited speaker speaks at the convocation, a separate event.  Only the president speaks at commencement.  It also helped that Hot Tub was a great speaker.  (Although of the three commencements I attended, his speech at mine was my least favorite.)

[Jim Hyla]

[Q]KenP Wrote:

 Is the speaking fee payable to Mr. W J Clinton, or is his speaking contingent on a donation to the Clinton Library Fund (or whatever it's called)?  If the latter, it's reasonabe to charge higher fees due to the tax benefits. [/Q]Like Cornell needs a tax deduction?

Come on it has already been posted that he waved his fee.

Not specifically responding to the above quote, but I'm always amazed that he can bring up so much hatred before the facts are even known. Yes his personal life was poorly handled, but that's for he and his family to work on. In regards to how he ran the country that's a different story, but some would contend that we were better then than now.

[nyc94]

[Q]Jim Hyla Wrote:
In regards to how he ran the country that's a different story, but some would contend that we were better then than now.
 [/Q]

two words: bubble economy

[A-19]

two words: better speaker.

[nyc94]

[Q]A-19 Wrote:

 two words: better speaker. [/Q]

Than who?  Bush?  No argument here.  Although I would direct you to Clinton's speech at the 1988 Democratic National Convention.  Many thought it was the end of his career.  But let's give credit where it's due: the speechwriters.

[Tub(a)]

[Q]nyc94 Wrote:
 let's give credit where it's due: the speechwriters.

 [/Q]

I think you would find very few people who don't think Bush's speechwriters are among the best ever, but the fact is that Bush mangles the speeches.

And Clinton may have had a bubble economy, but he was responsible with the money gained from that, leaving a giant surplus that Bush wasted on his wealthy cronies.

[Josh '99]

Oh for the love of God.  Can we please not have this political chest-thumping here?  There's enough of that crap to filter through on USCHO.   ::help::

[Will]

I agree with Josh.  I guess I should have known better before starting the thread. :-/

[hIKE]

Clinton write his own speeches, and did so almost all the time while President.  At least we should all be able to agree on the fact that Clinton is an excellent speechwriter and a genius, and whether repub. or dem. you can take something good away from his speeches.

[ugarte]

[Q]hIKE Wrote:
Clinton wrote his own speeches, and did so almost all the time while President.  [/Q]Oh, stop it.  Bill Clinton, like any man who is responsible for running the country (or running to run the country) did not have the time to write his own speeches.  He may have edited his own speeches or contributed to his own speeches but I assure you that he had a speechwriting staff just as large and just as necessary as our current President.  

This isn't a knock on Clinton or Bush, it just is what it is.