Obama To Grads: "Always More To Achieve"

By: Robert Hendin
Topics: White House

(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Controversy has followed President Obama to college. Wednesday evening, he gave his first commencement address as president at the Arizona State University. The school decided to buck tradition and not offer the president an honorary degree saying that he hadn't accomplished enough yet. They later changed their tune to say that the school has a policy against giving degrees to politicians just because they are politicians.

On Sunday, the President will speak at Notre Dame University, an event that is being boycotted by some in the anti-abortion rights community. That's a larger controversy that touches on an issue that many are very passionate about.

Here in Arizona, the controversy isn't as heavy. The school has decided to name a scholarship in Mr. Obama's honor and speaking to the crowd of 9,000 graduates and 62,000 friends and family, he was greeted with a prolonged standing ovation. He took on this controversy with his trademark humor.

"Now, before I begin, I'd like to clear the air about that little controversy everyone was talking about a few weeks back. I have to tell you, I really thought it was much ado about nothing, although I think we all learned an important lesson. I learned to never again pick another team over the Sun Devils in my NCAA bracket," he said to laughter. "It won't happen. And your university president and Board of Regents will soon learn all about being audited by the IRS," he joked.

But soon, the president used the measure of one's accomplishment in life to make a broader point about today's college graduates contributing to society.

"I come here not to dispute the suggestion that I haven't yet achieved enough in my life," he said. "I come to embrace it; to heartily concur; to affirm that one's title, even a title like president, says very little about how well one's life has been led - and that no matter how much you've done, or how successful you've been, there's always more to do, more to learn, more to achieve."

And while the president has spoken at length in recent months about the health of the economy, today he added a new line to remind graduates that money isn't the only goal of a prosperous society.

"It was in pursuit of gaudy short-term profits, and the bonuses that come with them, that so many folks lost their way on Wall Street," Mr. Obama said.

He went further, identifying by name one of those who lost their way.

"The trappings of success may be a by-product of this larger mission, but they can't be the central thing. Just ask Bernie Madoff."

For the first time as president, he addressed the future of a group of college graduates, the maroon clad Sun Devils gathered before him, telling them that it was the great story of America: young people coming together to get the country through its tough times.

"They weren't doing it for the money. Their titles weren't fancy - ex-slave, minister, student, citizen. Whole bunch of them didn't get honorary degrees. But they changed the course of history - and so can you ASU. So can you class of 2009," he said to raucous applause.

He also asked them for help in taking on America's challenges.

"It is moments like these that force us to try harder, to dig deeper, to discover gifts we never knew we had - to find the greatness that lies within each of us."

Returning to theme of the night, he ended by telling the graduated to never stop adding to their body of work.

Robert Hendin is a CBS News White House producer.

Robert Hendin
Robert Hendin is senior producer for "Face the Nation" and a CBS News senior political producer.
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by mattcat25 May 14, 2009 2:36 PM EDT: ASU is one great place to ROAD TRIP!

go bruins!; Reply to this comment


by umhater May 14, 2009 1:59 PM EDT: The classical do as i say not as I do speech from a liberal. Lets see, his wife wears $500 shoes, they spend $200 on a pet, host dinners at the White House every Wednesday night, Michelle orders caviar and expensive champagne. Classical liberalism and hypocrisy.; Reply to this comment


by revlin1 May 14, 2009 12:28 PM EDT: Nothing ridiculous about a university being cautious when we DON'T KNOW much about this guy and everything he has "accomplished, touched or done" has a taint of "huh?" to it. Ie; Rezko(house) Ayers(campaign) Acorn (election) Wright (faith?), Jarrett-Azelrod and Emmanuel (hatchetpersons of little repute) So, if I were the university, I would've gone this same route. As far as hypocrites; we see the MSM who would vote a Dem ticket 11 to1 (last election) as BIASED, HYPOCRITICAL and Downright MEAN SPIRITED in everything they do with anyone who opposes THEM. America now "gets it"..when will the media? Do they have to all lose their jobs, pensions, 401k before they figure this SHAM out? FYI: Did Obama bring his credentials from any schools he attended? We understand they are closed documents? How come? LOL; Reply to this comment


by denziel56 May 14, 2009 12:11 PM EDT: Pres Obama is very gracious. He turned their ridiculous, he has'nt achieved enough to his own advantage. People should realize by now he's always a step ahead. As for Notre Dame, what else can you expect from the hypocritical christians? Turning the other cheek? Absurd reactions while the priests hide behind their cloaks and molest children! Nuff said!
Posted by d106d at 7:25 AM : May 14, 2009

I guess ASU is so advanced now because he turned them, wow i'm impressed knowing several hundred college grads whom voted for bho on a straight ticket vote are raving in the streets today ready to follow a fellow that has never done much more than write books about his father and disowning his mother at the same time. great family values! then you attack Notre Dame and the Christan religion at the same time. i am a Christan and truly take offense from your comments directed to me , while radical extremist religions are a poison to our society. there are no Christan's killing innocence ordinary people to further their cause. we are sick of this type of attack upon a country that was founded upon Christan faith and believes. read our Constitution jerk off, believe in our nation or get the hell out of dodge, better yet come on down to Texas and speak that crap in public and see what i mean.I shall never turn my cheek and hide from the likes of you and what ever beliefs you my want to hide behind ! and to coin your phrase
"Nuff Said"; Reply to this comment


by mattcat25 May 14, 2009 11:28 AM EDT: "I like when people write that all people complain and the last administration put us in this situation."
Posted by npkppprc at 7:54 AM : May 14, 2009

By the way...THEY DID!

Megga Dittos Ditto Head.; Reply to this comment


by npkppprc May 14, 2009 10:54 AM EDT: I like when people write that all people complain and the last administration put us in this situation. Fact is Obama has more than doubled our debt already in just over 100 days in office, wants us to pay for others medical (We already do this anyway) He hates the rich, and anyone who succeeds which I guess would include himself because he is rich. He blames teachers for students for bad performance when the actual problem is the parents. Maybe some of those cuts should start at the White House with their pay, large pensions and life time medical. The average person doesn't get this they get small pensions and no medical. How is his plan going to help them, they still pay taxes on the pensions, and pay for there own medical, by the time they pay for the extras there isn?t much left. Yes people Americans have the right to complain when were getting pushed by a man who hasn?t a clue about real people.; Reply to this comment


by jwind1 May 14, 2009 10:32 AM EDT: I listened to the ASU speech last night on MSNBC. Wow, can Obama deliver! Very inspiring.
Posted by briannorwood at 6:08 AM : May 14, 2009

wow!! he is that important in your life?; Reply to this comment


by cjs_cnet_xyz May 14, 2009 10:30 AM EDT: It's easy to talk about what new graduates may or may not do, but America did not fullfill its promise of opportunity to a large number of prior graduates of this nation. There are many people who went to school using student loans who after graduation were not able to obtain jobs in their field of study because industry made their positions more available to foreign staff. These people work at McJobs paying expensive student loans for much of their working lives. If this country wants to do something for graduates and the economy, it needs to meet these former graduates half-way on some form of student debt resolution.; Reply to this comment


by rsoxfan1123 May 14, 2009 9:29 AM EDT: maybe because McCain is from Arizona?; Reply to this comment


by johnb8888 May 14, 2009 9:11 AM EDT: "?It was in pursuit of gaudy short-term profits, and the bonuses that come with them, that so many folks lost their way on Wall Street,? Mr. Obama said. "

Yes and it was those same parasites that have saddled our college graduates with overwhelming debt. Debt that cannot be discharged even in bankruptcy, thanks to the Bushit Repig "bankruptcy reform" which really should have been called the "creditors' welfare bill".

If America wants an educated public, there must be a way for others other than the uber-rich to pay for an education.

We all know the Ivy-League schools have been selection mechanisms where the ultra-rich place their kids to guarantee them fat, high-paying jobs.

But how about the rest of America, Obama?

Let's see some action now.

You have much to achieve, Obama.; Reply to this comment