Advice For The Class Of 2003
Speaker: Actor and comedian Will Ferrell
Remarks: "One of the challenges you will face is finding a job in our depressed economy. In fact, the chances of finding a job are about as good as finding weapons of mass destruction in the Iraqi desert - slim and none, and slim just left the building."
Speaker: CBS News commentator Andy Rooney
Remarks: "Face the good and bad of life with realism and knowledge."
Speaker: Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep
Remarks:"I have agonized over this speech, mostly because I don't usually give speeches, or when I do, it's at my house, and nobody listens."
Speaker: Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
Remarks: "A great lawyer is always mindful of moral and social aspects of the lawyer's power and position as an officer of the court."
Speaker: President George W. Bush
Remarks: "We will not permit terrorist organizations or states to blackmail the world with weapons of mass destruction, as we have shown in the battle of Iraq."
Speaker: U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin
Remarks: "I hope and pray that you go to sleep every night exhausted but knowing that whatever your contributions of the day, they have left your family, your community and our nation better than it was yesterday,"
Speaker: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.
Remarks:"It is what in large measure brings this class here today -- families who sacrifice so that their children can have better opportunities, people who do a good day's work in order to build something, to make their job mean something."
Speaker: Lady Margaret Thatcher, former British prime minister
Remarks: "Great schools and great universities do not in themselves make great nations. It's individuals who do that, as the founding fathers understood so well."
Speaker: First lady Laura Bush
Remarks: "If I could give you any advice, it would be this - take time for yourself."
Speaker: Former President Bill Clinton
Remarks: "There's a big difference between the trend lines and the headlines. And one of the things that you need to be able to do as you leave here is to draw that distinction."
Speaker: Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler
Remarks: "A career in music is a road that's constantly under construction."
Speaker: Vice President Dick Cheney
Remarks: "I've met some very successful people in my day. Men and women of talent and character who have risen to the top of their field, and it's the rare one who hasn't experienced a failure or a false start along the way."
Speaker: National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice
Remarks: "Our own history shows democracy takes time and occasional setbacks are inevitable."
Speaker: Yoko Ono, widow of Beatle John Lennon
Remarks: 'Art is love. What we artists give to society is love. Right now, love is what is most needed in our society."
Speaker: Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno
Remarks: Reno reinforced the public service theme of the school when she told the graduating class to fight for civil liberties and public access to justice.
Speaker: Former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C
Remarks: "You have the capability to do great things. Pray for guidance to do the right thing. Strive to do the right thing. Aim for the stars and you'll be surprised at what you can accomplish."
Speaker: Actor and comedian Bill Cosby
Remarks:"We just might set the record for the youngest grandmother. You could have a 27-year-old grandmother who can't cook a pie, who just knows how to buy French fries for the 'chirren.'"
Speaker: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts
Remarks: "You can help renew what it means to be a lawyer in this country -- and history will measure that commitment to citizenship -- in a hundred thousand different acts of moral courage."
Speaker: Folk singer Pete Seeger
Remarks: Seeger performed "When the Saints Go Marching In."