Let Your Voices Rise

May 31, 2023

In a few minutes, all of you will walk out of this stadium as newly minted graduates of this University.  Before you do, however, it is my privilege to offer …

Fear Can Shadow Hope, But Hope Can Defeat Fear

May 17, 2023

Well, thank you, Mr. President, for that introduction. Dr. Morse, thank you for the incredible honorary degree. And thank you, President Frederick, for the invitation and for your leadership of …

America Needs Help Right Now and America Knows It

May 22, 2019

Good morning all, Father Jenkins, Board of Trustees, esteemed faculty, students, distinguished fellow honorees. I thank you for this from the bottom of my heart. Father, I must say I …

We Can Take On Those Deep-Rooted Problems

May 12, 2015

Let me start by thanking President Johnson for that very gracious introduction, and for awarding me with this honorary degree from an extraordinary institution. I am proud to have this …

More Bridges and Fewer Borders

Aug 09, 2017

Acting Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellors, ladies and gentlemen, Since its foundation in the mid-nineteenth century, Queen’s University Belfast has answered the question posed by its Latin motto.  There has never been …

Give Me the Effing Ball

May 30, 2018

Greetings to President Beilock, Barnard faculty, trustees, and honorees: Katherine Johnson, Anna Quindlen, and Rhea Suh. And to each of the 619 bad-ass women of the Barnard graduating class of …

Memorial Day: The Rest of the Story

Jun 09, 2021

This speech is significant for the impact it had after a couple of Hudson, Ohio, American Legion Memorial Day ceremony organizers cut off the speaker’s microphone as he tried to …