God, Country, Notre Dame: President Reagan's address to the Class of 1981

University of Texas ^ | May 17, 1981 | Ronald W. Reagan

[MarylandPines]

Father Hesburgh, I thank you very much and for so many things. The distinguished honor that you've conferred upon me here today, I must say, however, compounds a sense of guilt that I have nursed for almost 50 years. I thought the first degree I was given was honorary. [Laughter] But it's wonderful to be here today with Governor Orr, Governor Bowen, Senators Lugar and Quayle, and Representative Hiler, these distinguished honorees, the trustees, administration, faculty, students, and friends of Notre Dame and, most important, the graduating class of 1981.

I'm the fifth President of the United States to address a Notre Dame commencement. The temptation is great to use this forum as an address on a great international or national issue that has nothing to do with this occasion. Indeed, this is somewhat traditional. So, I wasn't surprised when I read in several reputable journals that I was going to deliver an address on foreign policy or on the economy. I'm not going to talk about either.

I hope when you leave this campus that you will do so with a feeling of obligation to your alma mater. She will need your help and support in the years to come. If ever the great independent colleges and universities like Notre Dame give way to and are replaced by tax-supported institutions, the struggle to preserve academic freedom will have been lost.

The years ahead are great ones for this country, for the cause of freedom and the spread of civilization. The West won't contain communism, it will transcend communism. It won't bother to denounce it, it will dismiss it as some bizarre chapter in human history whose last pages are even now being written.

[MarylandPines]

This is the speech that turned a nine year-old in the District of Columbia from an embittered Carter supporter into a Republican for life.

I repeat what I said to the crowd at Lafayette Square: I do not for one second believe it was a coincidence that he said these things at Notre Dame.

God rest the soul of the most famous Subway Alum ever...

[ambrose]

More important, don't let today's doomcriers and cynics persuade you that the best is past, that from here on it's all downhill. Each generation sees farther than the generation that preceded it because it stands on the shoulders of that generation. You're going to have opportunities beyond anything that we've ever known.

I wonder what President Reagan might have thought if he logged on to FreeRepublic and saw the almost nonstop onslaught of pessimistic 'sky is falling' postings?

[ambrose]

p.s. thanks for posting this. wonderful speech.

[oldplayer]

I loved this speech at the time. Has anyone done a google search of the comments of the media elite immediately AFTER this speech? It would be interesting reading,

Tyson

[Captiva]

WOW! Wonderful, amazing speech. Love the internet even more.