U.S.MissiontotheUnitedNations
Goodmorning,Stanford!Thankyouverymuch,PresidentHennessy,forthatverywarmintroduction.ItiswonderfultobebackatStanford.Havinggottenaroundabitoverthelastfewyears,Iammoreconvincedthanever—thatthisisthebestuniversityonthefaceoftheplanet.
Stanfordhashadanenormousimpactonmylife.NotonlyisitwhereImetmyhusband,butit’swhereImetthepeople,tookthecourses,andchampionedthecausesthatultimatelyledmetomakemycareerininternationalaffairs.Stanfordalsotaughtmefocusanddiscipline.Onceyou’velearnedtostudyinabathingsuitonthegrasswithmuscledmenthrowingfrisbeesoveryourhead,youcanaccomplishalmostanything.
Now,graduates:firstandforemost,congratulations.Isuspectyou’refeelingprettygoodaboutyourselvesrightnow.IrememberfeelingprettygoodaboutmyselftoowhenIwassittinginyourseats.Infact,Imighthavebeenfeelingalittletoogood—judgingfromhowmuchIrememberaboutmycommencementspeech.
Holdontothisjubilantmomentandcherishyourmemoriesofthisextraordinaryplace.Nurturethefriendshipsyouhavemadehere.ThewarmthandsecurityofStanfordcansustainyouasyoufaceaneconomystillclimbingoutofadeepholeandenteraworldchangingatafuriouspace.
Imaginetheworldandwhatitwillbelikewhenoneofyoucomesbackaquartercenturyfromnowtodeliverthecommencementaddress.In1986,whenIgraduated,theSovietUnionwasbristlingwith45,000nuclearweapons,andtheBerlinWallwasimpenetrable.NelsonMandelawasclockinghis23rdyearinprisoninapartheidSouthAfrica.OsamabinLadenwasfightingtheSovietsinAfghanistan,andal-Qaedadidn’texist.Almostnobodyhadheardofglobalwarming.Japanwasthedauntingeconomicpowerhouse,andChina’sshareofglobalGDPwas2percent.Thereweresome30fewercountriesintheworld,and2billionfewerpeopleontheplanet.