SpreadFreedomandtheRuleofLaw
PresidentHennessey,graduatingstudents,andmyfellowcitizensinaworldthatmustseektocomeeverclosertotheideaandrealityoffreedomunderlaw.ThankyouforinvitingmetoyourCommencement.
EachofyougraduateshasyourownstoryoftheyearsatStanford.Yourstoryisboundupwithyourparents,yourfamilyandthelovedoneswhosustainedyouhere.You—indeedallofusandtheentireNation—owethemwarmestthanks.
Freedommustremainacentralpartofyourstory.FromthebeginningofourRepublic,Americanshavedefinedfreedombyamoralprinciple.Itisthis:Withourownfreedomcomesthedutytosecureitforothers.Freedomisthebirthrightofall.Whenwehelpothersfindfreedom,wesaveourown.
Now,twopeopleortwomillionpeopleortwobillionpeoplecannotenjoyfreedomwithoutrules.Sofreedomgoeshandinhandwithlaw.Thisisjusthighschoolcivicsstuff.Nosurprisehere.Buttheprinciplesaresofundamentalthatitseemsappropriatetodiscussthematyourcommencement,asyouconsiderhowbesttoshapeyourlifeandyourwork.
Americanshavetheresponsibilitytotrytoadvancelawandfreedominotherplaces.Thetaskisdaunting.Forthestarktruthisthis:morethanhalftheworldlackseitherthewillorthepowertoembracelawandfreedomasweknowit.Instrugglingnationsthejuryonwhethertopursuelawandfreedomisajurythatisstillout.Inthelongrunourlast,bestsecurityisintherealmofideas.ItisurgentforourNationandforyouasyoungpeopletostrivetomakethecasefortheideaoflawandfreedom.Wemustmakethatcasetoadoubtingworld.Onthisquestion,theworldmustnotbeinsearchoftwodifferentdestinies.