Dear Friends,
My great affection for the University of Notre Dame, growing out of the years that I spent there and my deep respect for the president, Father Jenkins, have, thus far, led me not to weigh in, in writing, on the whole matter of President Obama’s coming to speak and receiving an honorary degree at this year’s commencement. But, I think the time has come when I must, nonetheless, do so.
In the first place, let me say that were I the president of the University of Notre Dame, I would never have invited President Obama to speak at a commencement and to be honored with a Doctor of Laws Degree — I would simply never have done that and anyone who knows me would know that.