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The original documents are located in Box 2, folder "1976/06/07 - Central High School
Graduation, Grand Rapids, Michigan" of the Frances K. Pullen Papers at the Gerald R.
Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Scanned from Box 2 of the Frances K. Pullen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Final Draft
Revised, Central High School Graduation Remarks
It is truly an honor for me to return to my own
high school after 40 years. That seems a very long
time ago. The class of 1936 and the class of 1976 are
many years ago and many changes apart. But I believe
each class of graduates and parents have similar emotions
and expectations on graduation day.
I've shared this day with my four children, and I
understand. what a sad-happy day this is for all of you.
For graduates, this marks an end to a very special time
in your lives. You will always remember the friends and
the fun, but you are looking today toward new adventures.
Today you begin to take more control of your own
life and to pursue your own special dreams. That's both
exciting and a little scary.
As your parents and friends watch you start the
adventure of more education or a job, they share your
excitement. As all parents do, they want good things for
you.
I'm sure every mother in this audience remembers the
Page Two
first day you went off to school. The same mixture of
high hopes and just a little pain are somewhat the same
today.
We really can do little more than encourage you to
follow your own dreams and to assure you of our support.
To trust and believe in yourself is the best advice we
can give. We do hope you will grow as individuals and
continue to learn more about the world around you.
What makes America special is that each individual
can make his own personal promises about what he wants
to do with his life.
When we talk about the American dream, we really
are talking about the collection of all our dreams. Your
expectations will be matched by surprises and disappointments.
But I've found the true excitement and challenge of life is
to expect the unexpected.
As I watched my children graduate, I wanted each of them
to have the strength to accept challenges and the courage
to overcome defeats. My hopes for them are the same for
you today and all young people may you have laughter,
friends and joy. May you live up to the best in yourselves.
In this Bicentennial year, may you use the liberty
America gives us to make the world a better place.
-0-
Similar to Deaft used
Revised, Central High School Graduation Remarks
It is truly an honor for me to return to my own
high school after 40 years. That seems a very long time
ago. The class of 1936 and the class of 1976 are many
years and many changes apart.
Your studies, clothes and future jobs are different
from those of my generation. But I believe each class of
graduates and parents have similar emotions and expectations
on graduation day.
I've shared this day with my four children, and I
understand what a sad-happy day this is for all of you.
For graduates, this marks an end to a very special time
in your lives. You will always remember the friends and
the fun, but you are looking today for new adventures.
Today you begin to take more control of your own lives
and to pursue your own special dreams. Whether you continue
your education or start a job, you will make your own
decisions. That's both exciting and a little scary.
As your parents and friends launch you on this adventure,
they share your excitement. As all parents do, they want
good things for you.
I'm sure every mother in this audience
Page Two
remembers the first day you went off to school. The
same mixture of high hopes and just a little pain are
somewhat the same today.
We really can do little more than encourage you to
follow your own dreams and to assure you of our support.
We hope you will continue to grow as individuals and
to learn more about the world around you.
I think of the lines from the poet George Santayana:
"It is not wisdom to be only wise, and on the inward vision
close the eyes, but it is wisdom to believe the heart. "
To trust and believe in yourself really is the best
advice we can give.
You are unique
with talent, energy and ideas only
you can give to your community and to your country. What
makes America special is that each individual can make and
keep his own promises to himself.
When we talk about the American dream, we really are
talking about the collection of all our dreams. Your expectations
will be matched by surprises and disappointments. But the
excitement and challenge of life is to expect and accept
the unexpected. I've found that so important in my life.
As I watched my children graduate, I wanted each of them
Page Three
to have the strength to accept challenges and the courage
to overcome defeats. My hopes for them are the same for
you today and all young people may you have laughter,
friends and joy and may you live up to be best in yourselves.
In this year of our Bicentennial, may you use the
liberty American gives us to make the world a better place.
-0-
Central High School Graduation Remarks
It is truly an honor for me to return to my own
high school after 40 years. That seems a very long
time ago. Although you and I studied in the same
building, many things have changed at Central High
School ) The class of 1936 and the class of 1976
are more many than years apart, because of many events
and
apart.
and changes in the world.
The hum subjects you studied, the clothes you wear
and the Inture jobs you will have are different from those
of my generation. But I believe each class of graduates
and parents have similar emotions and expectations on
graduation day.
I've shared this day with my four children, and I
know what a sad-happy day this is for all V of you. For
graduates, this marks an end to a very special time in
your lives. You will always remember the friends and
the fun, but you are looking today for new adventures,
Today is more a beginning than an end. Today you begin
to take more control of your own lives and to pursue your
own special dreams.
Whether you continue your education or start a job,
Page Two
you will make your own decisions. That's both exciting
and a little scary. (Your life will never be as
structured and predictable as it has been in the past.
There will be fewer required courses and more electives.)
As your parents and friends launch you on this
adventure, I know they share your excitement. As all
parents do, they want good things for you.
I'm sure every mother in this audience remembers
the first day you went off to school. The same mixture
of high hopes and just a little pain are somewhat the
same today.
We really can do little more than encourage you
to follow your own dreams and to let you know we will
back you up. We all hope you will continue to grow
learn more
as individuals and to keep educating yourself about the
a
world around you.
I think of the lines from the poet George Santayana:
"It is not wisdom to be only wise, and on the inward vision
close the eyes, but it is wisdom to believe the heart."
To trust and believe in yourself really is the best advice
we can give.
and ideas
You are unique with some talent and energy only you
can give to your community and to your country.
Page Three
What makes America special is that each individual can
make and keep his own promises to himself.
When we talk about the American dream, we really
are talking about the collection of all our dreams.
You graduate with many expectations, and no doubt will
encounter disappointments and surprises. But what makes
reuse
America exciting is that all of us can expect the unexpected.
I've found that in my own life and my friends.
You begin with your own hopes and talents and what
happens will not always be as you plan. But if you do
believe your heart and discipline yourself to be the
our
best you can be, I⁻believe you will find many rewards.
(I I think of the parable of the talents in the Bible
and of the man who used his one talent well. What is
important in our lives is not what we have in the way
of intelligence and talent, but what we do with these
gifts)
As I watched each of my children graduate, I wanted
each of them to have the strength to accept the challenges
and the courage to overcome the disappointments. My hopes
for them are the same for you today and all young people--
may you have laughter, friends and hope and may you live
up to the best in yourselves.
Page Four
In this year of our Bicentennial, may you
use the liberty America gives us to make our
world a better place.
-0-
Central High School Graduation Remarks
It is truly an honor for me to return to my
axx own high school after 40 years for your
graduation. That seems a very long time ago,
and although you and I studied in
the same building, many things have changed in
this city and in the country.
BNX
The XM subjects you studied, the clothes
you wear and the country you live in are all very
I believe
different from the class of 1936. But each class
and parents
of graduates has many similar emotions and expectations
on graduation day.
I've shared this day with my four children, and
I know what a sad-happy day it is for all of you.
For graduates, this marks an end to very special time
in your *** lives the friends you've made and the
fun you've had will be remembered for many years to come.
But today is more a beginning than an end. Today you
begin to take more control of your own lives and to
pursue your own special dreams.
Whether you continue your education or start a job,
you will be making your own choices. That's both
exciting and a little scary. Your life will never
again be as structured and predictable as it has
been during your school years. Fewer decisions will
be made for you, and more choices will be ***** yours.
As your parents and friends launch you on this
adventure, I know they share your excitement. As
all PXE parents do, they want good things for you.
I'm sure every mother in this audience thinks
about the first day hx her EXI child went off to school.
That same mixture of high XEN hopes and just a little
pain are somewhat the same today.
Those of us WX who are older xxxx really can do little
more than encourage you to follow your own pakex
dreams. We all hope that you you will continue to grow
and learn.
I think of the lines from the poet George Santayana:
"It is not wisdom to be only X wise, and **** on the
inward vision close the eyes, but it is wisdom to believe
the heart." That theme of "to your own self be KNK true"
is really the best advice we have.
Youare мицхи MN4 unique without another duplicate in
the world. You have something that only you can give
to your community as and to your country.
2
Revised, Central High School Graduation Remarks
It is truly an honor for me to return to my own
high school after 40 years. That seems a very long time
ago. The class of 1936 and the class of 1976 are many
years and many changes apart.
Your studies, clothes and future jobs are different
from those of my generation. But I believe each class of
graduates and parents have similar emotions and expectations
on graduation day.
I've shared this day with my four children, and I
understand what a sad-happy day this is for all of you.
For graduates, this marks an end to a very special time
in your lives. You will always remember the friends and
the fun, but you are looking today for new adventures.
Today you begin to take more control of your own lives
and to pursue your own special dreams. Whether you continue
your education or start a job, you will make your own
decisions. That's both exciting and a little scary.
As your parents and friends launch you on this adventure,
they share your excitement. As all parents do, they want
good things for you.
I'm sure every mother in this audience
Page Two
remembers the first day you went off to school. The
same mixture of high hopes and just a little pain are
somewhat the same today.
We really can do little more than encourage you to
follow your own dreams and to assure you of our support.
We hope you will continue to grow as individuals and
to learn more about the world around you.
I think of the lines from the poet George Santayana:
"It is not wisdom to be only wise, and on the inward vision
close the eyes, but it is wisdom to believe the heart."
To trust and believe in yourself really is the best
advice we can give.
You are unique with talent, energy and ideas only
you can give to your community and to your country. What
makes America special is that each individual can make and
keep his own promises to himself.
When we talk about the American dream, we really are
talking about the collection of all our dreams. Your expectations
will be matched by surprises and disappointments. But the
excitement and challenge of life is to expect and accept
the unexpected. I've found that so important in my life.
As I watched my children graduate, I wanted each of them
Page Three
to have the strength to accept challenges and the courage
to overcome defeats. My hopes for them are the same for
you today and all young people may you have laughter,
friends and joy and may you live up to be best in yourselves.
In this year of our Bicentennial, may you use the
liberty American gives us to make the world a better place.
-0-
rongh draft
Central High School Graduation Remarks
It is truly an honor to come back to my own
high school after 40 years for your graduation
exercises. I know what a special day this is
because I've shared it with my four children.
This really is a sad-happy day for parents, because
we look at our grown-up children and
remember other days.
I wonder if there is a mother in this audience
day
who doesn't think today about the first XIMS her
child went to school. We send you off to school
just as we send you off today with high hopes and
just a little pain.
Graduation in a way is like going off to the
first grade, but this time will be going off on your
own. Perhaps you will continue your formal education
or begin your life's work, but whatever your path,
you will be more in control of your own life. That's
an exciting prospect.
You have your own special hopes and expectations.
I am happy to share this special day in your
lives. I am closer to how the parents and X friends
of the graduates feel today than perhaps the class
of 1976. This is a sad-happy day for parents. A
parent looks at the high school graduate and sees
a little boy or girl the first time on a bxek
bicycle or remembers watching that small figure
walk in into the classroom for the first time for
so many years ago.
Now here you are today
XM on the threshold of another beginning. Th Graduation
is in a way like going to the first
grade, but this time you will be on your own
perhaps
a job, more education, life more X under your own control.
It is both exciting and a little frightening, and there
is so little to say as you begin this adventure.
I think about my own graduation 40years ago
how
time does fly. Although much has changed in this country,
each generation brings to its task a new perspective.
You carry within yourself the potential for personal
growth
for exploring new frontiers for seeking out
To
me, XNE America remains the most exciting country
in the world, because each individual can become the
best of what he wants to be.
We talk about the American dream, and that X really
is a collection of all our X dreams.
Youx start out duay today with many expectations, and
no doubt W you will encounter disappointments
and surprises. But what really is exciting in our
country is that each of us can expect the unexpected.
You beging ¥ withyour own talents and hopes, and what
happents will not always be as your plan. But if you
do believe your heart and warkx discipline yourself
to be the best you can be I belive you will find many
rewards.
I think of the parable of the axex talents in the
Bible, and of the man who used his one talent well.
What is important in all our lives is not KX what we have
been given in the way of intelligence and talent but
what we do with these gifts.
As I XW saw each of my children graduate, I hax
hadxax wanted a good life for them with friends, family,
work to give them a place love, surprises and I hoped
they would have the strength to accept the challenges and
and the grace to accept their blessings. My hopes
for them are the same as I have for you today and
for all young people - good work, qudxquax good friends
and unexpected tests of their courage and their abilities.
To each of you
the same.
-0-
Tough Draft a sheila thought BF could wt handle!
Revised Remarks, Central High School Graduation
It is truly an honor for me to return to my own
high school after 40 years. That seems a very long
time ago. The class of 1963 and the class of 1976 are
many years and many changes apart.
Your studies, clothes hopes and future jobs are different
from those of my generation. But I believe each class of
graduates and parents have similar emotions and expectations
on graduation day.
I've shared this day with my four children, and I
understand what a sad-happy day this is for all of you.
For graduates, this ends a very special time in your lives.
You will always remember the friends and the fun, but
you are looking today for new adventures.
Today you begin to take more control of your own lives
and to pursue your own special dreams. Whether you continue
your education or start a job, you will make your own
decisions. That's both exciting and a little scary.
As your parents and friends launch you on this
adventure, they share your excitement. As all parents do,
they want good things for you.
and father
I'm sure every mother in this audience
remembers
the first day you went off to school. The same mixture
of high hopes and just a little pain are somewhat the
same today.
It
S
hard to know what words will help
guide
you
and which ones you are prepared to accept.
Each generation finds
its own joys and reacts
to its own pains. Your goals and hopes for yoursel
and your country are
different from those of your
parents.
I
believe 1976 is a grand time to be young. The
Nation has a worklist of problems to be solved, but it
has
many resources to do SO.
Your talent, imagination and hard work can help.
We are just emerging from a turbulent period, and this
is a time of reevaluation. After a period of extreme
doubt and agitation, there is a danger of settling into
complacency. I hope your generation helps keep
America from becoming ********* self-satisfied.
Despite important gains in unha achieving equal
rights and responsibilities for ****** women and racial
minorities, inequities and injustices remain.
Despite our technological achievements, we still
face an energy crisis.
The failures of past generations always fall to the
young
But be
encouraged by America's triumphs and by
the personal achievements of those you admire.
I wish for you today what I wished for my child ren
on their graduation days - may you be the best you can
be and may you leave the world around you a better place.
-0-
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Document data
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"ocrText": "The original documents are located in Box 2, folder \"1976/06/07 - Central High School\nGraduation, Grand Rapids, Michigan\" of the Frances K. Pullen Papers at the Gerald R.\nFord Presidential Library.\nCopyright Notice\nThe copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of\nphotocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United\nStates of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.\nWorks prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public\ndomain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to\nremain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid\ncopyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nScanned from Box 2 of the Frances K. Pullen Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library\nFinal Draft\nRevised, Central High School Graduation Remarks\nIt is truly an honor for me to return to my own\nhigh school after 40 years. That seems a very long\ntime ago. The class of 1936 and the class of 1976 are\nmany years ago and many changes apart. But I believe\neach class of graduates and parents have similar emotions\nand expectations on graduation day.\nI've shared this day with my four children, and I\nunderstand. what a sad-happy day this is for all of you.\nFor graduates, this marks an end to a very special time\nin your lives. You will always remember the friends and\nthe fun, but you are looking today toward new adventures.\nToday you begin to take more control of your own\nlife and to pursue your own special dreams. That's both\nexciting and a little scary.\nAs your parents and friends watch you start the\nadventure of more education or a job, they share your\nexcitement. As all parents do, they want good things for\nyou.\nI'm sure every mother in this audience remembers the\nPage Two\nfirst day you went off to school. The same mixture of\nhigh hopes and just a little pain are somewhat the same\ntoday.\nWe really can do little more than encourage you to\nfollow your own dreams and to assure you of our support.\nTo trust and believe in yourself is the best advice we\ncan give. We do hope you will grow as individuals and\ncontinue to learn more about the world around you.\nWhat makes America special is that each individual\ncan make his own personal promises about what he wants\nto do with his life.\nWhen we talk about the American dream, we really\nare talking about the collection of all our dreams. Your\nexpectations will be matched by surprises and disappointments.\nBut I've found the true excitement and challenge of life is\nto expect the unexpected.\nAs I watched my children graduate, I wanted each of them\nto have the strength to accept challenges and the courage\nto overcome defeats. My hopes for them are the same for\nyou today and all young people may you have laughter,\nfriends and joy. May you live up to the best in yourselves.\nIn this Bicentennial year, may you use the liberty\nAmerica gives us to make the world a better place.\n-0-\nSimilar to Deaft used\nRevised, Central High School Graduation Remarks\nIt is truly an honor for me to return to my own\nhigh school after 40 years. That seems a very long time\nago. The class of 1936 and the class of 1976 are many\nyears and many changes apart.\nYour studies, clothes and future jobs are different\nfrom those of my generation. But I believe each class of\ngraduates and parents have similar emotions and expectations\non graduation day.\nI've shared this day with my four children, and I\nunderstand what a sad-happy day this is for all of you.\nFor graduates, this marks an end to a very special time\nin your lives. You will always remember the friends and\nthe fun, but you are looking today for new adventures.\nToday you begin to take more control of your own lives\nand to pursue your own special dreams. Whether you continue\nyour education or start a job, you will make your own\ndecisions. That's both exciting and a little scary.\nAs your parents and friends launch you on this adventure,\nthey share your excitement. As all parents do, they want\ngood things for you.\nI'm sure every mother in this audience\nPage Two\nremembers the first day you went off to school. The\nsame mixture of high hopes and just a little pain are\nsomewhat the same today.\nWe really can do little more than encourage you to\nfollow your own dreams and to assure you of our support.\nWe hope you will continue to grow as individuals and\nto learn more about the world around you.\nI think of the lines from the poet George Santayana:\n\"It is not wisdom to be only wise, and on the inward vision\nclose the eyes, but it is wisdom to believe the heart. \"\nTo trust and believe in yourself really is the best\nadvice we can give.\nYou are unique\nwith talent, energy and ideas only\nyou can give to your community and to your country. What\nmakes America special is that each individual can make and\nkeep his own promises to himself.\nWhen we talk about the American dream, we really are\ntalking about the collection of all our dreams. Your expectations\nwill be matched by surprises and disappointments. But the\nexcitement and challenge of life is to expect and accept\nthe unexpected. I've found that so important in my life.\nAs I watched my children graduate, I wanted each of them\nPage Three\nto have the strength to accept challenges and the courage\nto overcome defeats. My hopes for them are the same for\nyou today and all young people may you have laughter,\nfriends and joy and may you live up to be best in yourselves.\nIn this year of our Bicentennial, may you use the\nliberty American gives us to make the world a better place.\n-0-\nCentral High School Graduation Remarks\nIt is truly an honor for me to return to my own\nhigh school after 40 years. That seems a very long\ntime ago. Although you and I studied in the same\nbuilding, many things have changed at Central High\nSchool ) The class of 1936 and the class of 1976\nare more many than years apart, because of many events\nand\napart.\nand changes in the world.\nThe hum subjects you studied, the clothes you wear\nand the Inture jobs you will have are different from those\nof my generation. But I believe each class of graduates\nand parents have similar emotions and expectations on\ngraduation day.\nI've shared this day with my four children, and I\nknow what a sad-happy day this is for all V of you. For\ngraduates, this marks an end to a very special time in\nyour lives. You will always remember the friends and\nthe fun, but you are looking today for new adventures,\nToday is more a beginning than an end. Today you begin\nto take more control of your own lives and to pursue your\nown special dreams.\nWhether you continue your education or start a job,\nPage Two\nyou will make your own decisions. That's both exciting\nand a little scary. (Your life will never be as\nstructured and predictable as it has been in the past.\nThere will be fewer required courses and more electives.)\nAs your parents and friends launch you on this\nadventure, I know they share your excitement. As all\nparents do, they want good things for you.\nI'm sure every mother in this audience remembers\nthe first day you went off to school. The same mixture\nof high hopes and just a little pain are somewhat the\nsame today.\nWe really can do little more than encourage you\nto follow your own dreams and to let you know we will\nback you up. We all hope you will continue to grow\nlearn more\nas individuals and to keep educating yourself about the\na\nworld around you.\nI think of the lines from the poet George Santayana:\n\"It is not wisdom to be only wise, and on the inward vision\nclose the eyes, but it is wisdom to believe the heart.\"\nTo trust and believe in yourself really is the best advice\nwe can give.\nand ideas\nYou are unique with some talent and energy only you\ncan give to your community and to your country.\nPage Three\nWhat makes America special is that each individual can\nmake and keep his own promises to himself.\nWhen we talk about the American dream, we really\nare talking about the collection of all our dreams.\nYou graduate with many expectations, and no doubt will\nencounter disappointments and surprises. But what makes\nreuse\nAmerica exciting is that all of us can expect the unexpected.\nI've found that in my own life and my friends.\nYou begin with your own hopes and talents and what\nhappens will not always be as you plan. But if you do\nbelieve your heart and discipline yourself to be the\nour\nbest you can be, I⁻believe you will find many rewards.\n(I I think of the parable of the talents in the Bible\nand of the man who used his one talent well. What is\nimportant in our lives is not what we have in the way\nof intelligence and talent, but what we do with these\ngifts)\nAs I watched each of my children graduate, I wanted\neach of them to have the strength to accept the challenges\nand the courage to overcome the disappointments. My hopes\nfor them are the same for you today and all young people--\nmay you have laughter, friends and hope and may you live\nup to the best in yourselves.\nPage Four\nIn this year of our Bicentennial, may you\nuse the liberty America gives us to make our\nworld a better place.\n-0-\nCentral High School Graduation Remarks\nIt is truly an honor for me to return to my\naxx own high school after 40 years for your\ngraduation. That seems a very long time ago,\nand although you and I studied in\nthe same building, many things have changed in\nthis city and in the country.\nBNX\nThe XM subjects you studied, the clothes\nyou wear and the country you live in are all very\nI believe\ndifferent from the class of 1936. But each class\nand parents\nof graduates has many similar emotions and expectations\non graduation day.\nI've shared this day with my four children, and\nI know what a sad-happy day it is for all of you.\nFor graduates, this marks an end to very special time\nin your *** lives the friends you've made and the\nfun you've had will be remembered for many years to come.\nBut today is more a beginning than an end. Today you\nbegin to take more control of your own lives and to\npursue your own special dreams.\nWhether you continue your education or start a job,\nyou will be making your own choices. That's both\nexciting and a little scary. Your life will never\nagain be as structured and predictable as it has\nbeen during your school years. Fewer decisions will\nbe made for you, and more choices will be ***** yours.\nAs your parents and friends launch you on this\nadventure, I know they share your excitement. As\nall PXE parents do, they want good things for you.\nI'm sure every mother in this audience thinks\nabout the first day hx her EXI child went off to school.\nThat same mixture of high XEN hopes and just a little\npain are somewhat the same today.\nThose of us WX who are older xxxx really can do little\nmore than encourage you to follow your own pakex\ndreams. We all hope that you you will continue to grow\nand learn.\nI think of the lines from the poet George Santayana:\n\"It is not wisdom to be only X wise, and **** on the\ninward vision close the eyes, but it is wisdom to believe\nthe heart.\" That theme of \"to your own self be KNK true\"\nis really the best advice we have.\nYouare мицхи MN4 unique without another duplicate in\nthe world. You have something that only you can give\nto your community as and to your country.\n2\nRevised, Central High School Graduation Remarks\nIt is truly an honor for me to return to my own\nhigh school after 40 years. That seems a very long time\nago. The class of 1936 and the class of 1976 are many\nyears and many changes apart.\nYour studies, clothes and future jobs are different\nfrom those of my generation. But I believe each class of\ngraduates and parents have similar emotions and expectations\non graduation day.\nI've shared this day with my four children, and I\nunderstand what a sad-happy day this is for all of you.\nFor graduates, this marks an end to a very special time\nin your lives. You will always remember the friends and\nthe fun, but you are looking today for new adventures.\nToday you begin to take more control of your own lives\nand to pursue your own special dreams. Whether you continue\nyour education or start a job, you will make your own\ndecisions. That's both exciting and a little scary.\nAs your parents and friends launch you on this adventure,\nthey share your excitement. As all parents do, they want\ngood things for you.\nI'm sure every mother in this audience\nPage Two\nremembers the first day you went off to school. The\nsame mixture of high hopes and just a little pain are\nsomewhat the same today.\nWe really can do little more than encourage you to\nfollow your own dreams and to assure you of our support.\nWe hope you will continue to grow as individuals and\nto learn more about the world around you.\nI think of the lines from the poet George Santayana:\n\"It is not wisdom to be only wise, and on the inward vision\nclose the eyes, but it is wisdom to believe the heart.\"\nTo trust and believe in yourself really is the best\nadvice we can give.\nYou are unique with talent, energy and ideas only\nyou can give to your community and to your country. What\nmakes America special is that each individual can make and\nkeep his own promises to himself.\nWhen we talk about the American dream, we really are\ntalking about the collection of all our dreams. Your expectations\nwill be matched by surprises and disappointments. But the\nexcitement and challenge of life is to expect and accept\nthe unexpected. I've found that so important in my life.\nAs I watched my children graduate, I wanted each of them\nPage Three\nto have the strength to accept challenges and the courage\nto overcome defeats. My hopes for them are the same for\nyou today and all young people may you have laughter,\nfriends and joy and may you live up to be best in yourselves.\nIn this year of our Bicentennial, may you use the\nliberty American gives us to make the world a better place.\n-0-\nrongh draft\nCentral High School Graduation Remarks\nIt is truly an honor to come back to my own\nhigh school after 40 years for your graduation\nexercises. I know what a special day this is\nbecause I've shared it with my four children.\nThis really is a sad-happy day for parents, because\nwe look at our grown-up children and\nremember other days.\nI wonder if there is a mother in this audience\nday\nwho doesn't think today about the first XIMS her\nchild went to school. We send you off to school\njust as we send you off today with high hopes and\njust a little pain.\nGraduation in a way is like going off to the\nfirst grade, but this time will be going off on your\nown. Perhaps you will continue your formal education\nor begin your life's work, but whatever your path,\nyou will be more in control of your own life. That's\nan exciting prospect.\nYou have your own special hopes and expectations.\nI am happy to share this special day in your\nlives. I am closer to how the parents and X friends\nof the graduates feel today than perhaps the class\nof 1976. This is a sad-happy day for parents. A\nparent looks at the high school graduate and sees\na little boy or girl the first time on a bxek\nbicycle or remembers watching that small figure\nwalk in into the classroom for the first time for\nso many years ago.\nNow here you are today\nXM on the threshold of another beginning. Th Graduation\nis in a way like going to the first\ngrade, but this time you will be on your own\nperhaps\na job, more education, life more X under your own control.\nIt is both exciting and a little frightening, and there\nis so little to say as you begin this adventure.\nI think about my own graduation 40years ago\nhow\ntime does fly. Although much has changed in this country,\neach generation brings to its task a new perspective.\nYou carry within yourself the potential for personal\ngrowth\nfor exploring new frontiers for seeking out\nTo\nme, XNE America remains the most exciting country\nin the world, because each individual can become the\nbest of what he wants to be.\nWe talk about the American dream, and that X really\nis a collection of all our X dreams.\nYoux start out duay today with many expectations, and\nno doubt W you will encounter disappointments\nand surprises. But what really is exciting in our\ncountry is that each of us can expect the unexpected.\nYou beging ¥ withyour own talents and hopes, and what\nhappents will not always be as your plan. But if you\ndo believe your heart and warkx discipline yourself\nto be the best you can be I belive you will find many\nrewards.\nI think of the parable of the axex talents in the\nBible, and of the man who used his one talent well.\nWhat is important in all our lives is not KX what we have\nbeen given in the way of intelligence and talent but\nwhat we do with these gifts.\nAs I XW saw each of my children graduate, I hax\nhadxax wanted a good life for them with friends, family,\nwork to give them a place love, surprises and I hoped\nthey would have the strength to accept the challenges and\nand the grace to accept their blessings. My hopes\nfor them are the same as I have for you today and\nfor all young people - good work, qudxquax good friends\nand unexpected tests of their courage and their abilities.\nTo each of you\nthe same.\n-0-\nTough Draft a sheila thought BF could wt handle!\nRevised Remarks, Central High School Graduation\nIt is truly an honor for me to return to my own\nhigh school after 40 years. That seems a very long\ntime ago. The class of 1963 and the class of 1976 are\nmany years and many changes apart.\nYour studies, clothes hopes and future jobs are different\nfrom those of my generation. But I believe each class of\ngraduates and parents have similar emotions and expectations\non graduation day.\nI've shared this day with my four children, and I\nunderstand what a sad-happy day this is for all of you.\nFor graduates, this ends a very special time in your lives.\nYou will always remember the friends and the fun, but\nyou are looking today for new adventures.\nToday you begin to take more control of your own lives\nand to pursue your own special dreams. Whether you continue\nyour education or start a job, you will make your own\ndecisions. That's both exciting and a little scary.\nAs your parents and friends launch you on this\nadventure, they share your excitement. As all parents do,\nthey want good things for you.\nand father\nI'm sure every mother in this audience\nremembers\nthe first day you went off to school. The same mixture\nof high hopes and just a little pain are somewhat the\nsame today.\nIt\nS\nhard to know what words will help\nguide\nyou\nand which ones you are prepared to accept.\nEach generation finds\nits own joys and reacts\nto its own pains. Your goals and hopes for yoursel\nand your country are\ndifferent from those of your\nparents.\nI\nbelieve 1976 is a grand time to be young. The\nNation has a worklist of problems to be solved, but it\nhas\nmany resources to do SO.\nYour talent, imagination and hard work can help.\nWe are just emerging from a turbulent period, and this\nis a time of reevaluation. After a period of extreme\ndoubt and agitation, there is a danger of settling into\ncomplacency. I hope your generation helps keep\nAmerica from becoming ********* self-satisfied.\nDespite important gains in unha achieving equal\nrights and responsibilities for ****** women and racial\nminorities, inequities and injustices remain.\nDespite our technological achievements, we still\nface an energy crisis.\nThe failures of past generations always fall to the\nyoung\nBut be\nencouraged by America's triumphs and by\nthe personal achievements of those you admire.\nI wish for you today what I wished for my child ren\non their graduation days - may you be the best you can\nbe and may you leave the world around you a better place.\n-0-"
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