-- a discourage young intern says "the whole american dream thing that you guys are up on, that is all it is nowadays. a dream. graduates, do not ever allow yourself to believe that will stop instead, think about this. there is more information on then there wase in the local library when your parents grow. sure, life in modern america is not all, candy and rainbows. but for many of our challenges, our country remains an amazing place. it is the land of opportunity. here are a few facts. despite china's marco economic growth, america's economy

remains double to size of china's. it is bigger than any place else in the world. person,sured per probably the most accurate measure of societal wealth, u.s. production is a head of china by a factor of more than eight. it is natural to worry about the future. for the parents here today, it is natural to wonder whether america will be the same country for our children that it was for us. is, no generation in the history of the planet earth than a more opportunity college-educated young person coming-of-age in america. in 2014. that is particularly true for someone who graduate from a

world-class university like ball state. ask yourself this question. if the gated entry were dropped in every country in the world, which country would be flooded with the most people? course, the answer is america. don't get me wrong. our nation is far from perfect. it took hundreds of years for opportunities to open up for women and racial minorities in this country. americans, too many lack access to a quality education and the kinds of economic opportunities that are necessary to have a fair shot at success. ratesars, unemployment have stayed locked in double digits for those who lack a college education. the problems of wage stagnation and tricking paychecks are a

harsh reality for many in the middle class. these challenges must not be ignored. i know many of you will devote your careers to addressing these challenges. today, the unemployment rate for college-educated graduates in america is less than 4%. rate is lessent than 4%. all by definition college graduates. i will not sugar coat it. you may not get your first job, but you will get an opportunity in modern america. the rest is up to you.

own it. the second principle that i want to address is to create a plan. it has become the great american , winning an olympic medal or a grammy, a major election, these verbal. inevitably they come to the microphone to say, i never dreamed it was possible. i have a secret for you. that person is either incredibly gracious, oringly they are just not tell you the truth. the truth is, virtually no one exceeds their dreams. your ambition may grow and evolve over time. i hope you allow that to happen. shouldfe experience, you

set higher goals and different goals than you have today. limiter on are the what you can achieve. please do not mistake what i am saying. dreams are not some kind of magic pixie dust that makes anything possible. it is important to assess your abilities and your ambitions to your unique talents. a five foot i was 11 inch forward in high school. my basketball career ended on the freshman team. if i had wanted to be an nba center, it would have been a difficult career path for me. do not includes the physical requirements of an nba center. other nba career goals could have been achievable.

what about being a sports agent? or a communications director for a team. attainable, even for me. your dreams are the start of a plan. it is the specifics of your plan that matter. i first learned that lesson on my 27th birthday will stop that was from a former olympic steeplechase runner. said, when i deal in generalities, i seldom succeed will stop when a deal and specifics, i seldom fail. coachary basketball johnny wooden communicated the same message in a different way. inch, life is a cinch. your radar, life is hard to stop

-- yard by yard life is hard. to reach her goals, you must move past the abstract world of dreams and start doing the specific tasks needed to achieve them. when you begin working the specifics, it is amazing how quickly progress comes. let me give you an example of this principle for my own life. it is my 27th birthday and i had just heard an inspiring speech from henry march. i was two years into my locker air. i was feeling very uninspired by the work i was doing. i was ready for a career change. as i suspect options at that crossroads, my biggest career interest was coaching basketball , working in the movies, and serving in politics. before, as discussed career in basketball was

unlikely. with no real acting experience, the movies were out of stock that left me with politics. as a trained lawyer, with a passion for public service, it seemed like a good option. i left my job and focused on the specific tasks and entered a decade of ups and downs. it led me here today. my first job was as an unpaid volunteer for a congressional campaign. my next job was working as a junior legislative assistant for a congressman right learned -- i earned less than a third of my former salary will stop making issue for the congressman was miscellaneous. six monthsater -- later, i got a job as a press was they. each job specific step toward working a plan and reaching my goals. my jobs next two years, included writing political tv commercials, serving as legislative counsel, and

managing a successful congressional campaign stop at age 31, 5 years into my journey, i ran for congress for the first time. i placed a close third. to our current governor. it was not always easy, but does it or it help me earn a job with the republican party. it helped me get elected to the indiana state legislature. those experiences helped me become a partner in a large law firm. the president and ceo of an education on for rapid. -- nonprofit. i met my wife on a blind date well campaigning. it was here in muncie. we started our family. nationally recognized high school dropout reform. i even gave up on running for congress. it was a 16 year journey.

eventually i got there. and working the specifics was my key. likeimportantly, it feels we were just getting started. the same can be true for you. by graduating today, you have already demonstrated the brain power and persistence necessary to be successful. as you move forward in life, dream big. but transition quickly to the specific task necessary to reach your goals. everything may not go as planned. but the joy in life is in the journey. you will be amazed at what can be a compost along the way. this leads me to my final career principle. it is a life principle. never quit. when the frequent critiques of your generation, and you have

probably heard it, is that the trouble started when everyone got a trophy in little league. many take that criticism to mean that you expect great reward for little effort. i do not see that in this generation. what i do see is something subtle. in effort to make her kids feel special by giving them trophies for showing up, we have made of cast we may unintentionally have created a generation of young people who can be risk-averse will stop their afraid of failure. they are reluctant to take on any challenge that may not include guaranteed success. this is a problem. in real life, you do not always win. you do have to try. even when there are no guarantees. said,ne gretzky famously you miss 100% of the shots you never take. crazy, but if

there's one thing i say today, i want you to remember it will stop -- remember it. in the first 10 years of your career, if you are not feeling in major ways, you are not pushing yourself hard enough. as i speak with top business leaders, particularly top entrepreneurs, a common theme emerges. bright,young people are and they are also not afraid to work hard. the biggest challenge in managing young people today is finding leaders who are willing to stick their neck out and think outside the box and take risks. this is most important. you must look yourself accountable. you must be willing to live with the consequences of failure. -- will not will the mall

you will not win them all. life does not exceed trophies. big rewards have significant risks. 04. let me finish with this one final thought. natural talent is almost never the difference between success and failure. one indicator of success is your willingness to persevere when it would be easier to give up. if you met my family in 1975, we were not a picture of guaranteed success. my brother richie was five. our single parent mother was 25. she works 40 hours a week plus overtime at a factory.

my mother taught us that we were last ivy grace of god to live in the united states of america. focusedrk hard and stay , in this country, anything is possible. who knows, one day, you might even grow to be a u.s. congressman. course, the most remarkable thing about our country is that my story is not unique at all. today's audience is filled with literally thousands of people who can tell a similar story about themselves or their parents or their grandparents. merit -- magice of america. we'll get to be a part of it. you aspire to be the next great comedian like david

letterman or teacher of the year , or a trailblazing university become ther architect of the world's next great building. when the dream of owning your own pizza empire like pop accounts that papa john's founder and ball state alum. friends serving your and neighbors with distinction in the medical field. in america, it is all possible. keep your caps on. ,f you owned your opportunity and never quit, your dreams can come true. congratulations. thank you. good luck. [applause]

>> georgia congressman john lewis talked about the changes in the south his childhood. he had a commencement address at the university of mississippi law school. he marched with martin luther king. this is 15 minutes. [applause] >> good morning. wordsyou for those kind of introduction. members of the faculty and staff of the university of mississippi law school, and to the

graduating class of 2014, parents, family, friends, i must heartou from the bottom i it is a great honor to be standing with you here today on this important notation. if someone had told me many years ago when i first came to mississippi 21 years old, had all my hair, in 1961 on the freedom ride, that i would be , i would say today are you crazy? you are out of your mind. you do not know what you are talking about old stock -- about. i am pleased to be here. thank you. [applause] to each and every one of you receiving a degree, congratulations.

this is your day. , celebrateenjoy it it, you deserve it. over andparties are the candles are all blown out, the world will be waiting for you to take it to a better place. you can play a powerful role in building a better nation and a better world. sometimes in my travels around the country, people ask me about the current state of social justice in america. accepted that we do not live in a post-racial society. we have much more work to do. we have made a lot of progress.

when i was a young boy growing up, i lived in a little town called troy in rural alabama. my father was a sharecropper. he was a tenant farmer. in 1944, when i was four years old, and i do remember when i was four, how many of you remember when you were were? what happened to the rest of us? saved $300 and he bought 110 acres of land. my family still owns that land today. we raised a lot of crops, peanut, cows, chickens. it was my responsibility to care for the chickens. i fell in love with raising chickens like no one else could stop i know a lot of you in the state of mississippi know all

about chicken fried. fried, popeye's, chick-fil-a. you do not know anything about raising chickens. as a little boy, i would take their aches and mark them with a pencil and place them in wait for three weeks. i would be for the chicks to hatch. some of you may be asking, john hood, why did you mark them with a pencil? time, there would be eggs. you had to replace the fresh eggs. do you follow me? that's ok, you don't follow me. these and given to another hand. i would put them in a box with a lantern and raise them to stop i

would mark them with a pencil and place them in. on cheating these hands. when i look back on it, it was not the right thing to do. it was not the most loving thing to do is stop it was not the most democratic thing to do, but --anted to save $18 and $.98 $18.98. i ordered a hatchery from the sears roebuck store. most of you remember the sears roebuck catalog? it was that thick book. the heavy book. people have different names for. boy, i wanted to be a minister. from time to time, to help with my brother and sisters, we forgot about chickens.

my brothers and sisters and cousins lines outside the chicken yard. they made up the audience. i would speak and preach. when i look back on this, the chickens would bow their heads. some of them would shake their heads. they never quite said a man. i am convinced that the great majority of those chickens that i preach to tended to listen to me much better than some of my colleagues listen to me today in congress will stop some of those chickens were more productive. at least they produce eggs. [applause] today, on this day, i want to tell you a story or two. when i was visiting the little visitf troy, when i would

i saw signs that said white men, colored men, white women, colored women. i would ask my mother and my father and my grandparents, why? they said, that is the way it is. do not get in trouble. 1955, i was 15 or sold. i heard about rosa parks as i heard the words of martin luther king jr. on the radio. the words of dr. king. the actions of rosa parks inspired me to find a way. before my brothers and sisters and cousins, we didn't -- we went down to the little town of troy in 1956. we tried to check out some books and get library cards. we were told by the library and that the library was for whites

only and not for collards. i never went back to the public library. then in 1998 i went for a book signing of my book. hundreds of blacks and whites showed up. i had a wonderful reception. at the end of the book signing and the end of the reception, they gave me a library card. that may not seem that important, but when people tells me that nothing had changed in mississippi, i say, come and walk in my shoes. state.ate is a different our region is a different region. we are a better people. we are on our way. the burden of segregation. we are on our way to the

creation of communities. i say to you young graduates, young lawyers, you must find a way to get in trouble. necessary trouble. that is your moral obligation. that is your responsibility. bring justice and fairness to a region, to our country, and to our world community. that is your calling. me thatsomebody told boyday a young, barefooted who had grown up in rural alabama would one day have an to serve in a united states house of representatives, representing the good people of years, itor almost 28

can happen. wayawyers, you must make a out of no way. it will get in the way. you can do it. you have been trained. don't just do well. be brave. be bold. be courageous. and never ever give up. never give in. never give out. keep the faith. hold on. keep your eyes on the prize will this is your day.

thank you for being you. thank your parents, your husband, your wives. your sisters and your brothers. thank your professors. i am looking hard at some of you. my mother used to tell me when i was working in the field, you are not keeping up. this is hard work. she was about to kill me. she said, hard work never killed anybody. press on. get involved. forget about your own circumstances and get involved in the circumstances of others. not just in this state and america. not just in the state of mississippi, but around our world is st. follow the way of peace. follow the way of love will stop

follow the wave of -- follow the way of nonviolence. i was on a bridge in selma. i am not bitter. i believe we can redeem the soul of america. we can create the beloved community. i will tell you a story and i am finished. it is not about me, it is about you. when i was brought up in alabama, near montgomery, i haven't on. she lives in a shotgun house. here in the state of mississippi , here in the american south, you have never seen a shotgun house.

you don't even know what i'm talking about. my aunt did not have a manicured lawn. it is beautiful here. she had a dirt yard. house, youd shotgun can look up, through the roof, and you can count the stars. a pale, a bucket, and simmering water stop from time to time, she would walk out into the woods. she would put these branches together. she would tie them together and make a broom. she called out the brush room. she would sleep the art very clean all stop to were three times a week. especially on friday or saturday. she wanted the jury are to look good on the weekend. for those of you who do not know what this says, it is an old

house with one way in and one way out. you can basketball through the front door and send it out back door. one afternoon, a group of my brothers and sisters and some of my cousins, 12 or 15 of us went to that yard. an unbelievable storm came up. lightning started flashing. became terrified. she started crying. she thought the house will blow away. she got all those children together and told us to hold hands all stop we did is we were told. we all cried. when one corner of the house appeared to be lifted from the my aunt has locked in a corner and tried to hold the house down. when the other corner appeared to be lifted, she had is locked

in that corner. we were little children walking with the wind, but we never left the house. it was a house in mississippi. call it the house of georgia. call it the house of new york or california or texas. we all live in the same house. not just american houses. .he world's house will it does not matter who you're black or white, latino or asian-american. we all live in the same house. we must learn to live together as brothers and sisters. that is as dr. king said. or we will parish is -- perish as fools. as an instrument. use the law as a tool to bring about a nonviolent revolution of

ideas and values will stop you can do it. on your time, on your watch. thank you very much. [applause] >> graduation season upon us, c-span is asking what is your advice? a few of you have already weighed in. lisa writes -- you can leave your d almost 50 years after he

graduated, senator johnny isakson returned to his alma mater to deliver this year's commencement address at the university of georgia. he told graduates gathered at stanford football stadium in athens about his seven silent secrets to happiness and success. this is about 15 minutes. s and happiness. this is 15 minutes. [applause] >> allow. -- wow. what a teacher at that? [applause] after that speech, they are saying make it quick. president morehead, distinguished faculty, honor graduates of 2014, parents, friends, significant others. congratulations. it is an honor to be here. i have to tell you a secret.

said, i wantehead you to be the speaker at commencement, i was ecstatic. this is my alma mater. 48 years ago, i graduated from the university of georgia will st. all of my children graduated from the university of georgia. my wife graduated from the university of georgia. when i got that phone call, i was ecstatic to stop i close the door to my office and i said, this must be the greatest beach you ever deliver. to climbour one chance the rhetorical heights of ecstasy. if i could think back to my college graduation, all of the memorable parts of it and the great information i see, -- i received, i could give a great speech. i remember that day, a brand-new colosseum is where the ceremony was held stop i remember the joy on my parents' faces.

i was the first to graduate from in institution of higher learning. there was a good-looking blonde sitting in front of me. for the life of me, i cannot remember who spoke at my graduation or what they said. then i realized that this is not about me, this is about you. for just a couple of minutes, i want to share the six silent egrets of living a happy, successful, but when life. every one of them is known and they are the tenets of every major religion. they are the theme of every academy award-winning major picture. they are still secret. they are secret because parents do not talk about them enough with their kids. professors do not talk about them with their students. they are important secrets. i know you will not -- you will forget who spoke your graduation, i care that you remember the six silent secret of living a happy, successful,

fulfilling life. the first one is learning. you graduate from an institution with classrooms. you are going to be bigger classroom known as the world around you. many of you will take your diplomas and frame them all stop i urge you to carry it with you every day of your life and have it validated like a passport. if this ceremony was the end of your education, it would not be called commencement. it would be called terminal. it is called commencement because everyone knows that your education is something you build on for your entire career. -- it hasf knowledge been 49 years since i graduated. knowledge has compounded seven times since i left. the things i learned here are either not true or have been amended. because i learned how to learn, i have filled my body of knowledge to capacity.

never stop learning. the most difficult subject i had to deal with when getting elected to the senate was the ethics of embryonic stem cell research. i'm a real estate broker. i did not know what that meant. i called the university of georgia, and spoke to an eminent scholar here and a knowledgeable person on a running stem cell research. he knew what nuclear transfer was. he educated me so that i was able to make intelligent votes and contribute to the and united states senate. this university will serve you long after your diploma if you take it with you and have it validated. the second silent secret is respect. the nation's contents -- conscience, martin luther king jr. said it best. judge man by his character, not the color of his skin. we are all different. we are different sizes and

different shapes and different religions and different ages and different sexes and different ethnicities. we all have gifts from god to contribute. societies the fabric of everybody contributing together. when i speak at high school graduations, i tell the athletes, don't you ever kick sand in the face of the math and science whiz. they may hold a scalpel and operate on you. everyone of us has a time and a place and a talent to offer to everyone else. anyone will say that life is about relationships. relationships are about respect. older youou that the get, you realize you meet people a second time. they will treat you the second time reciprocal titrated on the first time. the third silent secret ethics. here is an american politician, a senator, talking about ethics all stop they do nothing but

create special prosecutors and committees. they are trying to figure out what is right and wrong. it is really very simple. there's a role for what is right and wrong. it is called the golden rule. treat people the way you want to be treated. i was in business for 33 years. i know people who made a lot of money. a lot of them lost it. the difference between the ones who made and kept it and the ones who made and lost it -- the ones he made and kept it knew that life is a win-win, not a lose -- win lose. they knew that they would come back to do business with you. they come to your backyard to see what kind of person you are. you might get it once, but you will never get a second time. my favorite author, mark twain, one set us. when confronted with a difficult decision, do what is right. eulas downbeat view enemies the rest. we all have -- you will astound the few at the maze the rest.

we have a voice where it might go either way. do what you do when everybody is looking, not what you do when nobody is looking all stop ethics is the basis for the foundation of the success you will have in life. the fourth secret is love. suggesting what you date from about. is the love of people and institutions that have contributed to get you where you are and once in the future who will. you need to repay that level respect, hugs, and your money and self. for example, the first check you ought to write after this graduation is to the alumni association at the university of georgia or to the capital campaign or a reconstruction campaign. this university has until in part on tax dollars. many dollars have been privately given and donated by organizations. is university of georgia

everything it is because of those who have given. you must give back. i have done it and you must do it. it is a great feeling. you are paying back what has been given to you. i always love to will rogers said about love. he was once asked that the wall street bankers club in new york city. the guy asked, mr. rogers, you have known all the great men of your time. artists, writers, statesmen. there's no one you cannot call by first name. can you please tell us in one sentence what you think the secret to living a happy, successful, and fulfilling life is? he said, always love people. do not ever use people. love things. the fifth silent secret is they -- the. -- fate.

i am at a public institution and i know how far i can go. it is about trials intricately should than failure. you need to have an inner strength to carry you through. i have been successful in politics 14 times and i lost three. i've been successful for 33 years. what garbage is a losing years in politics and business with the faith i had in god. let me tell you this. find it sooner rather than later. when you do, you cannot check the in and out of the library like a book. you cannot buy it from a televangelist on cable television. look for, find it, and it will help you. [applause] sixth figure is the dream. i'm talking about turning the

light off like i did to prepare the speech. if i could be anything, what do i want to be? we live in the greatest country on the face of the earth. people have volunteered and died to protect the opportunities that we have. every generation of americans has donated their sons to go to war to protect freedom and liberty. your ability to assemble and my ability to say what i want to say, we live in the greatest country on the face of this earth. let me tell you a little story. let me tell you about the 135 pounds math and science quiz. -- whiz. kenny and i went for graduation together in atlanta . our party after graduation was at robinson tropical garden. it was a butler building on the river when nobody went. we could make all the noise they wanted to. it is now called for news

restaurant that canoe posh restaurant. we watch the river go by. we talked about what we would be when we grew up. dreams andy about my then i let him talk about his. he said, i am going to columbia university on a full score ship for math and science. i will do everything i can. what i really want to do is write great music and entertainment use of people. i thought to myself, this scrawny little guy, he cannot do something like that. i did not say to him. kenny, until i was in minneapolis, going to end meeting at night and looking out the window of a cap and going by the majestic theater. there on the marquee, it said kenny asher. the little bugger has made it.

i went to the hotel and i called the theater. i got the night watchman and i said, when the music is over, there is a pn a player up there. can you give him this room number and tell him that johnny isakson called him. call me up. 3:00 a.m., he's a musician, the phone rings. i say, kenny you have made it. he said, i've been lucky. luck is when opportunity meets preparation. he said, i went to columbia and i did good in math and science. i play a lot of music to. i played in greenwich village. i met a guy. he introduced me to a guy. he had a touring jazz band. he asked me to fill in one night and i did. he liked it. a few weeks later, his piano player had a heart attack. he could not finish the tour. frank recommended me.

i met him and washington, d.c. i did a gig and it turned out good. he took me all over the country both top i have not entertained millions of people yet or written great music. i said, kenny you will. i am sure. we kept up with each other. it years later, he wrote and produced the songs for barbra streisand in "a star is born." he played online and you go knowing your city. i kept saying, you have made it. he said, i will write great music. i will entertain millions of people. on a saturday afternoon in 1979, my wife and i took her rural daughter and seven of her friends to a theater to see the great hit movie of 1979, "the muppet movie." you remember that. kermit the frog. he is strumming his banjo and singing the rainbow connection. it was a beautiful movie and a great song. over, yourovie was

wife sits on one end of the row and use it on the other. you cannot get up celebrity is out of the theater. you have nothing to do except watch the roman numeral scope by on the screen. i watched the production 15. cosmetology, costuming, and then the music. the rainbow connection. it was arranged, parties, and written my kenny asher and paul williams. dadgummit, that little bugger has made it. they were nominated for a grammy. that song is one of the most played songs in the history of music. it is all over the world. kenny asher's dream of writing great music and playing for millions of people came true. about the to think last verse of the rainbow connection will stop i want to

share with you. sometime you will find it, the remote connection. the lover and the dreamer in you. as your graduation speaker tonight, i want to tell you that the rainbow connection is there for you if you're willing to dream the impossible dream. you must be willing to learn throughout your life. you must treat everyone with ethics and principle. you must treat them with respect. a deep and abiding faith that get you through the difficult times. you can do anything in america that you want to do. you may not believe may, but there is a tree my kenny asher's to be filled for everyone who is willing to dream it. think about this. this is a stadium full of parents. you are their dream and they love you very much. thank you. [applause]

when i took office businesses were shedding 800,000 jobs a month. our deficits were heading towards $1 trillion a year, and every member of my cabinet had a tough job in front of them. no one had a tougher job than shaun donovan. the housing bubble that burst triggered the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes, and the irresponsibility of a few bad actors badly hurt millions of responsible, hard-working americans. home values had fallen 20% from the year before. new housing starts had fallen nearly 80% from their peak. hundreds of thousands of construction workers were out of a job.

and a record number of people were behind on their mortgages. five years later, things look a lot different. home sales are up nearly 35%, construction is up by more than 120%, new foreclosures are down by nearly half, and while we are not anywhere where we need to be yet, millions of families have been able to come up for air because they are no longer underwater on their mortgages. a $50 billion settlement by the big banks means justice has been done for thousands of homeowners who were targeted by deceptive mortgage schemes, and all this is in part because of the outstanding work of shaun donovan. here is the problem. when you are good at your job, people always want you to do

even more. [laughter] that is why today i am nominating sean to be the next director of the office of management and budget. and to take his place at hud, i am nominating another all-star who has done a fantastic job in san antonio over the past five years, mayor julian castro. before i talk about julian, i want to embarrass shaun a little more. over the years, shaun has taken an agency with a $40 billion budget, made it smarter, more efficient. he has changed the way hud uses data to save taxpayer dollars. he has helped build strong neighborhoods and connect the neighborhoods with good schools and jobs. he has helped reduce homelessness among our veterans by 24% since 2010. he has helped 4.3 million

families buy their piece of the american dream, a new home. shaun has helped us navigate some unexpected challenges as well. when hurricane sandy slammed ashore, it was personal for shaun. he was born in new york city, raised his kids in brooklyn. he once took his driving test on a road that was wiped out by the storm. he understood what this devastation meant to a community he loved. when we were looking for somebody to lead the recovery and rebuilding efforts, i knew shaun was the right person for the job. he has come through, helping the communities you know so well rebuild, but rebuild smarter and better. shaun has earned a reputation as a great manager, a fiscally responsible leader, and somebody

who knows how the decisions we make here in washington affect people's lives all across the country. that is why i am absolutely confident he will do a great job leading the office of management and budget and help even more hard-working americans get ahead. my guess is shaun is grateful to my outgoing head of omb, sylvia burwell, and her leaving behind a deficit that has been cut by half since i entered office. i was saying that was helpful. [laughter] we have also got to make sure that as we move shaun into a new position that we have got somebody who is going to do an outstanding job at hud, and that public servant is julian castro. for the first time most americans heard this man speak is when he gave a speech at the democratic national convention almost two years ago. they saw this young guy, a pretty good speaker, not bad looking -- [laughter] talk about how america is the

only place where his story could even be possible. i watched and i thought, that is not bad. [laughter] but the people of san antonio have known about julian and his brother, congressman joaquin castro, who is here today with leader pelosi and congressman and chair of the congressional hispanic caucus, they have known about him for a long time. as mayor, julian has been focused on revitalizing one of our most wonderful cities and planning thousands of housing units downtown, attracting hundreds of millions of dollars of investment. he has relationships with mayors across the country, has become a leader in housing and economic development.

today companies are choosing to create jobs in san antonio, and this year the east side was named a promise zone, a place where the citizens and the government are working together to make the community family by family and block by block. it speaks to the fact that julian cares deeply about the people he serves and the city that he loves. it is also a reminder that he has never forgotten where he comes from. julian's grandmother came from -- to this country from mexico. she worked as a maid, cook, babysitter, whatever she had to do to keep a roof over her family's head. that is because for her and generations of americans like her home is more than just a house. home is a source of pride and security, a place to raise a family and put down roots and build up savings for college or a business or retirement or

write a lifetime of memories. one day a kid grows up in that home and is able to go on to get a great education and become the mayor of san antonio and become a member of the president's cabinet. [speaking spanish] it is precisely because he has lived out the american dream and he will work his tail off to make more people can travel that same path. i want to thank shaun's wife, liza, and her outstanding boys, one of whom badly beat me in ping-pong during a super bowl game. i want to thank them for sharing their husband and dad with us a little bit longer. i want to thank julian's wife, erica, and this adorable young lady, carina, who gave me a hug before we came in were agreeing to let julian take on a new challenge. i am confident absolutely that these two individuals are going to do a great job because they

have done a great job and everything they have done in the past. they are proven leaders, proven managers, they are going to be effective, and most importantly, they have got huge heart. they are involved in public service for the right reasons, and for that reason i am hopeful that the senate will confirm them without games and without delay. i want to give them a few opportunities for them to say a few words. we will begin with shaun. [applause] >> thank you so much, mr. president. i first heard the name barack obama in 1991 at a dinner with a couple who are among my closest friends. the night before, the husband had taken over the harvard law review, but was in a grumpy

mood. i asked how could that be. he explained he was required to address the entire law school immediately after the outgoing head, barack obama. [laughter] of course he had it easy. try going between barack obama and julian castro. then his wife said that barack obama would one day be president, because he was one of the most remarkable people she had ever met. mr. president, after watching you guide this country to one of -- through one of its most trying periods in history with courage and grace, i believe those words even more today than i did 5 1/2 years ago when i joined your team. thank you for your -- [applause] thank you for your leadership and confidence that you have shown in me.

i also want to offer my congratulations to mayor castro. you have done outstanding work in san antonio. i have seen it with my own eyes. and i know you will do exactly the same in your new role. let me tell you, you're one lucky guy because the hud team is a group of extraordinary public servants. it has been my honor to work with them to help the nation recover from an historic economic crisis that began in the housing market. i am proud to say that together we have worked with millions of families to fight off foreclosure, reduce the number of veterans experiencing homelessness by 24% in the last two years, and revitalizing distressed neighborhoods so that children's futures will not be determined by their zip code, but by their talent.

i reminded that dr. king said human progress is not inevitable. hud is made up of such individuals. i will miss everything about working with them. thank you, hud team. [applause] well, almost everything. i am the owner of the office as -- i am known around the office as a numbers guy, and at hud i often hear groans when asked to see a spreadsheet that someone is holding at a meeting. if confirmed, i will be glad to go to a place where my love of spreadsheets will finally be embraced. [laughter] in all seriousness, as the president said earlier this year, the budget is not just about numbers. it is about our values and it is about our future. that is why i have always viewed

omb's unique role as critical. let me recognize sylvia burwell, whose extra-large shoes i have to fill. some of you know sylvia and i actually lived in the same dorm freshman year in college and we have been friends ever since. i know she will not mind late-night calls for her sage advice and guidance. i look forward to building on your work, sylvia, with the remarkable team that you have built at omb, with brian, beth, and every one of you who are here today. a stellar team. if congress approves my nomination, it will be a great honor to join your white house, mr. vice president, to join yours as well, and work closely with you to continue to move our nation forward. i want to say a special thank you to my colleagues in the cabinet. you have become good friends. now i'm going to be taking your calls for more funding --

[laughter] but i know the mutual respect and trust that we have built -- [laughter] will allow us to make difficult decisions to leave this country a better place for the next generation. thank you. [applause] finally, i want to thank my wife, liza, and our two sons, lucas and milo. i will never forget the morning i was first nominated in 2008. liza and i woke them up early, put the kids on our bed to have a difficult conversation that i would not be there on school days, but would make it back on weekends whenever i could. after explaining everything, the very first thing that came out of milo's mouth -- it was not about the hardship they would endure.

he said, "first of all, daddy, congratulations." my public service is their public service. i cannot thank them enough. [applause] once again, congratulations, mayor castro. thank you, mr. president, mr. vice president. [applause] >> thank you. first of all, mr. president, this is quite an honor. thank you very much for the honor and for the opportunity. to secretary donovan, i have some very big shoes to fill, i know.

i understand that fully. however, i just want to say you understand the importance of urban development and housing in your new role. [laughter] mr. vice president, it is an honor to join your administration, the president's administration. i want to thank madam leader and the chairman for being here, and i'm here today with my father, with my mother, who, along with my grandmother, raised my brother joaquin and i. i'm here with the two ladies who have stolen my heart, my wife, erica, and my daughter, carina. [applause] to be your nominee, president obama, is simply a blessing to me.

i am here alone at the podium right now, but i stand on the shoulders of so many folks over the generations who have worked very hard and dreamt the american dream and have reached it, and i feel blessed to have reached it as well. and especially to the great many folks in san antonio, i want to say a huge thank you. thank you very much for your support. and my brother and i grew up on the west side of san antonio, taking public transportation and living in rental homes as we grew up, and it was there that both of us got a sense of what is possible in america and an understanding that just because

you are of modest means does not mean that your aspirations or your opportunity ought to be limited. and it certainly means that you can have the talent to succeed and achieve the american dream. after five years as mayor of my hometown, i know this much -- we are in a century of cities. america's cities are growing again, and housing is at the top of the agenda. i look forward to being part of the department that will help ensure that millions of americans all across the country have the chance to it good, -- to get good, safe, affordable housing, and to reach their american dreams. if confirmed, i stand ready to assist you, mr. president, and your administration and local administrations across the country to make sure that we do housing right and that more americans achieve their dreams. thank you very much. [applause]

>> so, i am hoping for a quick confirmation. listening to these two individuals gives you a good sense of why i am nominating them for these positions. they are going to do outstanding work. i told shaun that it is rare that an announcement about a confirmation gets people choked up. [laughter] they are milking that. [laughter] and i do want to point out that the mayor was remiss in one element of his remarks.

i am assuming that he is pulling for the spurs to win. thank you, everybody. [applause]

>> some other foreign policy news today. earlier at the state department, secretary kerry is available to testify on thursday, june 12. if he does appear before that committee, he will not testify before the select committee on benghazi. here is more on that now. crux's secretary has agreed to appear before the committee but

he cannot do it on the 29th. you are asking for a different day. >> yes, today we sent a letter to the house oversight and government reform committee. we have been clear that we're willing to work with the committee, despite the fact that the benghazi oversight has been consolidated. we believe the secretary's appearance before it will eliminate any need for the secretary to. second time before the select committee. he will not be appearing on the database of peanut him for. -- on the day they subpoenaed him for. we have offered to other days as well. we were also surprised the second subpoena when we had been engaged by the committee to find a date. are moree there appropriate witnesses, but in an effort to be cooperative have offered two dates.

june 12 or june 20. >> now, if you still believe that there are more appropriate witnesses to talk about the document production aspect of this, which apparently is what congressman issa wants to talk hogarthhy not just ask to drop the subpoena entirely and agree to have him testify before the select committee, which is going to be looking at we said broader -- >> this should not -- he should not have to appear before the select committee. in the interest of accommodation , to resolve once and for all any outstanding relevant questions, we are prepared for the secretary to appear before the house oversight and government reform committee. we said they're more appropriate witnesses but in the interest of being accommodating we have offered several days for the secretary to appear very >> is a sent either or proposition?

>> we believe that if he appears it laminates any need for him to. second time. >> this is a challenge to congressman issa. getting more appropriate witness from your point of view or the secretary will not appear before the select committee. >> no, i wouldn't read it that way. we are working to accommodate the house oversight committee's request. that is what we are doing here. you think it is appropriate for them to have two testify twice on the same topic. we have gotten a subpoena. we have offered to other dates. that will be where he appears. thinkingrt of you there are more appropriate witnesses to appear before -- i don't see how that is appearing before to

committees on the same thing. is limited to documents and the select committee is looking at the entire before, during and after of the actual attack, why -- >> i would let congressman issa's bid to the point of why he issued the subpoena. i would venture to guess there will be questions about benghazi that are not related to document production. a postthe reason used subpoena or him appearing before arert was because there more appropriate witnesses because it related to document production, which is not something the secretary of normally involved in. we did believe there were more appropriate witnesses. it was also the way in which it was done. the first one was drawn. the second one released and then there is a tweet about the state

department. it was the manner in which it was done that we also did not find was appropriate. but would you prefer if they decided not to have him appear and then he would appear before the select committee again, we said he will appear on the 12th of the 20th. i think that takes away any friend to appear before the select committee. i don't belabor this. >> i don't want to venture what will happen. >> if there are more appropriate witnesses to appear before are moreo think there appropriate witnesses to appear before the select committee ? tua

>> what we're doing here is responding to specific subpoena from a different committee. i don't want to get to who will appear before the committee and who won't hurt we are not there yet. but the letter does get into who appear. he will appear once on benghazi. >> i don't understand why it is wrong to present this as a secretary or state apartment challenge to congressman issa. don't insist on the secretary appearing before the committee because if you do, then the select committee is not going to be able to hear from them. >> as we said, benghazi oversight has now been consolidated. they can work out within their caucus how they want to deal with this issue going forward. all we're doing here is responding to a subpoena. if they want to decide to

withdraw the subpoena or ask them instead to go before select committee, we would look at that request. that is not where we are. >> you do agree that secretary kerry would be an appropriate witness to the select committee? >> and not going to say whether he is or is not. it would take away any friend to appear before select committee. >> we have asked the committee to withdraw the subpoena for may 29. so we've asked them to drop the subpoena for the 29th because he can't appear that day. we've offered two alternative dates instead. >> can you explain why, as the letter does, why he would not be able to appear on the 29th? >> uh-huh. there's a couple reasons. obviously, on may 25 there are presidential elections in ukraine. there will be a lot of work in the aftermath of those, diplomatically. also, we'll be engaged in bilateral, multilateral meetings, preparing for overseas travel, including the nato

ministerial in brussels in early june, a presidential visit to poland, which is focused on regional security issues, and other travel in the region where we're working on issues from syria to libya. so there's just a lot on his plate. we were, when the second subpoena was issued, working with the committee to find an appropriate date, which was part of the reason we were so surprised. and we've offered two other dates now. >> but he will -- the secretary will be in washington? >> he is scheduled to be in washington, yes, but he has a lot on his plate that day. again, we are -- in the interest of accommodation, have offered two alternative dates to the house oversight committee. >> not related to this -- >> wait. i just have one more. and i'm sorry that i'm belaboring this, but -- >> it's ok. >> which committee is it more -- is the secretary a more appropriate witness to appear before? the oversight committee or the select committee? >> i don't think that's sort of a fair comparison to make -- or

a useful comparison to make, i guess. when the subpoena was issued for the oversight committee, particularly on the topic you mentioned which is document production, we thought there were more appropriate witnesses. the select committee's work is just getting started. >> right. >> obviously, we want to cooperate with them, but i don't know what that will look like. so i don't want to get into a comparison between the two. but i did note that oversight responsibilities had been consolidated under this select committee. so again, their caucus needs to figure who they want to handle this issue, and it appears they've done so by consolidating it under a select committee. so we'll see how that plays out, but they have to work out some of their internal issues as well. we're just responding to an individual subpoena. >> ok, but if you don't think -- if you think that it's not -- >> it's not about which committee's more appropriate necessarily, it's about appearing -- if he appears once -- >> right. >> testifies on benghazi, he appears before congress. >> right. but if you take congressman issa at his word, he wants to know about -- he wants to ask the secretary just about the department's response to the request. this is all post-incident -- >> post-incident, when -- >> right.

>> absolutely. >> wouldn't it -- and the secretary is not -- and you say the secretary is not the most appropriate witness to talk about that -- >> right. recognizing that -- >> but he's still willing to appear before it, it seems a little -- >> he is. because we are being accommodating and we are working with the committee. >> right. >> and yes, he will appear and talk about that if that's what chairman issa would like to talk about. >> but it sounds like it's kind of a trick accommodation, no? >> it's not. >> because if you say, all right, he'll go, he'll testify before that committee, and then he won't testify before a committee that he is a more appropriate witness to be -- appear before. >> well, but it speaks to two points here, matt, and i take your point. two points -- the first is that his time is very valuable -- >> no one suggested it's not. >> and it's very limited. >> yeah. >> and he has a whole world of pressing diplomatic issues on his plate. >> yes. >> so the time and energy that it takes to prepare for these kind of hearings -- obviously, they're important and we want the secretary to be able to talk about. that's why we've offered two dates. >> right. >> but this can't -- this has to be a situation where it's -- doesn't go on forever and ever and where he testifies once on it, doesn't continually get asked the same questions over and over

again. the second point is the one i spoke to about. they need to figure out how they're going to handle oversight of this issue and who will have -- and where they want to use their resources and how they want to call witnesses, and whether oversight does, whether the select committee does, that's an issue that their caucus has to decide. >> ok. >> we can only respond to requests. >> ok. and this will be my last one, then. >> ok. >> why didn't you then write to representative issa, to congressman issa and say -- listen, the secretary is willing to appear before your committee. please drop the subpoena. we offered two alternative dates. but we think that he is not the most appropriate witness for your committee. why don't you work with the caucus so that -- work with the committee, drop any request for him to appear before oversight, and suggest to the select committee, to representative gowdy that they ask him to

appear? why -- >> well, in the letter we sent, we actually made many of those points. we did say that we don't believe he's the most appropriate witness. we did say that he would not -- and it's not appropriate for him to testify before the select committee if he testifies here. we can't tell them how to work their internal caucus politics. we have been working with the committee throughout weeks now to determine the best witness and when and who, so we've had those conversations, but ultimately they need to make decisions. we've said the secretary is willing, happy to testify on this issue -- >> happy? (laughter.) >> on one of those dates -- july 12th or 20th -- because we believe oversight is important. but we can't -- this can't be the secretary gets called up by -- >> right. >> continually by different committees on this issue. >> well, fair enough. but it just seems to me that you could then suggest to congressman issa that look, we'll send you official x and the secretary, we think, is a more appropriate witness for the select committee. >> well, we certainly said he wasn't the most appropriate witness for this hearing. >> right, ok. >> mm-hmm.

and they proceeded. they proceeded with their requests, and so we are responding. >> all right, so -- and i presume -- have you gotten a reply yet? do you know if the -- >> not to my knowledge, but we just sent the letter about an hour ago. >> ok, thanks. >>

that to me would be a depressing conclusion. we have got to figure out some is short the ante that of waiting for another tragedy to hit the front pages. >> i would almost say less the dollar amount and more with the department of education to do the work. a 13 person team can't do it. the changes i have seen institutions start to make our when they are under investigation. we don't know if the fine is 35,000 dollars or up to $1 million. i would almost rather see an investment in a bigger team. >> in all fairness, the fines will be paying for this.

>> i think every survivor will back the. >> on book tv, lynn cheney, senior fellow at the american examinese institute the tenure of james madison. 10:00, redrning at cross founder clara barton, followed by your questions and c-span3. ive on navy secretary and naval

academy superintendent vice admiral michael miller also spoke. this is about an hour and 20 minutes. >> ladies in german, please rise for the arrival of the official party. vice admiral michael h miller. he's escorting the guest of honor for today's ceremony, the honorable chuck hagel, secretary of defense. [applause]

also accompanying secretary hagel are the honorable generaly of the navy, james f amos, united states marine corps, commandant of the marine corps, and united states navy chief of naval operations. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing as we extend honest to the official party. [military band plays]

[gun salute]

>> the blue angels will be apurchasing momentarily from behind me at the south end of the stadium. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, we invoight all our guests to for our national anthem and the invocation by captain michael gore.

[applause] >> i invite all who wish to pray with me. pray. god of all wisdom, knowledge and learning, four years ago these graduating midshipmen arrived at naval academy and marched portals of yawning bancroft hall, to commence a life of study and service. was here in the halls of this storied institution that they were inculcated with the highest andls of duty, honor, loyalty and were prepared for militaryus tasks of leadership. so on this day, as they receive their commissions, grant that they may take that their leaders place as true in the service to which they've been assigned.

with thy help,s harm.t them from all bless also those who love them and are looking on even now with pride and deep affection. give them the rich satisfaction knowing that without their crucial contribution, this day have come for the midshipmen they call their own. gracious god, bless our country, grant that it may ever a beacon of light and a world of encroaching darkness, your holy name, amen. seated.e be the 61stgentlemen,

superintendent of the united states naval academy, vice .dmiral michael h. miller [applause] >> good morning. hagel, thank you for joining us today as our guest of honor. ofased to welcome ambassador --ama, mario congressman whitman, thank you so much ohs our chairman of the of visitors, been a tireless supporter as have been congressmanguthrie, smith, a pleasure to have you here. secretary, admiral, dear sincerely appreciate you taking time out of your busy concerns to join us. guests, family and friends of the naval academy and most importantly the growing what a great day.

applause]d we gather in this stadium, this memorial that just happens to contain a sports to celebrate those that have gone before us and those who are about to embark on their to the nation.ce we here today are all witnesses to the next chapter in the history of this remarkable institution as we commission another link in our long blue chain. today's ceremony is book ended by traditions that draw our skyward. obviously the blue angels always so impressive. it welcomes today's graduates into the fleet, remains one of the great physical embody its of if those vetsd don't give you goose bumps i don't know what will. they started this tradition some 66 years ago. we've been holding this outdoor ceremony in this stadium since 1966.

only twice has it's been canceled due to weather. so mr. secretary, i will give you all the credit for the weather as well as our remarkable chaplains, it could day.e a better the other book end of this graduation ceremony obviously is when ouric moment graduates will toss their hats in the air. this tradition has been around since 1912, when commissions were first awarded with diplomas graduation.e since then over 76,000 covers bye rocketed skyward, thrown young men and women who don the commissioned officer the blue angels and the hat toss our perspective and it is fitting that we reflect on the commitment of these graduates from a new and different angle. looking upwater we consider the of these 1,068 young officer' careers, all they have achieved, just think how much more they will accomplish in the decades to come.

can't look skyward without acknowledging the persistent clouds on the horizon which will impact their early years in uniform. whether it be the south china syria, libya, you name it, there will always be withrs of conflict, each their own challenges to the few of these united states -- the future of these united states. will the class of 2014 steps into a world of uncertainty and risk, but that's not unprecedented. thosely needs to consider of 100 years ago, the class 1914. on june 5 of that year president wilson delivered the commencement address to 156 graduates who themselves were uncertain period in our history. america's attention was focused embroiled in a bloody civil war the american navy had been a port city in response to the imprisonment of nine sailors, the city was taken

by marines and sailors in a battle plan and it was there oft the first combat flight naval aircraft took place. overseas tensions among european building and a complex web of alliance as had balkanhape following the wars of 1912 and 1913. clouds were indeed forming over the atlantic, unbeknownst to the class of 1914. ofy would see the outbreak world war i one mob after throwing their covers into the air here in annapolis. wilson gave no hint of the looming conflict in europe during his commencement speech but he did pass invaluable advice which remains as relevant as it was a century ago. he told the graduates to be ready and fit for anything you and keep ready and do not not grow slack, suppose your end case is over because you received your en indication from the academy. en indication has just begun. indeed for the class of 2014 has just begun.

while the clouds on the horizon may change in appearance from generation, a life long pursuit of knowledge and a navalng spirit remain the officer's greatest advantage over any would-be aggressor. your time at the academy has provided you an excellent foundation for a career of leadership, a trajectory of honor, integrity and intellect. tools to excel as you lead your sailors and marines and i have every continue toyou will excel, regardless of what the weather may bring. started this jurn you on a bright and sunny july day 1,423 days ago. they have not all been sunny since. but each in its own way helped mold you into that which you become. the envy of the free world. the united states navy and officers.ps we gathered her this day, salute all that you have accomplished

last four years, and look with pride and confidence to that which you will do in our country. there are no guarantees in life, farragutas admiral witnessed 150 years ago, our success has always depended on actionso will take bold in the face of uncertainty. may you always answer the call courage andh confidence and like farragut when faced with the fog and repeat the call to our sailors and marines, damn torpedoes! [applause] it is my month or to spruce the of the navy. ofhas on enormous scope responsibility i can't count the number of buildings and square footage, 900,000 people, a budget of, and there's that

there.ut received his under gr at ole harvard, degree at served on board the u.s.s. becoming theefore mississippi state auditor. he went onto become the governor of mississippi, the youngest in years, was ambassador to saudi arabia, c.e.o. of a business. he warmed up for today's commencement address by speaking commencement exercises at l.s.u. and the university of attendingnd also by the blockbuster godzilla in an effort to brush up on next generation threats to the navy and marine corps. ( laughter ) jonmay have seen him on stewart, or in the movie battle ship, was just on stephen night, or perhaps venues.f hundred of just otherwise

me in welcoming ray --ry [applause] visitors,uished , to thefriends, faculty platform guests, most particularly to vice admiral mike miller. in the classth you of 2014. when yousuperintendent were beginning as plebes. ending but, as this will be his last commissioning day. thank you for being a great superintendent. [applause] to our secretary of defense,

hagel, thank you so much for being here today, mr. secretary. do thank you for all you every day for our sailors, our lovees, and those who them. thank you for taking care of them every day. [applause] to the class of 2014, welcome to day.ssioning can't think of a better or more than navy andace marine corps stadium. soe you are surrounded by many memories of your time here and the heroic deeds and storied battles that the stadium around us. for you mids are about to be commissioned. as en sins and second lieutenants. big congratulations. you have earned it.

in the time, you have put in the work, you have the effort. startedourney that you on the day you turned down your west point.o )laughter and behind every second it one you, helping you succeed have been mothers and fathers, grandparents, brothers, sisters, coaches stewards and many others that you probably even know. so i know you're going to do a momentway, but take after this ceremony to give them hug, to thank them for

possible.s event because in so many real ways day too.their parents here, i want you younow, i know exactly how feel, since i got to sit as a parent on wednesday watching my daughter annie graduate. is here today, and i shout out toa company. applause]d for making her an honorary member of that company. four years have challenged you in a lot of ways, whathey prepared you for lies ahead.

are growing from college today like thousands of others country, and representing that is your diploma. that u.acknowledgement mass.er the a very demanding education course. to today you're also going get a second document. document unique to those who completed a very intense training program at the same time that they're getting that great education. thatthe same document started the careers of people and johnter nimitz yourn, right here, it's commission in the united states navy or marine corps. conveys a special trust, and special confidence directly from the president of the united .tates with it, though, comes a special

responsibility. obligation of leading our nation's best. and women of the corps.d marine your commission is not about it'spast accomplishments, contributions.re there are many throughout this who have heldry that special trust. said, youerintendent are a link in that unbroken chain of service. i want to thank every one of you conscious the decision to commit the next par of your life, whether it's five country.40, to our during the time that you have pursued your en indication and training here, our navy and marine corps that you are about to leadand are about

have been globally deployed and engaged. the whole time you've been here sailors and marines have continued operations in afghanistan. as you were finishing fleet werer, sailors and marines beginning a massive sea based mission to provide relief after the devastating earthquake in haiti. into your youngster year, they tomahawk strikes into missions flew harrier there. the ronald reagan strike group two years and the group responded sendaihours to the earthquake and tsunami in japan. a second class man, those

and marines responded in hurricane sandy. beenhis year when you have they went within haiyangain when typhoon struck the philippines. the whole four years you have been here, our sailors and marines have been off the horn africa to fight pirates, and around the world they have conducted partnership and engagement missions in virtually earth.orner of this the united states navy and the states marine corps are the guarantors of freedom of the they provide global security.

do stand the they watch. they provide presence and are for any eventuality. american sailors and marines have done this superbly for more than two centuries. and now it's your turn. join thatturn to great legacy and to make it a your own.gacy of to do that you'll need absolutely everything you've the academy.at you'll need the academics and you'll need the professional education. but you'll also need the spirit here.rought you ensigns and second lieutenants marines sailors and look to the sea. horizon,to the far beyond.to know what is i have absolute faith, absolute andidence, that you can

will deal with whatever comes over that horizon. to the task, because our nation depends on it. navy, always courageous. marines, severaller, always faithful. welcome to the fleet. [applause] >> thank you, secretary mabus. grit month or to prows our guest of honor, secretary of defense, chuck hagel. soon to be officers in the crowd appreciate the fact that combat vern to serve as defense. of he's brought a fresh perspective to the d.o.d.

duringerving in the army vietnam earning two purple hearts, secretary hagel intinued to serve our nation a variety of roles out of uniform, from deputy the v.a. tor of corporate president and c.e.o. in several different businesses, as a senator from the great state of nebraska for 12 years. post ashe assumed his our 24th secretary of defense. he is also an educator, an and an avid football fan. certainly that sturdy nebraska full display when he attended last year's aerial-navy game, that was the four seasons in one day. undeterredagel was by the rain, sleet and snow. crossed hisomplain lips about the weather. although given his prior affiliation in the army my guess he mit not have been pulling for navy with his entire heart. ourse join me in welcoming secretary of defense, secretary chuck hagel.

[applause] thank you and good morning. you.l of i am deeply grateful for an this dayty to share with all of you. and i mean that. i know these kind of events and job.onies come with the one of the more attractive this business, to kind ofate in this inspirational uplifting event. has been noted, you begin a new chapter in your lives. forgiving me the opportunity to be part of this day. will be par of your lives

forever. as has been noted by admiral affiliation with the ofy, with the state nebraska, land locked state of nebraska, might puzzle some of why, or put it another enough,ld he be worthy this army sergeant, from to address the u.s. naval academy commencement group. and i would respond, aside from secretary of i am defense -- )laughter explaining to you that maybe that you don't know, nebraska does have a navy. much.sn't do

a ceremonial navy that began about 100 years ago and admiral. i know the standards are low. ( laughter ) but nonetheless i am an admiral in the united states navy. and the nebraska navy. based on that authority, i hear buy grbt amnesty to all midshipmen who on restriction for minor conduct offenses. are. you [cheers and applause] some of you look more relieved than others. ( laughter ) as hellnts are sure relieved, i know. anyone objects, take it up to the secretary of defense. the class of 2014 and your

onilies, congratulations this tremendous, tremendous achievement. of you.l very proud today the pinnacle of your naval comes at aerience change,historic transformation al change. reshaping,d is redefining, as a new world order built.g of it's also a time transition in this country, the serve. that you will as you conclude your four years of education and experience and training on the yard, our nation of war.uding 13 years the longest in our history. heard from vice admiral miller, you will soon be great 21stith century challenges and

opportunities. meeting those challenges, the opportunities, and managing through this period of transition, will require exceptional leadership. leadership. as new ensigns and new second chargednts, you will be with helping lee america's sailors and marines through this time.ng that's a heavy responsibility. you lead these men and women that you will be responsible for? their trust earn and their confidence? their respect. i have three suggestions that succeed.you ideas, not just my they're what enlisted sailors and marines told me all the time. what i believe as an enlisted infantry man in 1968. you must connect with the people that you lead on a

personal level. when you do, you're forging a bond that you can rely on years down the road. and under difficult having bit close relationships in the yard you will do so across the fleet. technologist and social media making our seemionships sometimes less relevant, it is more important than ever to be invested in your people, and build relationships face to face. ask them abouto themselves, get to know them, listen. them. to that earns respect. on buildingu place relationships shows the kind of leader you are. that's important because as i recently heard from one enlisted he said, you don't choose who you lead, they choose you. that's wise advice.

to understand perspectives that are different from yours. from the diverse group of people you'll serve with to the allied partner forces you'll interact and partner with. being able to see the world through their eyes, through the others, will be critical ly important. a sailor going's through the training pipeline who expects his officers to be officers, learning leaders, learning even to understand backgrounds and careers and lives outside your own, whether enlisted, other officers, or civilians. this will help you not only in military, but everywhere, your personalin lives. seek out allies and partners and opportunities to build engage in theand world. intentions andhe experiences of other