Clinton Commencement collection

On June 19, 1993 Northeastern University (NU) held its 91st commencement ceremony at the Boston Garden in the North End. The morning ceremony featured the recently inaugurated President William Jefferson Clinton (WJC) as the commencement speaker. WJC, who was the 42nd President of the United States (1993-2001), received an honorary Doctorate of Public Service at the ceremony. NU began courting WJC soon after his inauguration on January 20, 1993. Leading NU's efforts was Tom Keady, NU's Government Relations Director. Lobbyists on behalf of NU included Senator Edward Kennedy, Representative Joseph Moakley, Christopher "Kip" O'Neill, former Governor Michael Dukakis, Boston Mayor Flynn, and University Counsel William Hulsey, who as a NU co-op student had interned in the Arkansas Governor's mansion with then Governor Clinton. Approximately 800 institutions had invited WJC to speak at their commencements. On May 3, 1993 WJC narrowed his choices to NU and Dartmouth College. Two days later, the White House announced its decision.