Thursday, 4:30 PM
Connections land top college commencement speakers
By James Vaznis, Globe staff
Relying on a 25-year-old connection, J. Bonnie Newman, interim president of the University of New Hampshire, zipped off an e-mail to former President George H.W. Bush.
She wrote on Nov. 2 that she ‘‘felt compelled to go with the best of the best,’’ so she was inviting him and former President Bill Clinton to speak at Saturday's graduation. Two days later, she scored. Her former boss accepted.
A month later, she had a double coup: Clinton agreed to share the dais.
In nabbing high-profile commencement speakers, sometimes it’s all in whom you know. Behind many of the star speakers is a personal tie with a university president, a trustee, or an alumnus.
The big names can deliver a lot of cachet, especially in a college-rich region like New England. Their appearances generate press coverage and impress potential donors.
Politicians sometimes seize upon graduations to unveil new policies or stump for office. In New Hampshire, where campaigning for the first-in-the-nation presidential primary is ramping up, US Senator Barack Obama, a Democratic contender, will speak at Southern New Hampshire University on Saturday.
‘‘It comes down to the Rolodex,’’ Newman said. ‘‘So many people sit through commencement and don’t recall who was on the platform. President Bush combined with President Clinton will be memorable.’’
Among the other star speakers this commencement season: pop star Gloria Estefan and her producer husband Emilio at Berklee College of Music; Madeleine Albright, former secretary of state, at Wellesley College; Bill Gates, Microsoft chairman, at Harvard University; Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York, at Tufts University; CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric, Williams College; and US Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., at the College of the Holy Cross.
Newman, who began running UNH a year ago, pulled off the star-studded graduation because she is an exceptionally well-connected college president.
She was an assistant to the President George H.W. and previously served as an associate personnel director in the Reagan administration. Through the years, she has played golf with Bush, attended his 80th birthday party, and visited him and his wife at their summer home in nearby Kennebunkport.
‘‘For those of us who were privileged to work for President Bush, there is a bond that is truly life long,’’ said Newman, a former executive dean at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. ‘‘I’m thrilled but mostly humbled, and I’m so grateful to President Bush for accepting the invitation. I know without his agreement that President Clinton wouldn’t have considered this.’’
To bolster her case with Clinton, she appealed to some ‘‘friends of Bill’’ in New Hampshire, including the state’s Supreme Court chief justice, to lobby on her behalf.
Jay Carson, a Clinton spokesman, said the former president was more than happy to accept because of fond memories of campaigning in New Hampshire. Besides, Carson said, Clinton and Bush try to speak together as often as they can. Last year, the pair spoke at Tulane University’s commencement in New Orleans, where they did humanitarian work for Hurricane Katrina victims.
But Hillary Clinton’s run for the presidency played no role in her husband’s decision to speak at UNH, even though she is already crisscrossing the Granite State and other family members may soon follow.
‘‘The relationship between 41 and 42,’’ said Carson, referring to the presidents’ order of presidency, ‘‘has always transcended politics as they decide what to do and not to do.’’
Credit Berklee trustee Phil Ramone for wooing the Estefans to graduation. Ramone, a music producer, produced Gloria Estefan’s popular Christmas album.
In November, he called Estefan and at first just asked whether she would be on the road in May. Then, he popped the big question: Would she speak at Berklee? She said she was honored and would have to check her schedule first. An hour later, she accepted.
Last week, the Estefans and David Howell Evans, also known as the Edge from the rock band U2, received honorary degrees at Berklee. Inviting Edge was another trustee, Bill Whelan, a Grammy award winning Irish composer who has worked with U2 on albums.
’’You need some role models at graduations,’’ said Ramone, who joined the board three years ago. ‘‘An Irish rebel and two Cubans, that’s not bad.’’
James Vaznis can be reached at jvaznis@globe.com.
