Clinton emphasizes merits of education

President Bill Clinton stressed the importance of education in a rapidly changing global economy and the role graduates will play in society in his Commencement address to the Class of 1995 on June 11. Though the Clinton's Dartmouth appearance was slightly upstaged by his highly publicized meeting with House Speaker Newt Gingrich, (R-Ga.), in Claremont that afternoon, more than 12,000 people attended the ceremonies on a rain-drenched Memorial Field. Clinton, who received a standing ovation from the crowd at the outset of his 28-minute speech, expressed his gratitude for being invited to the College and spoke of his friendship with College President James Freedman before shaking the hand of every graduate. "I am delighted to be back at Dartmouth, but I am especially grateful to be here seeing my good friend President Jim Freedman looking so very well and back here at this graduation," Clinton said. Freedman returned to the College to preside over Commencement after a six-month sabbatical following chemotherapy treatments for testicular cancer.