Vice President Joe Biden: Class Day Speech | Harvard Commencement 2017 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Vice President Joe Biden delivers a powerful speech to the graduating class of Harvard, emphasizing the importance of service, engagement in public affairs, and the ability to make a difference in the world.

Transcript

good afternoon my name is of Nina Harr and I am Victoria Jones it is our incredible honor to introduce the 2017 class day speaker Vice President Joe Biden as Susan Novick mentioned dexter gates sitting just behind Widener Library and leading into Harvard Square there is a call to action has meant a lot to many of the members of the senior class ove... Read More

Key Insights

• 🐕‍🦺 Vice President Joe Biden is an influential leader who embodies the spirit of service and has a distinguished career.
• 🏛️ Engagement in public affairs and making a positive impact are important for the graduating class.
• 🫡 Personal relationships and treating everyone with dignity and respect are crucial for success and happiness.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why was Vice President Joe Biden chosen as the Class Day speaker at Harvard?

Vice President Biden was chosen because of his outstanding character, integrity, and inspirational leadership throughout the years. He embodies the spirit of service and has greatly influenced the way we think about the United States and our place within it.

Q: How can the graduating class make a difference in the world?

Biden emphasizes the importance of engagement in public affairs and encourages the graduating class to get involved and make a positive impact. By being personal, treating everyone with dignity and respect, and building real relationships, they can contribute to positive change in society.

Q: What challenges and temptations will the graduating class face in the real world?

The graduating class may face pressure to prioritize personal success and social trappings over making a difference. There may be temptations to rationalize choices and neglect personal relationships. Biden advises them to resist these temptations and prioritize what truly matters to them.

Q: How can the graduating class find success and happiness?

Success and happiness come from being engaged, treating everyone with dignity and respect, and making a difference in the lives of others. It is about accumulating a thousand little things and maintaining a balance between personal ambition and family.

Summary

In this video, Vice President Joe Biden delivers a speech to the 2017 graduating class of Harvard University. He discusses the challenges and opportunities that this generation will face, the importance of personal engagement and treating others with dignity, and the need for political involvement in order to bring about positive change in the world.

Questions & Answers

Q: Who is the class day speaker for the 2017 graduating class of Harvard University?

The class day speaker is Vice President Joe Biden, who has had an impressive career spanning almost 50 years in public service.

Q: Why were the class marshals and senior class committee excited to bring Vice President Biden to campus?

They were excited to bring Vice President Biden to campus because of his outstanding character, leadership, and dedication to public service. Throughout the years, Biden has shown integrity, compassion, and optimism in challenging times.

Q: What are some highlights of Vice President Biden's career?

Vice President Biden has served as a public defender, county councilman, U.S. senator, and vice president for two terms. He recently launched the Penn Biden Center for diplomacy and global engagement and co-established the Biden Foundation with his wife to find a cure for cancer.

Q: Why is it important for this graduating class to hear from Vice President Biden?

This graduating class admires Vice President Biden not only for his impressive resume but also for his inspirational character. Throughout their formative years, Biden has shown dignity, perseverance, and diplomacy, and has greatly influenced the way they think about the United States and the world.

Q: What challenges and anxieties does Vice President Biden mention that many people are facing in this era of change?

Vice President Biden mentions that globalization, digitization, and technological advancements like artificial intelligence have generated anxiety in many communities. People are worried about keeping up with the rapid changes and are fearful about their future job prospects and safety.

Q: How does Vice President Biden describe the negative appeal used by populist forces in recent times?

Vice President Biden describes how populist forces, both in the United States and abroad, have appealed to people's fears and used rhetoric that stokes negative emotions. They blame outsiders, immigrants, and minorities for the challenges people face, which only perpetuates hate speech and fringe ideologies.

Q: What does Vice President Biden emphasize as the temporary nature of the current state of affairs?

Vice President Biden assures the graduating class that the current state of affairs, characterized by fear, hate speech, and populism, is temporary. He believes that the American people will not sustain this attitude in the long run and that positive change is possible.

Q: How does Vice President Biden view the graduating class of 2017?

Vice President Biden views the graduating class of 2017 as the most engaged, talented, and tolerant generation in history. He believes that they are capable of making a significant impact and changing the trajectory of the country if they fully engage in the world around them.

Q: What does Vice President Biden believe is the obligation of the graduating class?

Vice President Biden believes that the graduating class has an obligation to get engaged in public affairs and to consider a life in public service. He encourages them not to disengage from a broken political system but to instead work towards making things better.

Q: How does Vice President Biden describe the importance of being personal and treating others with dignity and respect?

Vice President Biden emphasizes that a good life is about being personal and engaged with others. He encourages the graduating class to resist the temptation of valuing social trappings of success over making a real difference. He also emphasizes the importance of treating everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of their background or social status.

Takeaways

Vice President Biden delivers a powerful speech to the graduating class of Harvard University, urging them to get engaged in the world and make positive change. He highlights the challenges and anxieties that many people are facing in this era of rapid change, and encourages the graduates to remember their duty to treat others with dignity and respect. He emphasizes the importance of personal engagement, resisti

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Vice President Joe Biden is introduced as the Class Day speaker for the 2017 Harvard graduating class, highlighting his career and his character as a leader.

• The speaker praises Biden's integrity, compassion, and ability to lead with dignity and diplomacy.

• Biden addresses the graduating class, urging them to engage in public affairs, emphasizing the importance of personal relationships and treating everyone with dignity and respect, and encouraging them to be ambitious and find balance between personal success and family.