Vice President Dick Cheney could deliver the commencement address at MSU’s undergraduate convocation in May.
Cheney spokeswoman Jennifer Millerwise told The State News the vice president has been invited to speak at MSU’s graduation ceremony, but did not say whether he had accepted.
For security reasons, White House officials generally don’t comment on the president and vice president’s movements until 48 hours before a scheduled appearance, Millerwise said.
University officials have instructed graduates and their guests to arrive four hours early at the event and prepare to go through metal detectors. Tickets for graduating seniors will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis from April 23-30. Each graduate is allowed three tickets to the ceremony, including one for his or her admittance to Breslin Center.
MSU President M. Peter McPherson declined Wednesday evening to comment on Cheney’s invitation to commencement.
Cheney served as chief of staff to President Gerald Ford and as defense secretary under President George Herbert Walker Bush during the Persian Gulf War.
He last visited MSU in August 2000, while campaigning with President George W. Bush.
Last year, Cheney spoke at commencement ceremonies for the Air Force Academy and Yale University.
Howard Gobstein, MSU associate vice president for governmental affairs, said he’s heard rumors Cheney was invited, but had not heard the news from official sources.
“I know that it’s a strong possibility and that people are really interested,” Gobstein said, on the phone from his Washington office.
The last time a national leader spoke at graduation was May 1995, when President Clinton gave the address, marking the first time a sitting president has done so since Theodore Roosevelt in 1907.
Last year’s speakers were men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo and former hockey coach Ron Mason. Other former graduation speakers include World Bank President James Wolfensohn and scientist and lecturer Stephen Jay Gould.
Economics senior Robin Sloan will be the student speaker at the ceremony.
Senior Class Council member Kristy Tippen said the possibility of Cheney giving an address at commencement is good news, even though the vice president’s schedule could change at any moment.
“It’s an honor for Michigan State that he would come and speak to us,” she said. “It’s an honor for us as grads to be able to listen.”
Don Nugent, chairperson of the MSU Board of Trustees, said he hadn’t heard about Cheney’s invitation Wednesday, but having Cheney speak at commencement would be “fantastic.”
“I think that would be clearly outstanding, as it was having President Clinton,” Nugent said.
“If we can have a president and a vice president come to our commencement I think that would be absolutely fantastic.”
