Bill Clinton Speaks At Tyler Clinton's Graduation

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. -- When he was in the second grade, Tyler Clinton's uncle arrived to his Southern California school unannounced to visit his classroom.

Four years ago, former president Bill Clinton attended his nephew's eighth-grade graduation.

On Friday, he showed support for Tyler again by delivering the commencement speech at his Redondo Beach high school.

"Most high schools have reunions about every five years," he said. "My high school does, and I've only missed one, in 48 years. The saddest among my classmates are not those who have failed. ... The saddest ones are those who had dreams and did not try to achieve them.

Clinton was accompanied by his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Tyler is the son of Clinton's half-brother, Roger.

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Comments

[comodijo]

09:24 AM on 06/18/2012

"The saddest among my classmates are not those who have failed. ... The saddest ones are those who had dreams and did not try to achieve them," powerful words of wisdom. It has taken me four tries to finally make it, now I own a successful business, I previously failed, and failed big time, but I never let go of my dream of owing a business.

[Jeffrey Bryson]

11:55 PM on 06/17/2012

Amazing. The man isn't able to give a simple commencement address without people using it as an excuse to recycle jokes that were stale when Jay Leno was telling them over twelve years ago.

[Know-some-secrets]

06:42 AM on 06/18/2012

It is very sad that that is a major part of a former president's legacy.

[sarajames2]

08:20 AM on 06/23/2012

I so agree with you Jeffrey. I recall Jay Leno's cruel and heartlless jokes which is one of the reasons I still do not watch his show today. President Clinton has paid dearly for his past mistakes and has gone on to become one of the most admired and most popular men in the world.

F & F Jeffrey. Thanks adding your insightful opinion concerning this article.

[Jeffrey Bryson]

02:59 PM on 06/23/2012

I didn't mind the jokes when they were still relevant, since he did screw up in a remarkably public manner, and opened himself up to all sorts of mockery.  However, that's far in the past, and jokes about it nowadays fall as flat as lines about Iran-Contra or Jimmy Carter being attacked by a rabbit.

[cbouc40003]

10:18 PM on 06/17/2012

Speach... probably could not get by IS, is, is, and how to get a job (blow wind)

Hopefully he told the truth under Oath....

[Streetking]

07:13 PM on 06/17/2012

I'll bet he advised him on how to get a little strange on the side as well. It depends on what the definition of is, is.

[Chixsngr]

11:12 PM on 06/17/2012

Comments like these are why people think Republicans are so boring. Because they are.

[Streetking]

11:17 PM on 06/17/2012

When did I ever say I'm a Republican? I am not. Immoral disgusting behavior in the Oval Office with a cigar as a sex prop doesn't exactly make the man a Saint.

[Know-some-secrets]

06:44 AM on 06/18/2012

I'm not defending the comment, but please don't suggest that the only people who have problems with Clinton's reckless personal behavior, and his selling the nation out to become super rich, are Republicans.

[joncavanaugh]

07:11 PM on 06/17/2012

The dream I tried to achieve was putting my son through college so he wouldn't have to work his way through like I did, but that dream crashed when Glass-Stegal was eliminated and my portfolio got robbed. He might have been able to work his own way through if the good manufacturing jobs hadn't been exported overseas. Instead he joined the military.
I'll tell you what makes me sad. People still love this guy and think he was the greatest president ever.

[Jeffrey Bryson]

11:51 PM on 06/17/2012

I'm generally a Clinton supporter, but that's a valid criticism, and one of the greatest errors of his Presidency.

[Know-some-secrets]

06:50 AM on 06/18/2012

I hope the military benefits your son receives will make college affordable.

Beyond Clinton's repeal of Glass-Steagall, he has cashed in with the greedy corporations he aided to make himself a mega millionaire, all at the expense of average citizens, voters, taxpayers, employees and consumers. As of 2010, he had collected more than $75 million in "speaking and consulting fees" largely from corporations. What do you call a retroactive bribe? kickback? "speaking and consulting fees"?

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/58770.html
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2007/clinton-speeches/list/

[musicproducerbh]

07:31 AM on 06/18/2012

Don't forget how much he stole from Haiti...

[CaraMia82]

06:54 PM on 06/17/2012

I think its pretty cool that Clinton can take time from his busy schedule to let his nephew know how much he is loved. Nice story.

[CaraMia82]

07:30 PM on 06/17/2012

stop being a jerk, jerk

[Know-some-secrets]

06:57 AM on 06/18/2012

I wonder if the school had to pay Bill?

Bill Clinton rarely does anything these days that he or his cronies don't benefit from personally. He rarely speaks without charging a huge fee, like he did recently for students at SUNY-Albany, the highest speaker fee ever paid by the cash-strapped student association there.
http://blog.timesunion.com/asp/1818/clintons-speaker-fee-highest-in-speaker-series-history/
$10,000 per minute?

I wonder if Bill realizes universities are hurting, and students are acquiring huge debt. Sure, he gave the money to his tax-exempt foundaiton, so it can pay f or his luxury travel, accommodation, extertainment and jet set partying around the globe. Bill is about Bill.

[CaraMia82]

01:55 PM on 06/19/2012

These students request him to speak,they should know better. buyer's remorse?

[omensofaries]

05:56 PM on 06/17/2012

Tyler should always keep in mind those immortal words from Uncle Bill if every he may get into trouble, "I never had sex with that woman". People will not believe it, but it'll get you off the hook.

[iyamwhatiyam1]

05:26 PM on 06/17/2012

Make sure she uses a towel, so no squirt gets on her dress.

[rforeverfree]

05:11 PM on 06/17/2012

"do anything you want Tyler but deny it all"....

[ramsaxon]

04:18 PM on 06/17/2012

Dreams are made of pixie dust, goals achieved are made of sweat labor.

[tlpfliger]

04:40 PM on 06/17/2012

...without pixie dust there are few goals to sweat for.

[riverhouse]

04:08 PM on 06/17/2012

Not many 8th grade graduations get a former President of the United States to speak. The kids must have been thrilled to have President Clinton and Secretary of State Clinton there. I hope the class got photos of themselves with the Clintons.

[iyamwhatiyam1]

05:22 PM on 06/17/2012

I would prefer a photo with Lassie.

[Ashanti]

08:13 PM on 06/17/2012

Then maybe you might consider a picture with Romney!

[MiMi LLawsonn]

04:03 PM on 06/17/2012

Advice for seniors these days......STAY OUT OF TROUBLE and AWAY FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.....once you get into the system for *anything you are STUCK*.....not a good thing for the rest of your life.....think before you react....think before you do anything STUPID.....choices and consquences.....it what LIFE IS ALL ABOUT......and thank GOD every day for what HE has provided....

[grod805]

09:09 PM on 06/17/2012

I'll pass on the message to grandma and grandpa next time I see them.

[Michael Ludin]

04:03 PM on 06/17/2012

"That explains the traffic snarls!!

[bruinsoxpat]

03:58 PM on 06/17/2012

Rule number one never admit to anything.

[edgt]

05:31 PM on 06/17/2012

Obviously you thing INTEGRITY is a rap singer?

[Early Cuyler]

03:56 PM on 06/17/2012

other advice.....................do a lot of women kid...........a lot of em

[WowFolksAreDumb]

04:01 PM on 06/17/2012

Sage wisdom.

[Early Cuyler]

04:04 PM on 06/17/2012

I try to ejamacate the young folks!

[edgt]

05:32 PM on 06/17/2012

Yes they certainly are dumb....lol