WomenvoicesHillary Clinton hillary clinton 2016

Now You Can Listen To Hillary Clinton's 1969 Wellesley Student Commencement Speech

“The challenge now is to practice politics as the art of making what appears to be impossible, possible.”
Alanna Vagianos
By 

Senior Reporter, HuffPost

Clinton was the first-ever student speaker for Wellesley College in 1969.
Clinton was the first-ever student speaker for Wellesley College in 1969.
Wellesley College

"We’re not in the positions yet of leadership and power, but we do have that indispensable element of criticizing and constructive protest."

That's one of the many powerful statements Hillary Clinton gave in her speech to her Wellesley College peers on May 31, 1969. The then-Hillary Rodham was the first student to ever speak at Wellesley's commencement address.

"We feel that for too long our leaders have viewed politics as the art of the possible," Clinton said. "And the challenge now is to practice politics as the art of making what appears to be impossible, possible."

The recently-released excerpts of Clinton's speech give us a glimpse into the life of a young Hillary Rodham before she became a political powerhouse.

Watch the full clip below.

Head to Wellesley College's home page to read Clinton's full speech.

Related

voicesHillary Clinton hillary clinton 2016hillary rodham clintonhillary clinton presidential campaign

Before You Go

"You have to be true to yourself. You have to be enough in touch with who you are and what you want, how you want to live and what's important to you, to make your decisions based on that. Sometimes that's very difficult."

19 Perfect Quotes From Hillary Clinton

|
Submit a tip

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot