PSU Magazine Fall 1998

I n his second major function associated with Portland State, President Bill Clinton gave the keynote speech and received an honorary degree during commence– ment ceremonies June 13. PSU was one of three universities and colleges in the country at which the president spoke this spring-a time of relative calm before the Starr report was issued three months later. In a speech focusing on immigrants to the United States, Clinton singled out graduates Mago Gilson and her son Eddie. Mago, who 12 years ago emigrated from Mexico with her family, was receiving her master's degree in education. Eddie earned a bachelor's in business administration. Their stories typified Clinton's address, which extolled immigrants as "the most restless, the most adventurous, the most innovative, and the most industrious of people." The president also showed he had done his homework on PSU. Acknowledging that half the students are over 25, he congratulated those who "worked full-time and cared for your families, even while you carried a full course load." He discussed the institution's formation in 1946 as a community-based school for return– ing World War II veterans. And he reminisced on his friendship with the late U.S. Representative Walter Capps '58. In Clinton's previous PSU visit in June 1995, he and Vice President Al Gore attended the Pacific Rim Economic conference held at Portland State. The event brought together government, business, and community leaders from five western states to discuss economic strategy. D