University of Virginia Library

Johnson Will Deliver
Graduation Address

By SCOTT TOLLEFSEN

Former President Lyndon
Baines Johnson has tentatively
accepted an invitation to
deliver the commencement
address at the University next
spring, according to Graduating
Class President Pat Patrick.

Mr. Patrick told The
Cavalier Daily that
"confirmation on Mr
Johnson's acceptance of our
invitation was received
yesterday from Texas. He
seems very eager to speak at
the University in June."

Speech Depends On Health

The acceptance was
tentative, Mr. Patrick said
only in the sense that an
unexpected worsening in Mr.
Johnson's health might prevent
him from appearing at
commencement.

Releasing the information
on behalf of the Graduating
Class Executive Board, Mr.
Patrick noted, "We're really
pleased that Mr. Johnson has
decided to give the
address—he was our number
one choice for speaker."

The Executive Board met
just before class ended last
spring to choose the person
most desired by the Class of
1973 for its commencement
speaker.

A poll had been taken on
the spring semester election
ballots to determine the
preference of the graduating
students, and "Mr. Johnson
was the top vote-getter."

The former President was
the nearly-unanimous selection
of the Executive Board The
Board's recommendation was
immediately approved by the
University's Public Occasions
Committee, chaired by Asst.
Humanities Prof. W. Bedford
Moore.

One of the inducements
contributing to Mr. Johnson's
acceptance of the invitation
may be the fact that his
son-in-law, Charles Robb, will
be graduating from the Law
School this spring.

Mr. Robb could not be
reached for any comment
regarding Mr. Johnson's
decision to come to
Charlottesville. The former
President's daughter and Mr.
Robb's wife, Lynda Byrd,
declined to comment on her
father's plans.

Letter Exchange

Mr. Moore told The Cavalier
Daily that "Mr. Johnson and
President Shannon have
exchanged several letters since
the summer concerning the
student's invitation, and we're
delighted that Mr. Johnson has
decided to accept. It has been
quite a while since a United
States President has addressed
the students at the University."

According to Mr. Shannon's
Executive Asst. Francis L.
Berkley, the most recent
former President to speak here
was Harry S. Truman, who
addressed the University just
after he left office. Just prior
to his assassination, John F.
Kennedy had accepted an
invitation to speak here in
1964.

Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke
at the University when his son
Franklin Jr. was graduating
from the Law School on June
10, 1940. His address became
known as the
"Stab-in-the-Back" Speech.