The University conferred degrees upon nearly 3,200 students Friday amid tight security for guest speaker Lynne Cheney, wife of U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney.
University Relations received word Thursday evening that Dick Cheney — who was originally scheduled to speak — would not travel to Baton Rouge “due to his responsibilities as president of the U.S. Senate.”
Those responsibilities were significant Friday as he cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate to pass President George W. Bush’s $350 billion tax-cut plan, according to the Associated Press.
Lynne Cheney said her husband wished the graduates well.
“He’s so sorry he couldn’t be here,” she said. “But he’s doing important work — he’s cutting taxes.”
Lynne Cheney spoke of what LSU has to be proud of, including a long-standing military tradition. She praised the 19 graduating ROTC cadets who were commissioned as officers in the four military branches.
Cheney, an author with a doctorate in 19th century British literature, has devoted much of her professional life to speaking and writing about the importance of knowing history. She urged Friday’s graduates to find something that they can be similarly passionate about.
“There may be people in this world who become the best at their work but do not love what they do — but I have never met them,” she said. “May you find the work you love and prosper in it.”
Cheney offered five bits of advice to those who wish to be successful — act as if you know what you are doing, actually know what you are doing, have a place to stand, be aware and respectful of where other people are standing, and know what success is.
After the speech, Secret Service employees quickly escorted Cheney off the stage so she could leave town for another engagement.
The security measures in place for the vice president’s visit did not change for his wife, according to University Relations.
Several roads and parking lots near the PMAC were closed off until after the 8:45 a.m. ceremony. Graduation was a ticketed event, but hundreds of seats remained empty for the ceremony.
The University awarded about 700 graduate degrees and about 2,500 bachelor’s degrees to students from 61 Louisiana parishes, 42 states and 65 foreign countries.