In 2001, with chagrined incredulity and embarrassment, I learned that Yale would bestow an honorary degree on George W. Bush. As a citizen, I thought that Bush’s unmerited and highly questionable attainment of our Presidency had been embarrassment enough.
And then Bush ‘affably’ recited that insulting commencement speech. Even ‘C’ students can become President. Oh yes…if they have big-money connections. Why not? ‘C’ students can even get into Yale…if they have a wealthy Yale parent.
So Bush had given a bad name to legacy admissions policies, to America’s way of choosing a President, and now to the granting of honorary degrees.
A cherished memory of my first winter in New Haven is crossing College Street and exchanging smiles with A. Whitney Griswold, who was crossing towards me. I had read his essay, “Liberal Education and the Democratic Ideal,” and chose to go to Yale because I believed that it offered the best liberal education available—the education of a free person in a free society.
But now, when liberally educated citizens have never been more desperately needed, Bush forces are making it harder for individuals or society to be free—and ever so much easier for rich people with cronies in high places to get (and get away with) whatever they want.
By admitting Bush (the year after President Griswold’s death), Yale condoned and facilitated the advancement of an intellectually challenged mediocrity. By granting him the honorary degree in 2001, Yale seemed to congratulate itself on the undemocratic result.
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