Rahm Emanuel

This is an express transcript of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel’s commencement speech this morning, courtesy of the University’s media relations office. Emanuel was awarded a honorary Doctor of Public Service degree.

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel speaks at University-wide Commencement Sunday morning on the National Mall. University President Steven Knapp (left) and GW Board of Trustees Chairman Russ Ramsey flank the keynote speaker. Anne Wernikoff/Assistant photo editor.

PRESIDENT KNAPP: Ladies and gentlemen, our commencement speaker, Doctor Rahm Emanuel.

MR. EMANUEL: “Doctor.” I just want you to know that you’ve made one Jewish mother happy in Chicago –
(Laughter.)
– who spent many a sleepless night wondering what would happen to her middle son.
(Laughter.)
I listened to that introduction. I actually wish my parents were here, because I know my mother would be proud and my father would be amazed.
(Laughter.)
President, Mr. Chairman, and the Board of Trustees, members of the faculty, proud parents, family, friends, and above all the graduating class of 2009: Congratulations.
(Applause.)
I also want to thank George Washington University for bestowing this honorary degree. This is actually the second honorary degree I’ve received this year. Just last week I was awarded an honorary degree for my contribution in the field of linguistics, particularly my work in four-letter words.
(Laughter.)
This is a wonderful day for all of you, as you mark the end of one great effort and the beginning of another. You’ve taken on difficult assignments, passed tough exams. You’ve pored over course packets late into the night and into the early morning. You’ve worked hard. You’ve also played hard. You’ve stumbled and gotten back up, occasionally as a consequence of playing hard. You also did your fair share of growing up over the past four years.

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This post was written by Lauren French and Sarah Scire.

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel

Update, 3:50 p.m. Emanuel will be the Commencement speaker, the University confirmed in a news release. Jeanne Narum, president of Project Kaleidoscope and the Independent College Office, will receive an honorary Doctor of Science, and GW alumnus and sculptor John Safer will receive an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts.

In the release, University President Steven Knapp said the three honorees “exemplify the University’s ideals of excellence, leadership and service.”

Original Post. Rahm Emanuel, chief of staff to President Barack Obama, will be this year’s Commencement speaker, two sources directly involved in the keynote speaker selection process told The Hatchet Tuesday evening.

Nothing has been confirmed by the University or Emanuel’s office, and both sources asked to remain anonymous because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. A source provided The Hatchet with an e-mail from Senior Vice President and General Counsel Beth Nolan to the Special Advisory Committee on Commencement Speakers stating Emanuel had accepted University President Steven Knapp’s invitation to speak at the ceremony on May 17.

University spokeswoman Tracy Schario declined to confirm Emanuel was the speaker in an interview shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday. Schario did not deny that the former Illinois congressman had accepted the invitation, however.

“I can’t confirm anything related to the Commencement speaker yet,” Schario said.

One committee member, Associate Vice President of Student and Academic Support Services Peter Konwerski, said in an interview Tuesday evening that he knew they had been considering someone in the Obama administration, but he had not yet read Nolan’s e-mail. Konwerski added Wednesday morning that the committee had nominated Emanuel, among other candidates, for Knapp’s approval.

The White House press office did not immediately return requests for comment as of Wednesday morning.

Eric Roper contributed to this report.