Commencing With Lithgow

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Former Vice President Al Gore ’69, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan—this is only a sampling of recent speakers at Harvard’s Afternoon Exercises during Commencement. Owing to this nearly unbroken string of top politicians and economists invited to speak at Harvard’s annual graduation ceremony, the recent announcement of actor John A. Lithgow ’67 as this year’s speaker has caught some by surprise.

It has been 27 years since an artist spoke at Commencement, and 54 years since anyone with a background in professional theater has mounted the podium. Yet those who might protest that Lithgow does not measure up recognition-wise to past speakers have very selective memories. For every Kofi Annan, there have been Vaclav Havels and Gro Brundtlands, president of the Czech Republic and prime minister of Norway, respectively. Compared to these lesser-known statesmen, the name John Lithgow probably rings many more bells.

Although Lithgow does not fit the politician/economist mold for Commencement speakers, he is hardly undistinguished. The actor is a member of the Harvard Board of Overseers, one of two main governing bodies of the University. Closer to home, each year John Lithgow returns to the College as the Master of Ceremonies for the annual Arts First weekend. As an actor, Lithgow has won a Tony, two Emmys, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Golden Globe and an American Comedy Award, not to mention myriad nominations, including one for an Oscar for his role in the 1983 movie “Terms of Endearment.” Beyond his awards, Lithgow is also a talented musician, painter, and author.

For some, however, this impressive biography still doesn’t make John Lithgow as satisfying a speaker as Kofi Annan or another powerful political luminary. Fair enough. But unless the role of a Commencement speaker is merely to provide another name for Harvard students to reference in passing to their peers—and it is not—we are sure Lithgow will be a fine speaker. While speeches full of pleasantries and generalizations from well-known politicians may be the only thing that can excite some students and parents, we expect the special flair that Lithgow, a professional actor, will bring to his speech will more than make up for it. This year’s Afternoon Exercises may be an event remembered for the wisdom of its words, and the forcefulness of their presentation, not just the “significance” of the person at the podium. Welcome home, John.