Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 18, 1981)
Tells Notre Dame grads future is bright Reagan recalls ‘Gipper’ at commencement SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) - Pres. Ronald Reagan, whose portrayal of a Notre Dame foot ball player made him a movie star 40 years ago, paid a nostal gic return visit to the campus Sunday and told graduating seniors his own story about the "Knute Rockne — All Amer ican.” Reagan, who played the tragic supporting role of the "Gipper” in the movie, came to Notre Dame under extraordin arily tight security for his first trip outside the Washington area since he was wounded in an assassination attempt on March 30. In the text of a com mencement address, Reagan returned to the rhetoric of his successful political campaign to assure the seniors they face a bright future with less government and more freedom. “If I don't watch myself, this could turn out to be less a commencement than a warm bath in nostalgic memories,” he said. Those memories then burst forth, first about his selection to play the part of George Gipp, the legendary Notre Dame half back, and then about this his tory of this nation and how government grew to the point of "fixing things that aren’t broken and inventing miracle cures for which there are no known dis eases." He told the students that “vir tually every aspect of campus life is now regulated — hiring, firing, promotions, physical plant, construction, record keeping, fund-raising, and to some extent, curriculum and educational program. If ever the great independent colleges and universities like Notre Dame give way to and are replaced by tax-supported insti tutions, the struggle to preserve academic freedom will have been lost.” But his message was one of optimism, especially for the out come of the West’s struggle against the spread of commu nism. Reagan shared the stage Sunday with actor Pat O’Brien, who played Knute Rockne in the movie and whom the president credited with helping him get the part of the Gipper. " ‘Win one for the Gipper’ has become a line usually spoken now in a humorous vein,” Reagan said. "I hear it from members of the Congress who are supportive of the economic program I’ve submitted. But let’s look at the real significance of his story. "Rockne could have used it anytime just to win a game. But eight years would go by follow ing the death of George Gipp before Rock ever revealed Gipp’s deathbed wish. Then he told the story at halftime to one of the only teams he’d ever coached that was torn by dissension, jealousy and fac tionalism. None of them had ever known George Gipp. They were children when he played for Notre Dame. Vet it was to this team that Rockne told the story and so inspired them that they rose above their personal an imosities.” Reagan must compromise, Dole says WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. Robert Dole, R-Kan., predicted Sunday that Pres. Ronald Reagan will be forced to compromise on his proposed changes in Social Security and said the administration unveiled its plan too soon. "I think you’ll see a lot of compromises in the president’s proposals,” said Dole, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. “The short term, yes, we’ll make some changes which will not affect benefits. Long term, I think we'll make changes that may affect benefits — maybe we'll change the COLA (cost of living adjustment), maybe we’ll do other things,” he said on the CBS program "Face the Nation.” Dole said he did not believe the Social Security proposals would damage efforts to pass Reagan’s program of cuts in taxes and spending. He said he talked Saturday night with Health and Human Services Secretary Richard Sch weiker and that the secretary is “looking for a compromise" on the cuts in Social Security benefits. What’s the Rubble, Architecture Books too expensive? Come to The Book Department. We’ve reduced all the books in our Architecture Section 20%! Hurry, Sale ends Saturday, May 23 • Sale not applicable to textbook section. • Limited to stock on hand. • Cash register sales only. Upstairs in The Book Department Only at the UO Bookstore. uo BOOKSTORE 13th & Kincaid Mon-Fri 8:15-5:30 Sat 10:00-2:00 Textbooks 686-3520 • General Books 686-3510 • Supplies 686-4331 •Vjl