Shedding light on Strobe: 2003 Commencement speaker talks to The Mirror about life, learning, and his son’s engagement

While Fairfield seniors wake up on graduation day, their commencement speaker, Strobe Talbott, will arrive on a 4 a.m. flight from his son’s engagement party in Washington, D.C.

“I wouldn’t dare come home if I missed my son’s engagement party,” Talbott said.

Talbott is by no means new to the area. Originally from Dayton, Ohio, he attended prep school in Connecticut at The Hotchkiss School, in Lakeville. He is a graduate of Yale University and attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.

In addition to his extensive education, he spent 21 years reporting for Time magazine and served as deputy secretary of state. Currently, Talbott is president of the Brookings Institution, a public policy research organization based in Washington, D.C.

Talbott is not by any means new to the commencement day proceedings.

In the past, he has given addresses at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., the Monterey Institute of International Studies, in Monterey, Calif. and Trinity College in Hartford, Conn.

“The most important principle I bear in mind is to be brief,” said Talbott in an interview with The Mirror.

According to Talbott, the idea of his being the commencement speaker was first put forth to him last spring by “an old and dear friend and mentor,” Francis T. (Fay) Vincent, member of the University’s board of trustees.

At the time, Talbot was working as founding director of the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization.

“Faye Vincent was crucial in all this,” he said.

Talbott later received a formal letter of invitation from Fairfield University President Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J.

After accepting the invitation, Talbott worked with administrative officials to gain a better understanding of the University and its goals.

Talbott acknowledged Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., for helping him understand Fairfield University.

“Father Charles Allen was very helpful to me both on getting background on the university, contacting students and working out the logistics with me,” he said.

“I try to learn a little bit about the school and its traditions and values and try to incorporate that into what my message will be,” said Talbott.

With the May18 commencement date rapidly approaching the pressure for a well-crafted address is rising.

Talbott, however, remains cautiously optimistic.

“I think commencement speakers should bear in mind the Hippocratic Oath,” said Talbott. “[First] do no harm.”