Obama's Historic Notre Dame Address To Students

On May 17, 2009, Barack Obama delivered the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame. He was the ninth US president to be awarded an honorary degree by the university and the sixth to be a commencement speaker. In his speech, Obama encouraged students to look forward in challenging times and shape a better world, as one human family. He also spoke about the role and purpose of faith in American life and urged both sides of the abortion debate to pursue a fair-minded discussion.

Obama's honorary degree from Notre Dame

On May 17, 2009, Barack Obama became the ninth U.S. president to be awarded an honorary degree by the University of Notre Dame and the sixth to be the commencement speaker. Obama was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree at the University of Notre Dame's 164th University Commencement Ceremony.

However, the student newspaper, The Observer, reported that 97% of graduates supported Obama's invitation. At the commencement ceremony, a brief attempt by a few protesters in the audience to interrupt Obama was drowned out by the graduates chanting, "We are ND!".

In his commencement address, Obama acknowledged the controversy surrounding his honorary degree and spoke about the importance of civil discourse and finding common ground, even on divisive issues like abortion. He appealed to the audience by citing pro-life figures who strike a balance between faith and tolerance and leveraging the controversy to appeal to reason.

Protests from anti-abortion activists

On 17 May 2009, President Barack Obama delivered the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, where he also received an honorary degree. Obama's appearance at the Catholic university was met with protests from anti-abortion activists, who objected to the president's pro-choice stance on abortion.

In the lead-up to Obama's visit, students opposed to abortion rights held an open-air Mass on campus and an all-night prayer vigil. More than 100 protesters gathered at the school gate, holding anti-abortion signs, and 23 marched onto the campus. Police arrested 19 people for trespassing, with four also charged with resisting law enforcement.

On the day of Obama's speech, at least 27 people were arrested on trespassing charges from protests outside the university. Among those held was Norma McCorvey, the plaintiff in the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case, which upheld abortion rights. McCorvey, who has since disavowed abortion, told Fox News: "I'm a peaceful protester, but if they come and take me away, they'll just take me away."

Inside the Joyce Center basketball arena, a handful of graduates silently protested Obama's honorary degree by attaching yellow crosses and two baby feet to their mortarboards. However, others in the crowd of 12,000 affixed Obama's campaign symbol to theirs in support of the president.

Obama's speech did not engage with the debate over when life begins, nor did he attempt to justify his beliefs about abortion or stem cell research. Instead, he took aim at the loud and angry rhetoric that he said too often dominates the discussion. He emphasised the importance of fair-minded words and courteous dialogue, acknowledging that divisions about abortion in the country are all but irreconcilable.

Obama's presence at Notre Dame capped a firestorm about whether an institution dedicated to the cause of fighting abortion should honour a president who supports a woman's right to choose.

Obama's stance on abortion

On May 17, 2009, Barack Obama delivered the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame, a historically Catholic university. In his speech, Obama addressed the contentious topic of abortion. He appealed to the pro-life audience by citing pro-life figures who strike a balance between faith and tolerance.

Obama's administration did take some steps to protect abortion rights. In 2010, he signed an executive order reaffirming that no federal money would be used to pay for abortions under the new healthcare reform law. This followed through on a promise he had made to anti-abortion Democrats to secure their vote for the reform bill. However, many anti-abortion groups were not satisfied with this order, arguing that it was not enough to simply have an executive order and that statutory provisions were needed.

In response to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, Obama released a statement saying, "Today, the Supreme Court not only reversed nearly 50 years of precedent, it relegated the most intensely personal decision someone can make to the whims of politicians and ideologues—attacking the essential freedoms of millions of Americans." Critics responded by arguing that Obama had the ability to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law during his time as president but failed to do so. They pointed to the period from 2009 to 2011 when Democrats controlled the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. During this time, Obama said that legislation to codify abortion rights "is not the highest legislative priority."

Obama's Notre Dame speech

On May 17, 2009, Barack Obama delivered the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame. In his speech, Obama addressed the controversy surrounding his visit to the university, given his stance on abortion and stem cell research. He acknowledged that while the views of the opposing sides on the abortion debate are irreconcilable, it is still possible for both sides to engage in a "fair-minded" discussion. He urged Americans to find common ground and work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions, reduce unintended pregnancies, make adoption more accessible, and provide care and support for women who carry their pregnancies to term.

Obama also reflected on the importance of civil discourse in a democracy. He argued that civility, moderation, and "fair-minded words" are essential for building a robust democracy and fostering open communication. He emphasised the need to find common ground, especially when facing sharp disagreements, to address the nation's most challenging issues. Obama's emphasis on civil discourse aligned with the values of Notre Dame, which its president, Father Hesburgh, described as both a lighthouse and a crossroads—symbolising the union of religious influences (passion) and reason.

Obama's visit to Notre Dame was met with protests from anti-abortion activists, who disagreed with the university's decision to invite him due to his support for abortion rights. However, the majority of students and faculty members welcomed his presence, recognising the significance of hosting the first African-American president. Obama's speech at Notre Dame initiated a respectful conversation between supporters and opponents of abortion legalisation, earning praise from both sides of the issue.

In conclusion, Obama's commencement address at Notre Dame emphasised the importance of civil discourse, finding common ground, and addressing divisive issues. He encouraged Americans to work together to address challenges and shape a better world as "one human family."

Previous US presidents who have spoken at Notre Dame

As of 2009, six US presidents had delivered commencement addresses at the University of Notre Dame. They are:

• Dwight Eisenhower (1960)
• Jimmy Carter (1977)
• Ronald Reagan (1981)
• George H.W. Bush (1992)
• George W. Bush (2001)
• Barack Obama (2009)

In addition, John F. Kennedy—the nation's only Catholic president—received Notre Dame's highest honour, the Laetare Medal, in a White House ceremony in 1961. He also delivered the university's winter commencement address in 1950, when he was a US senator.

Notre Dame has also awarded honorary degrees to Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Gerald Ford, but these were at special academic convocations, not commencement ceremonies.

Frequently asked questions