On the recordMay 9, 2012
we arrive here at a moment when we once again have a chance to view the differences in thought and perspective which are exhibited at this moment in this institution. Today, we are talking about college education. We are talking about programs for young people to get an education and go to college. For generations, affordable college education has been an essential tool for providing opportunity and building a strong society. I know from personal experience that government plays a critical role in making higher education possible. I served in World War II, and when I joined the Army there was no prospect for me to go to college. I was 18 when I enlisted. When I finished my Army service--having been in Europe during the war--things looked bleak, but there was an opportunity that loomed in front of me, and that was an ability to attend college. My family was faced with poverty and there wasn't much money in the family, but there was something called the GI bill. The GI bill gave me a chance to achieve a dream. I joined with a couple friends to form a company. The company was called ADP. The company that produces the labor statistics every month that this country and the whole world sees. When I was able to start this company with two other fellows, none of us had any money. The two of them were brothers, and we didn't have any resources at all. We had to start from nothing.…
