Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Chelsea Clinton Graduates From Stanford University

Aired June 18, 2001 - 11:27   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Chelsea Clinton has cleared one of life's big hurdles. To the tune of "Pomp and Circumstance," the former first daughter graduated, with honors, over the weekend from Stanford University, along with about 1,700 other undergraduates.

Sharon Chin of our CNN affiliate KPIX was there for what is traditionally a somewhat unorthodox celebration.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHARON CHIN, KPIX REPORTER (voice-over): Chelsea Clinton, with gold-foil stars on her cap, kicked off her heels and had a ball at her Stanford University graduation. This kick ball game is just one of the unconventional ways students paraded onto the football field in a Stanford tradition called the Wacky Walk.

Four thousand eight hundred students graduated, but some two dozen media photographers centered their lenses on Chelsea Clinton, who earned a bachelor's degree in history, with honors. Some graduates didn't seem to mind the attention.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It doesn't bother me. It's an undergrad.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think that it's great because it adds to our graduation.

CHIN: And while Senator Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton may have looked like the average parents pointing out their only child on the field, they were more like celebrities. People lined up for pictures as they greeted fans.

Some felt sympathy for their daughter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel like it's hard on her because she doesn't get to have a normal graduation like everybody else, and she's not even the first daughter anymore.

CHIN: As far as publicity about Chelsea goes, this graduation is an exception. She has tried to maintain a low profile as an undergraduate. Stanford officials have generally refused to talk about her, and her parents requested the media respect her privacy.

JACK HUBBARD, STANFORD NEWS SERVICE: I think it's been a great four years. I think the media really kept their end of the deal. They were very honorable about this. I think today was terrific. It's going to be a good story for everyone. All's well that ends well.

I think she carried out a pretty normal existence on campus. Obviously, some of the Secret Service were a little obvious just because they stand out in the crowd of younger people, but they blended in, I think, especially over time.

CHIN: The Clinton trio would not grant any interviews, but in a written statement, Mr. Clinton says they are very proud of Chelsea and grateful for her Stanford friendships and learning experiences. Twenty-one-year-old Chelsea wrote her honors thesis on the Clinton administration's role in mediating the Northern Ireland peace agreement.

She had at one time talked about becoming a pediatric cardiologist.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And yet, she is off to Oxford, just like her dad after his undergraduate education.

That report came to us from Sharon Chin and our affiliate KPIX.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com