Graduation Speech at St. Ignatius (October 13, 1972)

In this speech to the class of 1972 at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio, Sargent Shriver recognizes a feeling of disillusionment with politics among young people. He acknowledges what he calls “dissimulation” - the feeling that no one in politics is genuine in their promises. The cure, Shriver argues, is to serve. Instead of discarding politics for its dysfunction, one should work in politics in order to restore honesty, empathy and morality to political leadership.