Weld to be Class Day Speaker

By Alvin Powell

Contributing Writer

Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld has worn many hats in the past few years: governor, U.S. Senate candidate, Mexican ambassador nominee. Now he gets to add another -- Class Day Speaker.

Weld, a member of the Harvard Class of 1966 and of the Law School's Class of 1970, will share his wit and wisdom with the Class of 1998, which includes his son, David Weld, in Class Day ceremonies scheduled for Wednesday, June 3.

Organizers of the event said Weld's Harvard background make him a particularly appropriate selection as speaker. His experience in the public and private sector give him an insider's knowledge of both.

"We are very excited at the prospect of being addressed by one of Harvard's own," said Carrie Jablonski, a graduating senior and co-chair of the Class Day Speaker Committee. "We selected him because of his respectability and prominence, and because he's a good speaker."

Weld was elected to two terms as Massachusetts governor, winning re-election in 1994 with 71 percent of the vote. He left the post last year to push his nomination as ambassador to Mexico. That nomination died after U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, refused to schedule a hearing on it.

After his unsuccessful battle with Helms, Weld joined the law firm of McDermott, Will and Emory. He has also tried his hand at writing. His first novel, a political mystery called Mackerel by Moonlight, is to be published in September.

Weld also unsuccessfully campaigned for U.S. Senate in 1996, losing a close race to Democrat John Kerry.