McKenna, Frank

ENCAENIA, MAY, 1988
FRANCES JOSEPH MCKENNA
to be Doctor of Laws

I must begin my final citation by boasting of a success; I found out Frank McKenna's middle name and I have used it in calling him to accept our plaudits. He is to speak to us this afternoon, and there I must confess to a failure: I have been unable to speak with him in person, or even by telephone, and I do not know the subject of his address--perhaps he is going to "wing" it as he so often does with so much energy and eloquence. What with Moncton, Meech Lake, and Mulroney Mr. McKenna is probably the busiest man in the Province, if not in Canada.

I know that you do not need my praise to be convinced that our Premier is a truly remarkable leader; one cannot read the paper without the martial tones of "Hail to the Chief"--or as one cynical commentator put it, "The Halleluiah Chorus"--ringing in our ears. I find that I can think of little that has not been said many times before, and those of you who pay attention to such things as citations will recognize in some of my remarks the voice and help of a friend who is wiser and wittier than I can ever be. My original contribution is the observation of what I take to be the single failure of his astonishing career-he failed to lead his graduating class from our own Law School. I am human enough to have been relieved when I found that he only came second.

Mr. McKenna's forebears were Irish Catholics and one does not need much knowledge of New Brunswick history to know that one hundred years ago — and still today perhaps — to be Irish was to be yet another victim of prejudice and hate. I speak with some authority because my own great-great Grandfather came from Limerick as one of those despised "potato famine Irish" who have given so much to their new home, this Province of New Brunswick.

Clearly family is of great importance to this dedicated man who was brought up in Apohaqui near Sussex—in the midst of English Protestants—by parents who placed their faith in Divine Providence and where the homely virtues were respected and precepts such as these often in mind: Honesty is the Best Policy; Early to Bed and Early to Rise, Makes a Man, Healthy, Wealthy and Wise; or Love Thy Neighbor. His recent stirring speech in Toronto was clearly based on the injunction that "The Lord Helps Those Who Help Themselves." Perhaps in his present position he is not always "early to bed" but the wave of sighs, interspersed with a few grumbles, coming from the Centennial Building proves that he is always "early to rise" and early to work. One may presume that he loves his neighbor, especially if he is a Liberal.

My tone has been bantering and jocular, and far from serious, but I must now move to a different register and return to my own voice. Frank McKenna's life has been marked by hard work and integrity. To every call he has responded with energy, intensity, and devotion. He is one of those favored young men who see visions, and the force of his character is such that we must share his bright vision of an independent New Brunswick secure in a strong Canada. We are truly grateful for his faith and leadership; the people of New Brunswick wish him well, not only for his sake, but also for our own.

In closing I should like to say how pleased I am to have a role in awarding you an honourary degree. Your personal achievements are outstanding in their own right, but it is also fitting and proper for the University of New Brunswick to honour publicly the leader of the Province which we both serve, and to signal our gratitude for the critical support which this University receives from the people and the Government of the Province of New Brunswick.

Insignissime Praeses, amplissima Cancellaria, tota Universitas, praesento vobis FRANCISCUM JOSEPHUM MCKENNA, ut admittatur ad gradum DOCTORIS IN UTROQUE JURE in hac Universitate.

From: Honoris Causa - UA Case 70, Box 2