George W. Bush: C students, you too can be president

Mary Bowerman | USA TODAY Network

Show Caption Hide Caption George W. Bush jokes during SMU commencement Former President George W. Bush delivered the commencement address at Southern Methodist University Saturday where he joked about free speech and his well-known mediocre grades while in school.

George W. Bush offered non-honor students some words of encouragement during a commencement speech on Saturday: C students, you too can be president.

The former president addressed Southern Methodist University students on Saturday afternoon in Dallas. He said it was the first time giving a commencement speech since he left the White House.

More than 2,000 students received degrees and marked the university's 100th May graduation event.

Bush was serious during the speech and humorous. He encouraged students to stand up for their religious freedoms and also poked fun at his lackluster grades in college and painting skills.

He told the students regardless of grade point average, they should be proud.

"To those of you who are graduating this afternoon with high honors, awards and distinctions, I say, 'Well done.' And as I like to tell the C students: You too, can be president."

Bush joked about accepting the invitation to speak at the graduation, saying that university president Gerald Tuner asked him if he believed in free speech.

"I was relieved to hear President Turner ask if I believed in free speech. I said, 'Yeah.' He said, 'Perfect. Here's your chance to give one.'"

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