This audio recording is of the commencement excercises for The New School held in 1973, and consists of the commencement address by George W. Ball. The recording begins with the introduction of Ball by Chairman of the Board of Overseers of the New School for Social Research Orin Lehman in progress, and New School President John Everett confers an honorary doctor of law degree at 2:31. Ball begins his address at 3:16, remarking on social trends and current events, including the Watergate scandal, student protests, the Viet Nam war, the Joseph McCarthy hearings, and the trend toward government secrecy. He concludes his remarks at 31:15, to applause and some jeers from the audience. Lehman thanks Ball for the speech at 32:09, is interrupted by an unidentified voice from the audience saying "he's a lousy fascist, reactionary," and Lehman concludes the event.