He also encouraged graduates to pick themselves up if they fail to succeed, as he did at Yale University before earning two degrees at the University of Wyoming.

"America is still the country of the second chance," Cheney said. "Most of us end up needing one."

The advice was the same he gave last year at Louisiana State University and at commencements at four other schools from 2002-05. Those speeches and the BYU speech are online at www.whitehouse.gov.

Cheney thanked BYU for the honorary degree and closed by saying, "I leave here as a proud member of the Brigham Young Class of 2007."

A standing ovation lasted a full minute.

Lew Cramer, whose nephew Stephen John Pearson delivered a speech on behalf of his fellow graduates, called Cheney's speech "a home run."

Several students said the warm reception for Cheney was intended to send a message from the majority of the BYU community.

"We at BYU respect the office of the vice president, we respect differing opinions, and hopefully we showed support for the democratic process, the office of the vice president and the United States of America," said Emily Sego of Albuquerque, who graduated with a master's of business administration.

"I think everyone wanted to make him feel welcome here after the rumors of protests the past couple of weeks," said Adam Grant of Norwalk, Conn., who earned a degree in facilities management.

President Hinckley and his two counselors in the First Presidency of the church, which owns BYU, invited Cheney. Joining President Hinckley at commencement were Elder Richard G. Scott and Elder David A. Bednar of the church's Quorum of the Twelve, and Elder Rolfe Kerr, the church's commissioner of education. Scott and Young Women General President Susan Tanner attended in their roles as a members of the BYU Board of Trustees.

Samuelson also bestowed honorary degrees on Ira and Mary Lou Fulton and Jack and Mary Lois Cannon Sharp Wheatley.

The Fultons have given tens of millions of dollars to BYU and are heavily involved in several campus colleges. The Wheatleys helped found the BYU Museum of Art and continue to sit on the museum's leadership council, while Jack Wheatley has helped with fund-raising and construction of the nearly complete Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center.

---

E-mail: twalch@desnews.com