Biden Hails Class Full Of 'Fierce Patriots' In Coast Guard Commencement Speech “You’re the most progressive, best educated, least prejudiced, most open generation in American history,” Biden said. “We need you badly." President Joe Biden kicked off commencement season with a 30-minute address to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s Class of 2021 in New London, Connecticut, on Wednesday. In a wide-ranging speech, the president assessed the challenges and threats the new generation of leaders will face, while praising the cadets’ resilience in what’s been a trying year full of pandemic restrictions. Those same restrictions forced many would-be spectators to watch online instead of in person this year, thinning out what would have otherwise been a packed set of bleachers.