Bradley Whitford, Wisconsin, 2006
Words of Wisdom:
"Take action. Every story you've ever connected with, every leader you've ever admired, every puny little thing that you've ever accomplished is the result of taking action. You have a choice. You can either be a
passive victim of circumstance or you can be the active hero of your own life. Action is the antidote to apathy and cynicism and despair. You will inevitably make mistakes. Learn what you can and move on. At the end of your days, you will be judged by your gallop, not by your stumble."
As an actor, Whitford's most famous character was The West Wing's Josh Lyman, a pragmatic political wonk with a drive to win and no compunction about kneecapping his foes. So it's a little strange to read Whitford's earnest advice for overcoming adversity. But there's no denying that his address makes a heartfelt, inspiring read.