David Halberstam: Replacement found as Brandeis commencement speaker

The unexpected death this week of David Halberstam left a sudden vacancy at the commencement podium of Brandeis University, where the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer was to have delivered a graduation address on May 20. But Brandeis has quickly come up with a substitute: Thomas L. Friedman, the New York Times columnist and the recipient of three Pulitzers, will speak instead, the university announced on Thursday. Mr. Friedman will be a busy man that weekend. On May 19 he will deliver the commencement address at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.