Frank Abagnale - FedTalks 2013

should have started his speech with "my name is Frank Abagnale, that's Abagnale, not Abagnarle, not Abagnaile, but Abagnale."

This dude is smooth as fuck when talking. No wonder his track record is so legendary.

I'm 72. my parents divorced in Texas with I was 7. My dad didn't want me and my brother with him or to share parenting so he went off to Southern California. So I stayed with my mother who brought us back to Columbus Ohio where we were from. Once when I was being dropped off for a rare visit with my father, said to me; "why don't you ask your dad if there was any chance of us getting back together again". She didn't understand that It was the cruelest thing she could have done to me. I hero-worshiped my Navy aviator "the right stuff" father. Of course, it didn't work. He went back to Palm Springs the next week and I was stuck in Columbus Ohio. I wanted my mother and father to be together. My mother remarried when I was 11 to a not very bright I'll tempered mean man that I could not accept as my father because abusive bully of a "man" who loved to intimidate children and I grew up in that hell of high anxiety until the day I got out of high school. It affected me physically and emotionally and screwed up my ability to form relationships for the rest of my life. Friends didn't stay, women didn't stay and I'm 72 and alone. I consciously refused to have children out of fear that I might screw up a child the way I'd been screwed up. Now my father is gone, My mother is gone and I have no children. Take what he says about the importance of parenting your children and not running out on them seriously.

He misses his father dearly . I’m crying while writing this because I too miss my father dearly …

He came to speak at my university this year and I kid you not - he gave the exact same speech there, word for word. He straight up has this entire thing memorized verbatim.

Wow, his story was better than the movie!

"Every child deserves a mother and a father" No greater words of wisdom have been uttered. Too bad our culture has rejected this great piece of advice. One of the most inspiring speeches I've ever heard.

That was the best thirty minute speech I have ever heard. Absolutely amazing the cost of divorce and its unforeseen cost years later. He is an absolute genius, and blessed by God.

The end of his speech is incredibly powerful.

Do you concur?

Alright everybody , Frank has been outed by Alan C Logan and Wikipedia regarding the veracity of his story/stories .The entire thing is just a story , it has taken over 40 years .

Wow, mesmerising. Such a smooth talker. No wonder what he could get away with for so long. But then the most important messages come towards the end of the speech. He has done his time and more but still admonishes himself for mistakes he made as a teenager. Signs of a pure soul and a great man. Worth listening to few times more.

Such a quick witted man. Fun to hear his stories.

Divorce is a devastating thing for a child to deal with.

Came here wanting to see how he recalls his past and now I leave in tears. Brilliant speech.

Man, I can’t imagine how hard it was for him once he found out that his dad passed away while in jail. Not being able to say goodbye or seeing your parents before passing would be unimaginably difficult to get over’

Amazing how he like almost never stutters. Very smooth guy

What a great man. The love and respect he has for his family is uplifting!

Everyone in America should hear this message, not necessarily for the first part, but for the end. Thank you Sir for sharing, I was very moved. God Bless

I already posted a comment but feel the need to again! As a 38 year old man (39 next week) with 2 daughters (one is 15 yrs old and have a new 9 month old ) I really needed to hear that last 5 minutes! All children need their mother and their father... all children are entitled to their mother and father! My dad has always been the same way... hug kiss and i love you even if im just going to the store! I hope that my children will do the same with their kids someday! Life is so precious... you're children deserve the best version of you! If you always try to be that for them ... even when they aren't watching (usually they are lol) then you will give them the best possible chance at being decent individuals and passing that legacy down the line! Thank you Mr. Abagnale! And may God continue to bless you!