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1253133
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1/10/77 - Remarks at the Closing of the Ceremony Presenting Medals of Freedom
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1253133
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1/10/77 - Remarks at the Closing of the Ceremony Presenting Medals of Freedom
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President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
Reading Copies of Presidential Speeches and Statements
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Medal of Freedom
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10
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1977-01-10
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1977
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1977-01-10
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1977
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The original documents are located in Box 42, "1/10/77 - Remarks at the Closing of the
Ceremony Presenting Medals of Freedom" of the President's Speeches and Statements:
Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 42 of President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE PRESIDENT LAS SEEM
CLOSING REMARKS FOR MEDAL OF FREEDOM PRESENTATION
-1-
LET ME CONGRATULATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU
I REGRET THAT IRVING BERLIN,
THE LATE ALEXANDER CALDER
AND GEORGIA O'KEEFFE WERE UNABLE TO BE REPRESENTED HERE TODAY
present
WE WILL
PRESENTING
THEIR MEDALS TO THEM OR TO THEIR
FAMILIES AT A LATER DATE
-2-
IN CLOSING,
LET ME VOICE OUR COUNTRY'S GRATITUDE
NOT ONLY TO YOU,
BUT TO ALL THOSE WHO HELPED YOU ACHIEVE
WHAT YOU DID
EACH OF YOU HAS HAD FRIENDS AND
CO-WORKERS,
TEAMMATES AND FAMILIES WHO SHARE IN YOUR
ACHIEVEMENTS
AND IN OUR PRIDE TODAY
ONCE AGAIN,
CONGRATULATIONS
-3-
NOW BETTY AND I WILL JOIN THE HONOREES IN THE
GRAND HALL TO MEET OUR OTHER GUESTS, AFTER WHICH YOU ARE
ALL INVITED TO JOIN US FOR LUNCH IN THE STATE DINING ROOM
END OF TEXT
-1-
I. W. ABEL (PAUSE)
STEELWORKER, SOCIAL REFORMER, UNION
ORGANIZER, AND LABOR STATESMAN,/1. W. ABEL HAS FORGED
A DISTINGUISHED RECORD OF WISE AND FIRM LEADERSHIP
THAT EXEMPLIFIES THE VERY BEST TRADITIONS OF THE AMERICAN
LABOR MOVEMENT.
HIS MANY ACHIEVEMENTS/ AND HIS
UNFAILING CONCERN FOR PEOPLE HAVE EARNED HIM NOT ONLY
THE GRATITUDE, BUT THE ESTEEM AND RESPECT OF HIS
FELLOW CITIZENS.
-2-
JOHN BARDEEN (BAR/deen), REPRESENTED BY HIS
SON,,
WILLIAM BARDEEN/
A PHYSICIST OF GENIUS /JOHN BARDEEN HAS
COMBINED FORMIDABLE AND UNIQUE SCIENTIFIC INSIGHTS WITH
THE MATHEMATICAL ABILITY TO CARRY THEM THROUGH
HIS DISCOVERIES HAVE REVOLUTIONIZED ELECTRONICS AND
COMMUNICATIONS./CHANGING EACH OF OUR LIVES FOR THE
BETTER
WE ARE PROUD TO HONOR HIM AS A CREATIVE
MASTER/ IN THE FINEST TRADITIONS OF SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY
-3-
NORMAN BORLAUG (BOR . (BOR-LOG) LOG)
REVOLUTIONARY SCIENTIST AND ELOQUENT PROPHET,
HE PERFORMED MIRACLES WITH GRAIN AND SAVED UNTOLD MILLIONS
FROM STARVATION
HIS WORK HAS PUSHED BACK THE SHADOW
OF HUNGER ON THIS PLANET AND GIVEN US PRECIOUS TIME
TO FORCE ITS FINAL RETREAT
-4-
GENERAL OMAR N. BRADLEY
MILITARY HERO, COURAGEOUS IN BATTLE/
AND GENTLE IN SPIRIT, IRIT./FRIEND FRIEND OF THE COMMON SOLDIER,
GENERAL OF THE ARMY, FIRST CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS
OF STAFF / HE EMBODIES THE BEST OF THE AMERICAN MILITARY
TRADITION WITH DIGNITY, HUMANITY AND HONOR
- 5- 5
ADMIRAL ARLEIGH BURKE
COMBAT COMMANDER, INNOVATIVE NAVAL
STRATEGIST AND TACTICIAN, INSPIRING LEADER, FIRST
THREE-TERM CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS. / HE MADE THE SEA
A PLACE OF VICTORY IN WAR, A MIGHTY FORTRESS IN PEACE.
6
BRUCE CATTON
MAN OF LETTERS, / PRE-EMINENT HISTORIAN
OF THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES / HE MADE US HEAR THE
SOUNDS OF BATTLE AND CHERISH PEACE
HE MADE US SEE
THE BLEED ING WOUND OF SLAVERY / AND HOLD MAN'S FREEDOM
DEAR
7
JOE DiMAGGIO REPRESENTED BY HIS BROTHER, DOMINICK
DiMAGG IO
SUPERB ATHLETE, COACH, AUTHOR AND
BUSINESSMAN, / JOE DiMAGGIO STANDS TALL AMONG THE RANKS
OF GENUINE AMERICAN HEROES
KNOWN AND REVERED (RE-VERED)
AROUND THE WORLD AS THE "YANKEE CLIPPER," HE CONTRIBUTED
MANY YEARS OF STYLE AND SPLENDID ABILITY TO THE SPORT
WHICH HAS COME TO BE KNOWN AS OUR NATIONAL PASTIME
HIS CHARACTER AND GRACE,/ BOTH ON AND OFF THE PLAYING
FIELD/HAVE BEEN A CONTINUING SOURCE OF INSPIRATION TO
AMERICANS OF ALL AGES
- E -
ARIEL DURANT
WRITER, HISTORIAN AND PHILOSOPHER,
ARIEL DURANT HAS COMBINED A SENSITIVE AND SWEEPING VISION
WITH UNIQUE LITERARY TALENTS
HER LIFELONG COLLABORATION
WITH HER HUSBAND WILL,/HAS HAS HELPED MAKE HISTORY ACCESSIBLE, /
POPULARIZING BUT NEVER CHEAPENING ITS LESS ONS.
THE STYLE AND SUBSTANCE OF HER WRITINGS HAVE MADE THE PAST
MORE VIVID, AND ENRICHED OUR LIVES IN THE PRESENT.
-9- -
WILL DURANT
WRITER, HISTORIAN AND PHILOSOPHER,
WILL DURANT HAS PROVIDED AN OPEN WINDOW INTO THE LIVES
AND THOUGHTS OF PAST AGES
WITH THE COLLABORATION
OF HIS WIFE ARIEL, HE HAS HELPED LEAD US THROUGH THE
PAST TO THE MEANING OF THE PRESENT / AN ELOQUENT
APOSTLE OF SOCIAL ORDER AND INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM, HE IS
AN ENEMY OF CHAOS / A FRIEND AND AN INVALUABLE GUIDE
TO MILLIONS OF GRATEFUL READERS
-10-
ARTHUR FIEDLER
?
VIOLINIST, CONDUCTOR AND MUSICAL
MAESIRE
INNOVATOR, ARTHUR FIEDLER, HAS BRIDGED THE GAP BETWEEN
POPULAR AND CLASSICAL MUSIC /A AND GIVEN MILLIONS AROUND
THE WORLD A GREATER APPRECIATION OF AMERICA'S RICH
CULTURAL HERITAGE.
HIS SPIRIT AND ZEST FOR LIVING
HAVE MADE AN IMMEASURABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE QUALITY
OF AMERICAN LIFE
I
JUDGE HENRY J. FRIENDLY
HONORED STUDENT AND SERVANT OF THE LAW, /
MAN OF INTELLECT AND WISDOM, / HE BROUGHT A BRILLIANCE
AND A SENSE OF PRECISION TO AMERICAN JURIS PRUDENCE,
SHARPENING ITS FOCUS AND STRENGTHENING ITS COMMITMENT
TO THE HIGH GOAL / OF EQUAL AND EXACT JUSTICE FOR EVERY
AMERICAN CITIZEN
-12-
LADY BIRD JOHNSON
AS ONE OF AMERICA'S GREAT FIRST LADIES,
/
SHE CLAIMED HER OWN PLACE IN THE HEARTS AND HISTORY
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
IN COUNCILS OF POWER / OR IN
HOMES OF THE POOR, / SHE MADE GOVERNMENT HUMAN WITH HER
UNIQUE COMPASSION / AND HER GRACE, WARMTH AND WISDOM /
HER LEADERSHIP TRANSFORMED THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE E/A AND
PRESERVED ITS NATURAL BEAUTY AS A NATIONAL TREASURE.
13- -
ARCHIBALD MACLEISH, REPRESENTED BY HIS NEPHEW,
RODERICK MACLEISH
POET AND PLAYWRIGHT, / TEACHER AND STATESMAN of
ARCHIBALD MACLEISH HAS COMBINED THE VOCATION OF MAN
OF LETTERS WITH THAT OF PUBLIC SPOKESMAN / A POET OF
REALITIES AS WELL AS DREAMS, / HIS ELOQUENT WORDS ARE
MATCHED BY HIS SENSITIVE SOCIAL CONSCIENCE.
HE SEEKS
TRUTH, INSPIRED BY LOVE OF HIS FELLOW MEN AND OF HIS
COUNTRY: / WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE HIS STATURE
AS A HUMANIST, AN ARTIST AND AN AMERICAN
- 14 -
JAMES ALBERT MICHENER
AUTHOR, TEACHER AND POPULAR HISTORIAN, /
JAMES MICHENER HAS ENTRANCED A GENERATION WITH HIS
COMPELLING ESSAYS AND NOVELS.
FROM
TALES OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC TO CENTENNIAL, THE PROLIFIC
WRITINGS OF THIS MASTER STORYTELLER / HAVE EXPANDED
THE KNOWLEDGE AND ENRICHED THE LIVES OF MILLIONS.
-15- -
VICE PRESIDENT NELSON A. ROCKEFELLER
PATRIOT, PHILANTHROPIST, PATRON OF THE
ARTS, DIPLOMAT, GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK, VICE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES HIS LONG YEARS OF SERVICE TO HIS
COUNTRY HAVE YIELDED GOVERNMENTAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL
AND CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS BEYOND MEASURE.
-16-
NORMAN ROCKWELL, REPRESENTED BY HIS SON, JARVIS ROCKWELL
ARTIST, ILLUSTRATOR AND AUTHOR / NORMAN
ROCKWELL HAS PORTRAYED THE AMERICAN SCENE WITH
UNRIVALLED FRESHNESS AND CLARITY.
INSIGHT, OPTIMISM
AND GOOD HUMOR ARE THE HALLMARKS OF HIS ARTISTIC STYLE.
HIS VIVID AND AFFECTIONATE PORTRAITS OF OUR COUNTRY /
AND OURSELVES / HAVE BEC OME A BELOVED PART OF THE AMERICAN
TRADITION
17 -
CATHERINE FILENE SHOUSE
CATHERINE FILENE SHOUSE HAS GIVEN HER
COUNTRY HALF A CENTURY OF INVALUABLE VOLUNTARY SERVICE.
A PIONEER IN JOB TRAINING FOR WOMEN, / SHE HERSELF IS AN
OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF WHAT GOOD TASTE AND INTELLIGENCE,
PRAGMATISM AND PERSISTENCE CAN ACCOMPLISH.
A WORKING PATRON OF THE ARTS AS WELL AS A GIVING ONE,
HER KEEN INTEREST AND INVOLVEMENT HAVE ENRICHED
IMMEASURABLY OUR NATION'S CULTURAL LIFE
18- -
LOWELL THOMAS
?
PIONEER RADIO AND TELEVISION COMMENTATOR,/ COMMENTATOR /
WAR CORRESPONDENT, / AUTHOR AND EXPLORER, / LOWELL THOMAS
HAS LIVED AND FULFILLED MANY DREAMS
HIS ELOQUENT
VOICE, HIS ZEST FOR LIVING, HIS SUPERB PROFESSIONALISM
AND HIS PATRIOTISM, / HAVE LEFT A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE WITH
THE MILLIONS WHO HAVE SEEN AND HEARD HIM OVER THE YEARS
-19- 19 -
JAMES D. WATSON
SCHOLAR, TEACHER, AUTHOR, AND SCIENTIFIC
PIONEER, JAMES D. WATSON HAS CHALLENGED THE MYSTERIES
OF LIFE ITSELF / AND CHARTED A NEW PATH IN MANKIND'S ENDLESS
SEARCH FOR TRUTH
HIS INTELLECTUAL COURAGE
AND RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE HAVE
EARNED HIM THE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION OF HIS COUNTRY
AND A PERMANENT PLACE AS ONE OF THE GREAT EXPLORERS
N
OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY