Ronald Reagan Freedom Award

The Ronald Reagan Freedom Award is the highest civilian honor bestowed by the private Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. The award is given to "those who have made monumental and lasting contributions to the cause of freedom worldwide."^[1] Today, the award is given by Former First Lady Nancy Reagan, on behalf of her husband, who died in June 2004. The award was first given in 1992, by President Ronald Reagan himself, as well as in 1993, but in 1994 Mrs. Reagan presented the award instead of her husband. Ronald Reagan had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease a few months before, and was not able to attend the ceremony. In order to receive the award, the potential recipient must "have made monumental and lasting contributions to the cause of freedom worldwide," as well as "embody President Reagan's lifelong belief that one man or woman truly can make a difference."^[1]

Recipients

The latest recipient was former President George H.W. Bush, who was awarded the medal on February 6, 2007, the anniversary of Ronald Reagan's 96th birthday. In his acceptance speech, Bush said: "I wish I had a little Ronald Reagan in me when it came to communicating with the American people. Had I been blessed with my predecessor's remarkable skill, who knows? I might still be employed." On a more serious note, he remarked later in the speech: "Working with Ronald Reagan was one of the greatest joys of my life."^[2] Bush served as Reagan's Vice President for the eight years he was President.

Past recipients include:

• 1992 – Mikhail Gorbachev, Former General Secretary of the Soviet Union
• 1993 – General Colin Powell, Former National Security Advisor to President Reagan
• 1994 – Yitzhak Rabin, Former Prime Minister of Israel
• 1995 – King Hussein I, Former King of Jordan
• 1997 – Bob Hope, Former entertainer and friend of President and Mrs. Reagan
• 1998 – Baroness Thatcher, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
• 2000 – The Reverend Billy Graham, Evangelical Minister and friend of President and Mrs. Reagan
• 2002 – Rudy Giuliani, Former Mayor of New York and current 2008 Presidential candidate
• 2007 – George H.W. Bush, Former President of the United States, served under Reagan as Vice President of the United States, and a personal friend of the Reagans.

References