Profile in Courage Award
The Profile in Courage Award is a private award given to recognize displays of courage similar to those John F. Kennedy described in his book Profiles in Courage. It is given to individuals (often elected officials) who, by acting in accord with their conscience, risked their careers or lives by pursuing a larger vision of the national, state or local interest in opposition to popular opinion or pressure from constituents or other local interests.
The winners of the award are selected by a bi-partisan committee named by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, which includes members of the Kennedy family as well as other prominent Americans. It is generally awarded each year around the time of Kennedy's birthday (May 29) at a ceremony at the Kennedy Library in Boston. The award is generally presented by Kennedy's daughter Caroline Kennedy. Also before their deaths Senator Edward Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Jr., and former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Two recipients, John Lewis (in 2001) and William Winter (in 2008), were designated as honorees for Lifetime Achievement.
The winner is presented with a sterling silver lantern made by Tiffany's which was designed by Edwin Schlossberg. The lantern is patterned after the lanterns on USS Constitution, the last sail-powered ship to remain part of the US Navy, which is permanently moored nearby.
Recipients
- 1990: Carl Elliott, Sr., United States Congressman from Jasper, Alabama
- 1991: Charles Weltner, United States Congressman from Atlanta, Georgia
- 1992: Lowell Weicker, Jr., U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and the 85th Governor of Connecticut
- 1993: James Florio
- 1994: Henry Gonzalez
- 1995: Michael Synar
- 1996: Corkin Cherubini, Ed.D., Calhoun County, Georgia School Superintendent
- 1997: Judge Charles Price, Montgomery, Alabama
- 1998: Nickolas C. Murnion, Garfield County Attorney in Montana; also, the signatories of the Good Friday Peace Agreement
- 1999: Russell Feingold and John McCain
- 2000: Hilda Solis
- 2001: John Lewis (Lifetime Achievement Award); Gerald Ford
- 2002: Kofi Annan; Dean Koldenhoven; the representatives of the NYPD, the FDNY, and the military who risked their lives on September 11, 2001[1]
- 2003: Dan Ponder, Jr.; David Beasley; Roy Barnes
- 2004: Sima Samar; Cindy Watson (politician); Paul Muegge
- 2005: Joseph Darby; Shirley Franklin; Bill Ratliff; Victor Yushchenko
- 2006: Alberto J. Mora; John Murtha
- 2007: Bill White; Doris Voitier
- 2008: Jennifer Brunner and Debra Bowen; William Winter (Lifetime Achievement Award)
- 2009: Edward M. Kennedy
- 2009: Brooksley Born
- 2009: Sheila Bair
- 2009: Leymah Gbowee and the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace; Their efforts are portrayed in the documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell
- 2010: Karen Bass, Dave Cogdill, Darrell Steinberg, and Michael Villines
- 2011: Elizabeth Redenbaugh, Wael Ghonim, and the People of Egypt
- 2012: Marsha K. Ternus, David L. Baker, Michael J. Streit,[2] and Robert S. Ford
- 2013: Gabrielle Giffords[3]
- 2014: George H. W. Bush; Paul W. Bridges[4]
- 2015: Bob Inglis, former Congressman
References
- ↑ http://www.jfklibrary.org/Education+and+Public+Programs/Profile+in+Courage+Award/Award+Recipients/Public+Servants+of+September+11
- ↑ 2012 JFK Profile in Courage Award Winners Announced (March 12, 2012).
- ↑ http://www.jfklibrary.org/About-Us/News-and-Press/Press-Releases/2013-Profile-in-Courage-Award-Announcement.aspx
- ↑ http://www.jfklibrary.org/About-Us/News-and-Press/Press-Releases/2014-Profile-in-Courage-Announcment.aspx