Devin Nunes, as he looks to reward loyalists with just over two weeks left in his term. If Donald Trump’s mission is to “Make America Great Again,” the Presidential Medal of Freedom may be our best indication of what greatness looks like to him.President Donald Trump on Monday presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to one of his most outspoken congressional allies, California Rep. Why not “the great presidents” – think George Washington? Or great inventors – think George Washington Carver? In fact, if these first awards are any indication, Trump might use his medal selections to associate himself with cultural icons not yet claimed by other presidents - as he did by picking Elvis this year. Trump’s future selections will tell us even more about who he is and what legacy he wants to leave as president. But the sheer size and scope of Adelson’s political contributions - more than US$113 million in combination with her husband, Sheldon – differentiates her from past recipients. He also awarded it to Democratic activists such as Barbra Streisand and Bruce Springsteen. Obama, for one, awarded the medal to Oprah Winfrey – who gave him a key endorsement in the 2008 primaries. Whereas Obama selected the most diverse set of recipients to date – 36 percent of whom were women, and 39 percent people of color – Trump has selected six men and six white people, out of seven recipients.Īnd while Trump’s selection of Miriam Adelson – a doctor, philanthropist and, perhaps most importantly, a GOP mega-donor – has been controversial, he is hardly the first president to award the nation’s highest civilian honor to a prominent political supporter. Trump’s selections also differ markedly from those of his predecessor, Barack Obama. One of these is baseball great Babe Ruth, who died 70 years ago, in 1948. Trump’s seven selections include three athletes and three posthumous awards – well above the mark for past recipients, 5 percent of whom were athletes and 10 percent recognized posthumously. This is surprising for a president who enjoys commanding the media’s attention and exercising unilateral executive power. President Trump’s first round of medals is unusual in at least one respect: He waited 20 months to award them, longer than any other president. In other words, presidents tend to award Presidential Medals of Freedom to members of their party’s key constituency groups.
Republicans are more likely to bestow the medal on military leaders, white people and conservative editors and pundits. For instance, Democratic presidents are more likely to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to civil rights leaders, labor organizers and people of color. Not surprisingly, these awards usually go to a president’s political allies.
Orrin Hatch and former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Obama awarded his last Presidential Medal of Freedom to his vice president Joe Biden. Obama honors his Vice President Joe Biden with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2017. For instance, presidents from both parties often pick politicians and public servants. Much of it depends on whether the president is a Democrat or a Republican, but this isn’t always the case. In fact, Obama holds the record for awarding the most medals in total: 115. In 2016, he awarded 20 medals to recipients including athletes like Michael Jordan and entertainers like Bruce Springsteen.
President Barack Obama has since raised the bar. This changed when President Ronald Reagan – a media-savvy, former Hollywood actor – began hosting large ceremonies designed to maximize public attention. Before 1981, Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremonies were sporadic, and recognized only about five recipients at a time. Our research shows that the politicization of the medal has increased over time. But presidents often use the award for political purposes – to gain positive media attention, shape their legacy or reward their supporters. Kennedy, in 1963, to recognize “any person who has made an especially meritorious contribution to (1) the security or national interests of the United States, or (2) world peace, or (3) cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”Īs a unilateral power of the executive branch, presidents have broad discretion to choose recipients. The award was established by President John F. What is the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
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