The Ronald Reagan Freedom Award is the highest honor bestowed by the private Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation.[1] The award is given to "those who have made monumental and lasting contributions to the cause of freedom worldwide."[2]
| Ronald Reagan Freedom Award | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | United States |
| Established | 1992 |
| First awarded | 1992 |
| Website | https://www.reaganfoundation.org/programs-events/the-ronald-reagan-freedom-award/  |
 Ribbon of the award | |
Until her death, the award was 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 former president Ronald Reagan himself, as well as in 1993. In 1994, Nancy 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."[2]
Recipients
Former president George H. W. Bush, who was awarded the medal on February 6, 2007, which would have been Ronald Reagan's 96th birthday, remarked, "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 said later in the speech: "Working with Ronald Reagan was one of the greatest joys of my life."[3]
- 1992 – Mikhail Gorbachev, former leader of the Soviet Union
- 1993 – General Colin Powell, former national security advisor to President Reagan
- 1994 – Yitzhak Rabin, prime Minister of Israel
- 1995 – Hussein of Jordan, king of Jordan
- 1997 – Bob Hope, entertainer
- 1998 – Margaret Thatcher, former prime minister of the United Kingdom
- 2000 – Billy Graham, evangelist
- 2002 – Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City
- 2007 – George H. W. Bush, former president of the United States and previously vice president of the United States under President Reagan
- 2008 – Natan Sharansky, Israeli politician, human rights activist, and former KGB prisoner
- 2011 – Lech Wałęsa, former president of Poland and Solidarity leader
- 2022 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine[4][better source needed]
See also
References
- ^ "The Ronald Reagan Freedom Award". Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
- ^ a b "The Ronald Reagan Freedom Award". Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. Archived from the original on October 16, 2006. Retrieved February 24, 2007.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Nguyen, Daisy (February 7, 2007). "Ex-President Bush Receives Reagan Award". The Washington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved February 24, 2007.
- ^ Zelenskyy wins Ronald Reagan Freedom Award