The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation Annual Dinner was held at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel in Washington, D.C. The Foundation presented John O. Marsh, Jr. with the 2014 Gerald R. Ford Medal for Distinguished Public Service for his years of honored service to our country.
Carla A. Hills acknowledged that "Jack" Marsh's life has been a testament to those same traits admired in President Ford. Marsh has served as a lawyer and professor at the Virginia Military Institute, College of William & Mary, and George Mason University School of Law. He was a U.S. Congressman from Virginia and the longest serving U.S. Secretary of the Army. Marsh served as National Security Advisor to Vice President Ford, Counselor to President Ford and member of President Ford's Cabinet.
Marsh enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II at the age of 18 and was commissioned an officer at the age of 19. Marsh fought in the Vietnam War for one month, never revealing to his fellow solider that he was a Member of Congress. Gerald R. Ford, when asked about his friend, stated " I knew I could rely upon Jack's judgement. He was very bright, with a shroud understanding of people and problems. Jack was a tireless worker and tough. And he would speak up against 5 or 10 people if he thought I was doing the wrong thing." Ford also reflected on how "Marsh, more than anyone else, was the man who bridged the gap between the Nixon and Ford White House staffs." Marsh was also President Ford's choice to lead the transition to the Jimmy Carter Administration following Ford's defeat in the 1976 Presidential Campaign.
Marsh was also absolutely instrumental in receiving the necessary approvals for naming the U.S. Navy's next aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford. The John O. Marsh Institute for Government and Public Policy at Shenandoah University is named after Marsh.
John Marsh was honored to accept the Medal of Distinguished Public Service from the Ford Family. He believed President Ford is one of he great, unrecognized Presidents of the 20th Century. He touched on the closeness of those who worked in the Ford Administration, stories from those days and how the Ford White House operated. Marsh believed that while President Ford may be omitted sometimes from historians' radar, he stated how important the Ford Presidency was to American history because President Ford led the nation through difficult times including economic issues, oil embargo, Watergate, the Cold War, ending of the Vietnam War and many more. Marsh loved how the White House never changed President Ford, how he dealt with the issues of our country and provided the leadership required to get us through them.
Steve Ford, son of Gerald and Betty Ford provided opening remarks and served as host of the evening. Steve recently stepped down after serving as Foundation Chairman after four years. Ford felt honored to have served as Chairman and thanked the Foundation Trustees and Foundation friends for their effort and support. Mike Ford provided the annual prayer.
The Ford Family, including Steve, Mike and Susan Ford Bales also presented Richard "Uncle Dick" Ford with a present gift for his birthday. Dick is the Gerald R. Ford's younger brother and serves as a Foundation Trustee. The Ford family presented a birthday cake and birthday card signed by attendees of the Annual Dinner.
Watch the Program Here
When
June 2, 2014
Program Supporters
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum
