[ Vice President Dick Cheney, Gerald R. Ford and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld ]
The medal is given annually to an individual who has served the public good in the private and public sector and was established by the Board of Trustees of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation in 2003. Last year’s recipient was Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.
In making the award, President Ford observed “Dick and Don exemplify what public service is all about. I was fortunate to have them both serve in my administration as part of their public service. They have had distinguished careers which in many ways have paralleled each other.”
Ford continued, “Both have served in the House of Representatives, as Chiefs of Staff in my administration, and as Secretary of Defense. Both had successful careers in the private sector as business executives and returned when called to public service in the current Bush administration as Vice President and Secretary of Defense.”
Board Chairman Martin J. Allen, Jr. stated that “the criteria for the recipient are based on the characteristics that President Ford demonstrated in his public service. They include strength of character, diligence, decisiveness, sound judgement, and integrity, all of which have been characteristics of Vice President Cheney’s and Secretary Rumsfeld’s careers. Having served as President Ford’s Chiefs of Staff, it is most appropriate that they receive this award at a dinner honoring the beginning of the Ford Presidency.”
