Ronald Reagan Freedom Award

Ronald Reagan awards former Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev with the first Ronald Reagan Freedom Award at the Reagan Library, 1992

Nancy Reagan presents entertainer Bob Hope with the Award, 1997

The Ronald Reagan Freedom Award is the highest civilian honor bestowed by the private Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. The award is given to "those who have made monumental and lasting contributions to the cause of freedom worldwide."^[1]

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 President Ronald Reagan himself, as well as in 1993, but in 1994 Mrs. 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."^[1]

Recipients

Former President George H. W. Bush, who was awarded the medal on February 6, 2007, the anniversary of 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."^[2] Bush served as Reagan's Vice President for the eight years that Reagan was President.

On September 17, 2008, the award was presented to former Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky by former first lady Nancy Reagan.^[3]

• 1992 – Mikhail Gorbachev, former General Secretary of the Soviet Union
• 1993 – General Colin Powell, former National Security Advisor to President Reagan
• 1994 – Yitzhak Rabin, former Prime Minister of Israel
• 1995 – King Hussein I, then King of Jordan
• 1997 – Bob Hope, former entertainer.
• 1998 – Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
• 2000 – The Reverend Billy Graham, evangelical minister
• 2002 – Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York
• 2007 – George H. W. Bush, former President of the United States, served under Reagan as Vice President of the United States
• 2008 – Natan Sharansky, former KGB prisoner, human rights activist, Israeli politician.
• 2011 – Lech Wałęsa, former Solidarity leader and former president of Poland

References

Ronald Reagan
40th President of the United States (1981–1989) 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975)
Life and politics	Birthplace Pitney Store Boyhood home Rancho del Cielo Filmography Presidential Library Death and state funeral Political positions Governship of California Namesakes and memorials
Presidency	First inauguration Second inauguration Domestic policy Economic policy Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 Tax Reform Act of 1986 Assassination attempt Strategic Defense Initiative Foreign policy Reagan Doctrine Cold War 1st term 2nd term 1985 Geneva Summit 1986 Reykjavík Summit INF Treaty 1987 Washington Summit 1988 Moscow Summit Invasion of Grenada Iran–Contra affair International trips Resolute desk The Grace Commission Cabinet Federal judicial appointments Supreme Court controversies Administration scandals
Speeches	Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine "A Time for Choosing" Reagan's Neshoba County Fair "states' rights" speech First inaugural address "Ash heap of history" "Evil empire" "Tear down this wall!" State of the Union: 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988
Books	An American Life (1990 autobiography) The Reagan Diaries (2007) Biographical works
Elections	California gubernatorial election, 1966 1970 Republican Party presidential primaries, 1968 1976 1980 1984 Republican National Convention 1968 1976 1980 1984 Ronald Reagan presidential campaign, 1980 "There you go again" "Make America Great Again" United States presidential election, 1976 1980 1984 "Morning in America" "Bear in the woods"
Popular culture	In fiction In music U.S. Postage stamps The Day Reagan Was Shot (2001 film) The Reagans (2003 film) Reagan (2011 documentary) The Butler (2013 film) Killing Reagan (2016 film) "What would Reagan do?"
Family	Jack Reagan (father) Nelle Wilson Reagan (mother) Neil Reagan (brother) Jane Wyman (first wife) Nancy Reagan (second wife) Maureen Reagan (daughter) Michael Reagan (adopted son) Patti Davis (daughter) Ron Reagan (son) Rex (dog)
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