ceremony was the first official pubic act as President for

President Johnson. Under Secretary of State George W.

Ball, who was also the Chairman of the Distinguished

Civilian Service Awards Board, introduced the recipients

of the newly created medal and President Johnson read

each individual’s citation and presented the medals.

During his remarks Mr. Ball stated, "Both President and

Mrs. Kennedy studied and revised the design for this

decoration and the beautiful medal you see today bears

their joint imprimatur" (Medal of Freedom website).

The ceremony was attended by President and Mrs.

Johnson, Chief Justice Earl Warren, Associate Justices of the United States Supreme Court, select members

of Congress, the recipients, and their guests. President

Johnson awarded 31 Presidential Medals of Freedom; additionally nine of the medals were awarded "With

Distinction." President Kennedy was also awarded

a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom at this

ceremony and his brother Attorney General Robert F.

Kennedy accepted the medal on behalf of the Kennedy

family (Figure 2).

President Kennedy’s citation read:

John Fitzgerald Kennedy,35th President of the United States, soldier, scholar, statesman, defender of freedom, pioneer for peace, author of hope - combining courage with reason, and combating hate with compassion, he led the land he loved towards new frontiers of opportunity for all men and peace for all time. Beloved in a life of selfless service, mourned by all in a death of senseless crime, the energy, faith and devotion which he brought to his extraordinary successful through tragically brief endeavors will hereafter, ’light our country and all who serve it- and the glow from that fire can truly light the world (Presidential Medal of Freedom website).

Although President Johnson was the first United States President to award the medal, President Kennedy approved the first selection list except for his posthumous award. Mr. Schlesinger (page 733) states, "Though an interdepartmental committee was charged with making the recommendations, Kennedy took a keen personal interest in the candidates and citations. Thus he himself added Edmund Wilson’s name to the list in 1963." Since the first award ceremony on December 6, 1963 approximately 400 medals have been awarded to persons representing a wide variety of disciplines and

Figure 2: President Lyndon B. Johnson presents Senator Robert F.. Kennedy with the Presidential

Medal of Freedom on behalf of former President John F. Kennedy on December 6, 1963

(Photo Johnson Presidential Library).

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achievements, at least annually by every United States President since Lyndon Johnson during special ceremonies held at The White House.

In 1970 President Richard Nixon abolished the Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board and the board’s role in providing nominations for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Nominations are now made by Department of Defense components. Assistant Secretaries of Defense or above can submit nominations to the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Force Management and Policy) with the justification for the award. The President himself can also decided to award the medal upon the President’s own accord. Additionally, the President has the final approval for all nominations and selects the individuals who will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

DESIGN OF THE MEDAL

Records at the Institute of Heraldry at Fort Belvoir in Virginia indicate that there was no one specific artist that designed the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The actual design was the joint effort of three people, Jay Morris and Stafford Potter who were both artists with the Institute of Heraldry, and David Webb a jeweler from New York City and a friend of Mrs. Kennedy. Additionally, Mrs. Kennedy, Major General C. V. Clifton, United States Army, Military Aide to President Kennedy and the President’s Committee (members unknown) had active roles in the design of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Numerous designs were presented before the final design was approved (Figures 3 through I0).

It is difficult to determine if President Kennedy ever actually approved the medal or saw the final design of the medal. A search of the records at the Institute of Heraldry by staff personnel located a memorandum dated May 8, 1963. In this memorandum, Major General Clifton stated to Colonel H. Temple, the Commanding Officer of The Institute of Heraldry in 1963 that he would attempt to obtain President Kennedy’s personal review and approval that afternoon. There is no indication in the files of the Institute of Heraldry that this meeting ever took place and no indication if President Kennedy officially approved the final design of the medal. Additionally, a search of the files on the President Medal of Freedom by research staff from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston, Massachusetts did not reveal any correspondence documenting that President Kennedy officially approved and reviewed the design of the medal. On December 6, 1963, Under Secretary of State George W. Ball, while describing President Kennedy’s feelings regarding the medal said: "He sought a way of expressing this appreciation in a systematic manner, so that it could become a part of the American tradition, a means of national thanks, and encouragement for the selfless effort and the brilliant task."

Figure 3: One proposed design for tire Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Figure 4: Another proposed design for the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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Figure 5: A third proposed design for the

Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Figure 6: A fourth proposed design for the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Figure 7: A fiflh proposed design for the Presidential

Medal of Freedom.

Figure 8: A sixth proposed design for the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Figure 9: A seventh proposed design for the

Presidential Medal of Freedom. Figure 10: Another proposed design for the

Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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