MUHAMMAD ALI
"Muhammad Ali is a champion of freedom who embodies everything the award was established to honor: individuals of courage and conviction who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe." ...more
ROBERT GATES
"Secretary Gates’ steadfast commitment to the well-being of our men and women in uniform makes him an ideal recipient of this year’s Liberty Medal" ...more
TONY BLAIR
"This year's recipient of the Liberty Medal embodies the principle on which this award was established, and on which our Constitution was ordained." ...more
STEVEN SPIELBERG
"The Medal recognizes Steven Spielberg for for his artistic and personal commitment to the preservation of human rights." ...more
MIKHAIL GORBACHEV
"The Medal recognizes Mikhail Gorbachev for his courageous role in ending the dangerous, decades-long Cold War and in giving hope and freedom to millions who lived behind the Iron Curtain." ...more
BONO & DATA (DEBT AIDS TRADE AFRICA)
"The Medal recognizes Bono and DATA’s groundbreaking work in raising awareness about and spurring a global response to the crisis of AIDS and extreme poverty in Africa." ...more
GEORGE H.W. BUSH & WILLIAM J. CLINTON
“Former Presidents George H.W. Bush and William J. Clinton joined together in an unprecedented public awareness campaign to encourage Americans to donate money for Tsunami relief and Hurricane Katrina.” ...more
VICTOR YUSHCHENKO
“Viktor Yushchenko has demonstrated this courage, this spirit, and this commitment in challenging corruption and election fraud, and winning his nation's mandate to lead after the Orange Revolution.” ...more
HAMID KARZAI
"The Liberty Medal has always been awarded to world leaders of great courage, vision and faith in the future…President Karzai is working tirelessly and skillfully to unify his country’s diverse factions, strengthen its economy and move towards democratic values and practices." ...more
SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR
"Sandra Day O’Connor is a leader of exceptional dignity, character and integrity...she has been a champion of justice, and her fairness and prudence on major decisions have made a lasting impact on our society." ...more
COLIN POWELL
"Among the leaders who are in the forefront of supporting human liberties, and those who have earned respect for their courage and resoluteness in upholding rights held dear by Americans throughout their careers, Colin Powell is a giant." ...more
KOFI ANNAN
“Secretary General Annan is admired alike by leaders from the countries of the world and by their grassroots populations. He is recognized for his moral character, for his faith and loyalty. And for his attachment to social justice as well as to economic development.” ...more
JAMES WATSON & FRANCIS CRICK
“In the 20th century, the extraordinary record of the natural sciences and the technologies that they inspired is one of the grand achievements of human liberty. Watson and Crick and their work on DNA are symbols of the tremendous impact of science on our lives and welfare and on public policy.” ...more
KIM DAE-JUNG
"During almost half a century, Kim Dae Jung has been not only a symbol of democratic values in the Republic of Korea, but also a heroic figure in its progress towards democracy. He has won the admiration of his people and of the leaders of all continents." ...more
GEORGE MITCHELL
"After 30 years of bitter and bloody divisions, a courageous, non-violent transformation in Northern Ireland seems imminent. Senator George Mitchell has been both a vital catalyst and a patient shepherd to the peace negotiations." ...more
CNN INTERNATIONAL
"In order to thrive and expand, liberty and democracy need accurate and fair sources of knowledge and information. CNN International, the first global 24-hour news network, is such a source and helps foster informed leaders and electorates." ...more
KING HUSSEIN & SHIMON PERES
"King Hussein and Prime Minister Peres have played extraordinary roles, over many years, in pursuing peace and liberty in the Middle East. The 1994 accord between Jordan and Israel is remarkable because it goes beyond the cessation of belligerency and focuses on the normalization of relations." ...more
SADAKO OGATA
"There is no greater champion and activist on behalf of the refugees of the world than Mrs. Ogata. In her four years as High Commissioner for Refugees, she has been their protector and provider of relief…No one has played a greater humanitarian role in this regard." ...more
VACLAV HAVEL
"Vaclav Havel inspired the ‘velvet revolution’ which returned his country in 1989 to democratic liberties, civility and a market economy….He is a symbol to the world of the successful pursuit of cultural and political freedoms." ...more
NELSON MANDELA & F.W. DE KLERK
"The Liberty Medal’s International Selection Commission had America’s founder in mind in selecting this year’s awardees F. W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela, for their enormous courage, integrity, forbearance, sense of justice and devotion to freedom and consensus for the common good." ...more
THURGOOD MARSHALL
"Thurgood Marshall’s long history of defending and protecting individual rights and our nation’s liberties under the Constitution and securing legal equality for Americans of all races and creeds make him a magnificent choice for this year’s Liberty Medal." ...more
MEDICINS SANS FRONTIERES & OSCAR ARIAS
"In the score of years they have functioned, Médecins Sans Frontières and its missions have ranged across over sites, from Peru in South America, to Cambodia in Southeast Asia. Their premise that human freedom and the human spirit are inseparable from the well being of the human body echoes the beliefs of the 200-year-old Bill of Rights by including in its charter a Bill of Duties and Responsibilities." ...more
JIMMY CARTER
"President Jimmy Carter...has demonstrated among his other virtues that liberty is internalized within him – in his mind, in his heart, in his soul, and in the use of his time and his immense energy. Liberty is both a means and an end."...more
LECH WALESA
“The movement for human liberty, like all great religious, social, cultural, economic and political movements, has its set of saints, its hagiology. Lech Walesa of Poland illuminates the constellation of saints devoted to liberty.” ...more
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