Senator John F. Kerry was honored on February 28, 2005 with the Kennedy Library Foundation’s Distinguished American Award.
The prestigious award recognizes men and women who have played significant roles in American public affairs who have honored President Kennedy’s legacy of public and community service.
Senator Edward M. Kennedy made the presentation to Senator Kerry via a live telephone hookup broadcast to the capacity crowd in attendance at the Kennedy Presidential Library. Senator Kerry was presented with a bronze bust of President Kennedy in recognition of Kerry’s lifelong commitment to public service, a career that includes service in the United States Navy (1966-1969) during which he was decorated for combat in Vietnam War; assistant district attorney for Middlesex County, MA (1977-1982); lieutenant governor of Massachusetts (1982-1984); U.S. Senator representing Massachusetts since 1984; and Democratic candidate for U.S. president in 2004.
Following the presentation of the award, Senator Kerry participated in a Kennedy Library Forum with Pulitzer Prize winning Boston Globe columnist Tom Oliphant.
In conjunction with the Kennedy Library Forum Series, the Distinguished Visitor Program hosts prominent speakers at the Kennedy Library who have played significant roles in American public affairs, as well heads of state and other leaders who have fostered international understanding.
Past recipients of the Distinguished American Award include President George H. W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, Harry Belafonte, James Farmer, Helen Thomas, Congressman John Lewis, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State James Baker, Daniel Schorr, John Kenneth Galbraith, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
The Kennedy Library Forums series is sponsored by Bank of America, Boston Capital, the Lowell Institute, and Corcoran Jennison Companies. Media sponsors for the Forums are The Boston Globe, 90.0 WBUR, and boston.com. Raytheon Corporation and Nixon Peabody provide additional support for the Distinguished Visitor program.