Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20247
President John F. Kennedy speaks from a lectern at the presentation ceremony of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. at Hangar ‘S,’ Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brevard County, Florida. Seated on the platform, first row (L-R): astronaut Captain Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Congressman George P. Miller (California), Senator Robert S. Kerr (Oklahoma), Director of the Manned Spacecraft Center Dr. Robert Gilruth (mostly hidden behind President Kennedy), Administrator of NASA James E. Webb, Lieutenant Colonel Glenn, his wife Annie Glenn, Commander of the Air Force Missile Test Center Major General Leighton I. Davis, and Governor Farris Bryant of Florida. Second row, beginning at right of lectern (L-R): Congressman Albert Thomas of Texas (smoking a cigarette), Senator George Smathers (Florida), astronaut Lieutenant Commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr. (partially hidden behind President Kennedy), Glenn's daughter Lyn Glenn, his son David Glenn, astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter, astronaut Major Donald K. “Deke” Slayton (partially hidden), and Air Force Aide to the President Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh. Congressman Olin E. Teague of Texas (behind Lieutenant Commander Schirra) and Senator Warren G. Magnuson of Washington (partially hidden behind David Glenn) sit in the third row; all others unidentified. The space capsule Friendship 7 is visible at far right.