Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation Annual Dinner and William E. Simon Lecture

This year's Annual Dinner was held in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. In 1988, President Gerald R. Ford announced the establishment of the William E. Simon Lecture in Public Affairs. The series is endowed by his gift to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation. Simon served as Secretary of the Treasury during the Nixon and Ford administrations. He established this lecture series stating, “These lectures can make a significant, continuing contribution to public debate on how to preserve and strengthen the institutions of our free society.” In acknowledging William Simon’s gift, President Ford said, “Bill Simon’s generosity makes possible a top quality program, featuring outstanding national figures. Their insight on domestic and international issues will foster better public understanding of today’s critical policy problems.”

Gerald R. Ford Medal for Distinguished Public Service

Each year, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation awards the Medal for Distinguished Public Service to persons who have served the public good in the private and public sector. The award was established by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation’s Board of Trustees in 2003 and is presented during a ceremony held in June at the Foundation’s annual dinner. The Gerald R. Ford Medal for Distinguished Public Service recognizes outstanding public contributions by individuals who reflect the qualities demonstrated by President Ford during his public service career: strength of character, integrity, trustworthiness, fidelity to principles in decision making, sound judgment, decisiveness (particularly during periods of crisis), determination in the face of adversity, diligence, self-confidence balanced with respect for the views of others, and self-discipline in personal life.

This year's recipient of the Gerald R. Ford Medal for Distinguished Public Service was Robert M. Gates, Ph.D. Robert M. Gates served as the 22nd Secretary of Defense (2006-2011). He is the only Secretary of Defense in U.S. history to be asked to remain in office by a newly elected President. Dr. Gates served eight U.S. presidents across both parties. He has led a distinguished career of service and institutional reform both in and out of government. Gates began his career at the Central Intelligence Agency in 1966 and spent nearly 27 years as an intelligence professional, including nine years on the National Security Council. He is the only career officer in CIA’s history to rise from entry-level employee to director. He served as Director of Central Intelligence from 1991 until 1993 and, through the collapse of the Soviet Union, restructured the intelligence community for a post-Cold War world. Gates currently is a principal in the strategic consulting firm Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel, LLC, with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, and Aspen Strategy Group Executive Director Anja Manuel. Gates serves as Chancellor of William & Mary. He is the first William & Mary alumnus in the modern era to serve as Chancellor. He is also National Chairman of the Eisenhower Fellowships, having succeeded General Colin Powell in 2018. He is a member of the national executive board of the Boy Scouts of America, where he served as president of the National Eagle Scout Association from 1996-2006 and National President of the Boy Scouts of America from 2014-2016.

Gerald R. Ford Journalism Prize for Distinguished Reporting on the Presidency and National Defense

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation sponsors the Gerald R. Ford Journalism Prize for Distinguished Reporting on the Presidency and National Defense to recognize and encourage thoughtful, insightful, and enterprising work by journalists covering the presidency and national defense. Click here to read about the 2022 Journalism Award winners.