Latest news with #JohnF.KennedyLibraryFoundation
USA Today
05-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
'I did my duty': Mike Pence gets courage award for certifying election on Jan. 6, 2021
'I did my duty': Mike Pence gets courage award for certifying election on Jan. 6, 2021 The former vice president got the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for certifying the 2020 election. Previous recipients include John McCain, Barack Obama and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Show Caption Hide Caption Former Oath Keepers leader feels 'validated' after executive order Stewart Rhodes, who was serving an 18-year sentence for his role in the Jan. 6 attack, says he feels "validated" after Trump commuted his sentence. Former Vice President Mike Pence has received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for "putting his life and career on the line" for certifying the 2020 election on Jan. 6, 2021. Pence defied President Donald Trump and dozens of Republican lawmakers by refusing to halt the congressional certification process of the 2020 election results on Jan. 6. A mob of Trump supporters descended on the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to stop the transfer of power to then President-elect Joe Biden, with some explicitly calling for violence against Pence. "I will always believe, by God's grace, I did my duty that day, to support the peaceful transfer of power under the Constitution of the Untied States of America," Pence said upon accepting the award on Sunday, May 4. Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of the former President John F. Kennedy, and her son Jack Schlossberg, presented the award to Pence at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Massachusetts. They said in a statement that Pence's decision 'is an example of President Kennedy's belief that an act of political courage can change the course of history.' The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award has been given out annually since 1989 by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, to "public servants for making a courageous decision of conscience without regard for the personal or professional consequences." Past winners include former U.S. Sen. John McCain, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former President Barack Obama. More: What former VP Mike Pence said as he received the JFK Profile in Courage Award "January 6 was a tragic day," Pence said "But it became a triumph of freedom, and history will record that our institutions held when, after law enforcement secured the Capitol, leaders in both chambers in both political parties reconvened the very same day and finished democracy's work under the Constitution." Pence, a former governor of Indiana, unsuccessfully ran against Trump in 2023 for the Republican party presidential nomination and has publicly split from his former running mate over Jan. 6. Contributing: Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY, and Brittany Carloni, IndyStar Kathryn Palmer is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr.
Axios
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Pence says institutions held on Jan. 6 because GOP, Democratic leaders "did their duty"
Former Vice President Mike Pence said as he received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award that institutions held during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot "because leaders in both political parties, Republicans and Democrats, did their duty." The big picture: The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation bestowed the honor on Pence for resisting pressure from Trump and others to certify former President Biden's 2020 election win following the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Pence, who was vice president during the first Trump administration, has been ostracized by the Republican Party and its leader, notes Axios' Russell Contreras. Zoom in:"I will always believe by God's grace, I did my duty that day to support the peaceful transfer of power under the Constitution of the United States of America," said Pence of his actions on Jan. 6., 2001, prompting applause from those gathered at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston, Massachusetts. Pence said he decided to receive the award to give credit where it's due on Republican and Democratic leaders coming together on Jan. 6 "but also to say in these divided times, in these anxious days, I know in my heart that we will find our way forward as one nation." He added: "We all have our differences, but I always believe that there is more that unites us in this country than could ever divide us." Zoom in: Pence said to forge a future together, people have to find common ground. "I hope, in some small way, my presence here tonight is a reminder that whatever differences we may have as Americans, the Constitution is the common ground on which we stand," said Pence, who unsuccessfully challenged Trump early in the 2024 Republican presidential race. "I believe the Constitution is the foundation on which we can forge a future security and prosperity for all of the American people. ... I know we will forge that future," Pence added. "I have faith in the countless Americans who make this country work every day. So should you people who get up every morning, put in an honest day's work, look after their families do the right thing when nobody's watching and never get a chance for a night like this. I want you to know we see you, we honor you, and we know you are the ones that make America great and always will." What they're saying: "Vice President Pence put his life and career and that of his family on the line to execute his constitutional responsibilities in his actions," said Caroline Kennedy, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation's honorary president and JFK's daughter. Context: The JFK Library Foundation gives out the award that's named for a Pulitzer Prize-winning book the late President Kennedy wrote on eight U.S. senators who showed courage as they risked their careers with principled stands for unpopular positions.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mike Pence to get JFK Profile in Courage Award for certification of 2020 election
Former Vice President Mike Pence will be given the 2025 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for certifying the 2020 election results after rioters rampaged through the U.S. Capitol, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation revealed on Thursday. Then-vice president to President Donald Trump during his first term, Pence certified former President Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election despite Trump pressuring him to toss out the results during the certification on January 6, 2021 as Trump supporters laid siege to the Capitol. The daughter of President Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, and her son, Jack Schlossberg, said in a statement announcing the foundation's decision that Pence's actions were 'an example of President Kennedy's belief that an act of political courage can change the course of history.' Pence is set to receive the award from Kennedy and Schlossberg at the Kennedy Library in Boston on May 4. 'Despite our political differences, it is hard to imagine an act of greater consequence than Vice President Pence's decision to certify the 2020 presidential election during an attack on the U.S. Capitol,' said mother and son. 'Upholding his oath to the Constitution and following his conscience, the Vice President put his life, career, and political future on the line.' Rioters that day chanted: 'Hang Mike Pence,' and a noose hung from a makeshift scaffold outside the Capitol. In the press release, Pence said he was 'deeply humbled and honored.' 'I have been inspired by the life and words of President John F. Kennedy since my youth and am honored to join the company of so many distinguished Americans who have received this recognition in the past,' he added. The Kennedys also said in the statement that 'political courage is not outdated in the United States.' 'At every level of government, leaders are putting country first, and not backing down,' they added. The Kennedys said Pence's 'decision is an example of President Kennedy's belief that an act of political courage can change the course of history.' The award comes as Pence's former boss works to bend academic institutions and foreign governments to his will through tariffs and withdrawals of government funding, in addition to other measures. Pence slammed Trump's tariffs in a post on X on Wednesday, writing: 'The Trump Tariff Tax is the largest peacetime tax hike in U.S. history. These Tariffs are nearly 10x the size of those imposed during the Trump-Pence Administration and will cost American families over $3,500 per year.' The Kennedy Profile in Courage award has been presented each year since 1989 to 'public servants who have made courageous decisions of conscience without regard for the personal or professional consequences.' In 2024, the award was given to the Republican Secretary of State of Kentucky, Michael Adams, for 'expanding voting rights and standing up for free and fair elections despite party opposition.' Pence has faced ostracism by Trump and the rest of the Republican Party after refusing to adhere to Trump's demands to toss out the 2020 election, which Trump lost.
The Independent
04-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Mike Pence to get JFK Profile in Courage Award for certification of 2020 election
Former Vice President Mike Pence will be given the 2025 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for certifying the 2020 election results after rioters rampaged through the U.S. Capitol, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation revealed on Thursday. Then-vice president to President Donald Trump during his first term, Pence certified former President Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election despite Trump pressuring him to toss out the results during the certification on January 6, 2021 as Trump supporters laid siege to the Capitol. The daughter of President Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, and her son, Jack Schlossberg, said in a statement announcing the foundation's decision that Pence's actions were 'an example of President Kennedy's belief that an act of political courage can change the course of history.' Pence is set to receive the award from Kennedy and Schlossberg at the Kennedy Library in Boston on May 4. 'Despite our political differences, it is hard to imagine an act of greater consequence than Vice President Pence's decision to certify the 2020 presidential election during an attack on the U.S. Capitol,' said mother and son. 'Upholding his oath to the Constitution and following his conscience, the Vice President put his life, career, and political future on the line.' Rioters that day chanted: 'Hang Mike Pence,' and a noose hung from a makeshift scaffold outside the Capitol. In the press release, Pence said he was 'deeply humbled and honored.' 'I have been inspired by the life and words of President John F. Kennedy since my youth and am honored to join the company of so many distinguished Americans who have received this recognition in the past,' he added. The Kennedys also said in the statement that 'political courage is not outdated in the United States.' 'At every level of government, leaders are putting country first, and not backing down,' they added. The Kennedys said Pence's 'decision is an example of President Kennedy's belief that an act of political courage can change the course of history.' The award comes as Pence's former boss works to bend academic institutions and foreign governments to his will through tariffs and withdrawals of government funding, in addition to other measures. Pence slammed Trump's tariffs in a post on X on Wednesday, writing: 'The Trump Tariff Tax is the largest peacetime tax hike in U.S. history. These Tariffs are nearly 10x the size of those imposed during the Trump-Pence Administration and will cost American families over $3,500 per year.' The Kennedy Profile in Courage award has been presented each year since 1989 to 'public servants who have made courageous decisions of conscience without regard for the personal or professional consequences.' In 2024, the award was given to the Republican Secretary of State of Kentucky, Michael Adams, for 'expanding voting rights and standing up for free and fair elections despite party opposition.' Pence has faced ostracism by Trump and the rest of the Republican Party after refusing to adhere to Trump's demands to toss out the 2020 election, which Trump lost.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mike Pence to receive JFK Profile in Courage Award
Former Vice President Mike Pence is this year's recipient of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for 'putting his life and career on the line' in overseeing the certification of the 2020 presidential election results, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation announced Thursday. 'Despite our political differences, it is hard to imagine an act of greater consequence than Vice President Pence's decision to certify the 2020 presidential election during an attack on the U.S. Capitol,' the Foundation's Caroline Kennedy and Jack Schlossberg said in a statement. 'Upholding his oath to the Constitution and following his conscience, the Vice President put his life, career, and political future on the line,' the pair continued. The award, created in 1989, is presented to 'public servants who have made courageous decisions of conscience without regard for the personal or professional consequences.' The former Republican vice president said he's 'deeply humbled and honored to be the recipient' of the award, which he'll be presented with in May. 'I have been inspired by the life and words of President John F. Kennedy since my youth and am honored to join the company of so many distinguished Americans who have received this recognition in the past,' Pence said in a statement. Pence broke with his boss President Donald Trump in his decision to not overturn the 2020 election results while he was ceremonially overseeing Congress' certification of Joe Biden's win on January 6, 2021. Pence later said Trump's 'reckless words' that day, when a mob of the president's supporters violently breached the US Capitol, 'endangered' his family and others at the US Capitol. He ran against Trump in the 2024 GOP primary and continued defending his actions on January 6. Past recipients of the award have been tied to 'protecting democracy' against the efforts to overturn the election results, including Republican former Rep. Liz Cheney, Michigan Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, former Arizona Republican House Speaker Rusty Bowers and Fulton County, Georgia, election worker Wandrea 'Shaye' Moss.
