Speeches and Remarks

St. Louis Cathedral
New Orleans, Louisiana

6:51 P.M. CST

THE PRESIDENT:  Your Excellency, Archbishop Aymond; members of the clergy representing Christian, Jewish, Muslim faiths across the board, thank you for what you’re doing. 

Governor Landry, Representatives Carter and Fields, Mayor Cantrell, and all elected officials and members of the community. 

Most of all, the families and loved ones of those we lost in this horrific act of terrorism last Wednesday.

I know events like this are hard when the shock and pain is still so very raw. 

My wife, Jill, and I are here to stand with you, to grieve with you, to pray with you, and let you know you are not alone.  The rest of the nation is looking at you as well.

It’s not the same, but we know what it’s like to lose a piece of our soul — the anger, the emptiness, the black hole that seems to be sucking you into your chest, the sense of loss, the questions of faith in your soul.

I know it’s been five days staring at that empty chair in the kitchen, around the kitchen table, and not hearing the voice.

You think of the birthdays, the anniversaries, the holidays to come without them. 

You think of everything — everyday things, the small things, the details you’ll miss the most.  The morning coffee you shared together.  The bend of his smile.  The perfect pitch of her laugh.

The rest of America has learned about them as well.

Students who dreamed of becoming engineers or nurses.Star athletes who worked on Wall Street or helped coach small children.  Warehouse managers.  Bluegrass fan.  Cook, engaged to be married.  A single mom just promoted at work and teaching her young son to read.

They came from different states, even different country.

They were children who had dinner with their parents besur- — before joining their friends on New Year’s Eve.

Some even ran toward the chaos to try to help save others.

We remember them.

Today, we also stand with the 35 people who were injured in the attack, and we think of the brave responders and law enforcement officers — officials who risked their lives to stop the terror and save others, including two of those officers that I met tonight, injured in the firefight.  Now, thankfully, both are recovering and are home.

I’ve directed my team to make every resource available to federal, state, and local law enforcement to complete this investigation quickly and do whatever else we can.

The French Quarter is also home to so many people.  We will support everyone who lives there, all the people of New Orleans as they heal.

And if there’s one thing we know, New Orleans defines strength and resilience.  You define it.  Whether it’s in the form of this atta- — from this attack or hurricanes or superstorms, this city and its people get back up.

That’s the spirit of America as well.

Let me close with this.  To the families left behind, we know from some experience it’s hard.  But I promise you, the day will come when the memory of your loved one — you pass that park, open that closet door, smell that fragrance, just remember that laugh — when the memory of your loved one will bring a smile to your lips before a tear to your eye.

It will take time, but I promise you — I promise you, it will come.  It will take time.  My prayer is that that day comes sooner rather than later.  But it will come.  And when it does, you my — may you find purpose in your pain to live the life worthy of the one you lost.

From the hymn based on the 91st Psalm in my church, “May He raise you up on eagle’s wings and bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you — hold you in the palm of His hand.”

God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops.  God bless you.  (Applause.)

6:57 P.M. CST

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U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C.
 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, today was a — obviously, a very important day, and it was about what should be the norm and what the American people should be able to take for granted, which is that one of the most important pillars of our democracy is that there will be a peaceful transfer of power. 
 
And today, I did what I have done my entire career, which is take seriously the oath that I have taken many times to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, which included, today, performing my constitutional duties to ensure that the people of America, the voters of America will have their votes counted, that those votes matter, and that they will determine, then, the outcome of an election. 
 
I do believe very strongly that America’s democracy is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it — every single person, their willingness to fight for and respect the importance of our democracy.  Otherwise, it is very fragile and it will not be able to withstand moments of crisis. 
 
And today, America’s democracy stood.
 
Thank you.
 
 END

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State Dining Room

7:02 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, hello, hello. (Applause.)

Well, welcome to your house.

AUDIENCE: Aw.

THE PRESIDENT: We’re honored to have you here. Look, we host you, the newest members of Congress. It brings back a lot of memories. Congratulations to you and your families.

And thank you all for — steering and policy chair, Amy Klobuchar, who, if I were you — (applause) — I’d listen to everything she says, everything she does. (Laughter.) House Democratic Caucus chair is here, but before that, we’re going to have Gary Peters announced.

Gary, where are you? (Applause.) There he is.

And Pete Aguilar is here as well. Pete. (Applause.)

Well, you made it through the campaign, and now your work begins to deliver for your people. And we’ve — we’ve been in your shoes — the excitement, the expectations, and — and the little bit of nervousness occasionally. It’s okay.

My advice to you is: Embrace the institution you serve. I really mean it. Improve it. Don’t — don’t tear it down.

You know, we — 36 years ago, I — I loved — for 36 years, I was a United States senator. I got elected when I was 29. You have to be 30 to be sworn in, and I wasn’t old enough to be sworn in. And I came down to — down to Washington, and I — when I was in — a guy — a number of the senior senators helped me out. And I was in Teddy Kennedy’s office, waiting to — hiring staff, interviewing people, and I got a phone call in his office that my — my wife and daughter had just been killed, and my two boys weren’t likely to live. They had been struck by a tractor trailer, broadsided them on — Christmas shopping.

And the reason I bother to tell you this story is not to seek any sympathy but to say to you that my decision at that time was to not — not be sworn in, to get the hell out. And we had a Democratic governor, so I knew they were going to be able to appoint a Democratic senator, and that wasn’t a worry.

And — but a group of about seven Democrats and Republican senators, starting with Mike Mansfield, who they called “Iron Mike,” who was a — the majority leader — and a Southerner named Fritz Hollings. And a bunch of folks got together, and they came to see me in two different groups to convince me to stay because I knew that — that they’d get — we’d get another senator, but I wasn’t sure — I didn’t think they’d get another father, my two boys who were recovering. And so, I wasn’t going to stay.

But — but they brought me into their homes, these senators. There were six, seven of them. I won’t name all — bore you with it. But from Teddy Kennedy to Fritz Hollings to Mi- — Mike Mansfield, and they just embraced me. They — and they — they didn’t — it wasn’t overly sympathetic. It was just, you know, “You just come and stay” — I’ll never forget. “Just come and stay six months; then you can go home. Then you can go home.”

But what they did was they pulled me in. They pulled me in. They invited me to their — their homes. There — there used to be, back in those days, Democrats and Republicans were — had friendships, and they would still have dinners at each other’s homes — private dinners and the like. And all of a sudden, I got included. I got pulled in.

And Mike Mansfield, who was the leader of the Senate — they called him “Iron Mike” — from Montana, he has more integrity in his little finger than most people had in their whole body. And I used to have to report this office every day — every Tuesday at 2 o’clock. I thought everybody reported — he’d give me an assignment. I thought everybody got an assignment. Nobody gets an assignment — (laughter) — in the Senate.

But it just ba- — basically, looking back on it, to take my pulse to see how I was doing. Because every time, as soon as the Senate was out, I’d — I’d literally jog down to the — Penn [Union] Station to get on the train to go home because I commuted every day.

Anyway, to make a long story short, there’s a purpose to my telling you this. I was 100 in seniority and — of the United States Senate, and they — they still cared for me. They — they looked out for me. And they gave me strength, and I stay engaged. They didn’t — I — they didn’t stay — I didn’t stay engaged; I — I got really engaged. I was here for 50 years. (Laughter.) (The president makes the sign of the cross.) (Laughter and applause.)

But — but my point is you don’t have to give up your principles or your beliefs to build relationships, to compromise and reach a consensus. That’s often the only way to get big things done, at least in my experience. That’s what I’ve tried to do my whole career.

And I’m proud of the record we’re going to leave you all to build on: an economy that grows from the middle out and the bottom up instead of the top down; the once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure — over a billion two hundred million dollars and — a trillion two hundred billion dollars; the CHIPS and Science Act; the climate change; clean energy.

The point is that — (applause) — the point is, whether it’s reducing prescription drug costs or reducing gun violence or reas- — re- — reasserting America’s leadership in the world and, maybe most important of all, standing up for democracy.

And every generation gets tested. I taught constitutional law for a long time, and I used to always give a lecture about every generation has to fight for — I never really believed what I was saying, in the sense that I didn’t think I’d have to fight to maintain democracy.

But tomorrow is January 6th. Tomorrow is January 6th. We gather to certify the results on a free and fair presidential election and ensure a peaceful transfer of power.

It’s a day that — that, most of our history, we took for granted, the 6th, but I hope we never take it for granted again.

You know, four years ago, January 6th, this Capitol was attacked by a violent mob. If you can come over to the Oval before I leave, I’ll show you the room that the former president sat in for three and a half hours, watching what was going on on television in the small dining room off of my — off of the Oval Office. And our democracy was really, literally, put to the test. And thankfully, our democracy held.

But the big reason is because of the bravery of the Capitol Police and the local people who stood with us. (Applause.) Never forget them. They’re guarding you. Give them the respect and support they deserve.

But it’s also due to the members of the House and the Senate, who, even in the face of these threats — threats to their life — courageously fulfilled their duty to the Constitution. They showed up and did the work.

Now it’s your duty to tell the truth, to remember what happened, and not let January 6th be rewritten as a — or even erased; to honor the Constitution not only on the most extraordinary of days but — it’s one of the toughest days in American history, January 6th — but every day. You know, you’ve sworn an oath, and I know you’ll never forget the oath you swore to.

But now, four years later, I’m leaving the office of the president. I’m determined to do everything in my power to respect the peaceful transfer of power.

You know, I don’t think a- — (applause) — I wasn’t going to run when I ran in 2020 because I had lost my son, didn’t want any part of getting engaged again. But my son Beau and — who was the attorney general and likely the governor — next governor of the state of Delaware.

But, you know, I think it’s important to restore basic conditions. The last time this occurred, this transfer of power, the losing party never even showed up — never even showed up for the — for any — for — and everybody, understandably, says to me, “Why are you being nice, Joe? Why’d you have him over to the office for two hours? Why are you cooperating?” Because we got to — the — the rules matter. The institutions matter. The safeguards matter. They really matter.

And, look, you know, the core traditions we’ve long respected in America, certifying an election is — attending an inauguration of an incoming president — and this is all part of the tradition we have to begin to restore. And I hope you, too, will work to restore the traditions to keep this country stronger.

Let me — you know, we can never forget democracy — with demo- — everything is possible. Everything is possible — our freedoms, our rights, our liberties, our dreams. And the work of our democracy falls to every generation of Americans to earn it.

I know — I used to teach con- — I used to say that, “earn it.” And I — I never really — I taught it and I knew it was true, but I never felt it. I never believed it. But we have to defend it and protect it because it’s always under siege.

And, look, we’re going through a really — I know a lot of my colleagues are tired of hearing me saying this, but we’re going through a period in American history which is one of those infl- — those inflection points in history. The Cold War is over. The Cold War era is over. We’re in an entirely new era. Everything has changed, not because of any single woman or man. It’s the nature of things that have changed.

Think of the transitions that are taking place in the world, unrelated to who the leadership is. Think of what’s going on, whether it’s global warming or whether it’s the idea that the whole — whole alliances are breaking down and re- — being rees- — being reestablished. And it seems to me that our safety depends — and security depends, in large part, on who our partners are, who our — who our allies are. They matter.

So, you’re going to be in a position to have to deal with ma- — I — one of the things I’m proudest of is I rebuilt NATO. I say “I,” but I did. For real. (Laughter.) I mean, it took — by the way, I spent over — (applause) — no, no, no, no, no, no. No, I (inaudible) said that — it took me over a — we calculated it — 120 hours with these world leaders individually — speaking to them individually on why it was important.

I remember getting a phone call 10 days before he died from Dr. Kissinger, saying, “Joe” — I — I was, half the time, in a different position than Kissinger was because I was a senior senator at the time during the Vietnam War by that time. And he said, “Not since Napoleon has Europe not looked over their shoulder with dread at was going on in Moscow until you came — you guys came” — he said “you,” but it was about me –“you came along.” We’ve im- — we’ve improved NATO. We strengthened it. We put it back together again. We put it back together again.

We’re in a position where we were able to convince — did you ever think we’d be in a position — those of you who are students of history — where Japan would be spending 2 percent of its GDP on — on defense? We’d get 50 nations to support us — our efforts in — in Ukraine? Why? Because the world’s gotten so damn small — so damn small. They all understand: What happens in my neighborhood is going to affect every neighborhood.

We’re — we’re putting together alliances in — in the South Pacific, in the Indian Ocean, the Quad. Did anybody ever think we’d get India, Japan, Australia, and the United States in one organization?

The point I’m making is, everything is changing.

I’ve known — I’ve known Putin for over 47 years. Met with him many times. I remember when I met with him in off — in the off period between the time that we were elected and before we were sworn in — or just after we were swor- — no, actually, before we s- — no, that’s true — just after we sworn in, in early February. And I wanted to talk about re- — reestablishing arms control and dealing with nuclear weapons.

And he started to talk about how Russia had changed and so on and so forth. And he talked about he — his — he has eight time zones. I said, “Yeah, eight time zones along the — around the — the Arctic Circle. And guess what? The ice is melting, and what’s coming out is not greenhouse gasses. It’s methane. You’re never going to control it. It’s sig- — it’s not going to refreeze. What are you going to do about it?”

So, my point is, so much is changing, and we have — and think about this: You know, if we don’t lead the world, who leads? And that’s not a criticism of any of our allies, but who has the capacity to try to hold the world together? Not a joke. We can do it without going to war. We can do it — as we’ve been able to do, God willing — (the president knocks on wood) — since we’ve become — come into office. We can do it without sending American forces to places.

So, I guess what I’m trying to say to you is — you know, let me close with what I call the Senate point of personal privilege. (Laughter.) You know, my father used to say, “It’s a lucky person that wakes up, put both feet in the ground, and believes that what he or she does matters.” Well, you’re among the lucky few. What you do really is going to matter economically and politically.

But one piece of unsolicited advice, and I was reluctant to say this with the press here, but I’m going to do it anyway, because they — because they — they can know the facts here. Going back to when I told you, when I got elected, I didn’t want to stay. Teddy Kennedy and Fritz Hollings and Tom Eagleton and a number of Republicans as well — there were nine of them — decided to, you know, keep me engaged and invite me to everything they were doing. And Teddy used to come over my office and say, “Let’s go to lunch.” And I wanted no part of going to lunch or getting to know anybody. I didn’t want to — I just wanted to do my job, get — get down on Union Station, and go home. I mean, for real. You — and many of you have been through what I’ve been through and a lot worse.

And so, one day he walks over and he says — I won’t use his exact language. He says, “Darn it, Joe, you’re going lunch with me.” So, I went over to the private Senate dining room. There’s two Senate dining rooms. The one dining room where you take — you’ll be able to take someone if you’re a senator, and the House is not fundamentally different.

But in the Senate, there was — I — I was — I was fairly successful at bringing together coalitions as a senator. I — I don’t mean it like — I mean, but I — I work like hell, and it — and — and I — Barack used to always kid me. We’d meet every morning. The first thing, we’d meet with one another at 9:00 in the morning every morning, and the last person we’d each speak to at night when we ended the day was with one another. That’s the deal we made. And one of the things was he always used to say that — you know, I know and I’d always be — I said, “Look, Barack, all politics is personal. All politics is personal.”

And the reason I mention that is that I went over — Teddy had me come over to the Senate. There used to be a Senate dining room. When you walk in the first floor on the Senate side, you go down that hall on the first cross corridor where the — by the elevators. One goes into the foreign relations executive committee room; another goes down to the staircase going up to the floor, as well as an elevator; and then there’s an office door on the left and one on the right. On the right is the Senate dining room.

Those of you who are senators are going to be able to bring any of your colleagues or friends in to have lunch with you. But the door on the left used to be a private Senate dining room. You had to be — only a U.S. senator was allowed in. And you walked in, and it was a — it was a T-shaped. You walked in, and there was a — a buffet table on the left, which had all the luncheon material out, and a long table on the right, like a big dining room table, but it was — seated, I’m guessing, 18 to 20 people. And then you walk straight ahead, and perpendicular was another table by windows looking out over the parking lot, and there was another table that held 20 or so people, and that was the Democratic table.

And so, what would happen — Teddy brought me in, and he said, “All I want you to do is just” — and you know this to be the case — “just walk in, just sit and listen. You’ll learn more in an hour sitting here with these senior senators and others than you’ll learn in the next 10 hours doing anything else.”

So, I remember sitting down. And Jim Eastland — I — I ran because of civil rights in my state. We were segregated by law, to our great shame. And here is Jim Eastland and, you know, John Stennis and Herman Talmadge and all these guys — these Southern, by any definition, racist Senators. And I sat there and listened. Teddy and Eastland would go at it hammer and tong up on the floor. They’d go down and eat together. They didn’t leave their values behind, their points of view, but they sat and — and — and it — and ate with one another.

And so, what happens when you get to know that the other senator — he is — her husband has testicular cancer and is dying? Well, you have a different perspective. When you find out that one of them has a son that they — that has a — a serious learning disability or somebody has just lost their mother or father, you learn about what they’re going through, and it personalizes things in a way that only private conversations and personal things can do.

And you begin to understand and you begin to learn about — and you’ll find this; you already know this in your states as congresspersons in districts — that the next district over, the person may not be a bad guy or woman, but they have a constituency of a very different view than yours does — not bad or good, different than yours does. Not a whole lot of people in Kansas worry about fishing rights in the Atlantic. (Laughter.) Not a whole lot of people in — in, you know, on the Atlantic coast are worried about agricultural issues on corn in Nebraska.

I mean, so, you begin to look at other people’s perspectives, and it becomes less personal — it becomes less personal. It’s not “you’re a bad person.”

The end result of it all is: We lost that. And so, as — as I think some of my sen- — my senior colleagues in this room can tell you, you know, I was — I was vice president for eight years. I think it was the sixth or seventh year, things had really gone to hell in the way we were dealing with each other on the floor, the leadership. And everybody wondered how in the hell I could get along with a senator from Kentucky. He never once (inaudible) — he never once lied to me, whatever he said he did, and I understood his circumstance he was in.

But here’s the deal. I realized that every time there was something going on in the Senate — I think he’d tell you, the main reason Barack picked me to be vice president was my background in American foreign policy, because I had done so much of it, and because of my relationships in the Senate and the Congress. I was — I — I love the Senate. I — I consider myself a Senate man more than I do a president — for real — after 36 years.

And so, I realized there were a lot of new senators I didn’t know, I didn’t have a personal relationship with, and realized what it — how difficult that was for me to figure out their thinking, why they were doing what they were doing, why — why — and what could I do to answer their concerns without violating any principles that they had.

And so, I decided to go over to the Senate dining room. And I walked in the door. There’s nothing there. There’s lounge chairs. There was no place — and I do- — not sure about the House — there’s no place in the United States Senate where a group of senators can say, “Let’s go have lunch together, all together.” It doesn’t exist.

It’s a gigantic loss — a gigantic loss. When we’d do on CODELs, we used to take our spouses with us. It matters. It matters, when you know one spouse is having great difficulty because their husband isn’t being in the position where they’re home on time because they’re taking too much time what they’re doing in — in their job or whatever it is.

And when you get to — think about your personal relationships. The people you grew up with, you have different points of view on. The people you, in fact, know, you — you worked with, who have different perspectives in life, much of it’s because of their present — their — their circumstance. And when you know it, you can almost always figure a way through it.

We don’t do that anymore. And I’m not saying this for the first time, but the single greatest loss we have is we don’t know each other anymore. We don’t know each other like we used to know each other. I’m serious. Not a joke.

And so, I really urge you — presumptuous of me to say this — if you’re a good politician, you’re good at interfacing with people. You can get people to trust you, looking at you, and knowing what you’re saying to them is true. Your word is your bond. You break it once, man, in the Senate or the House, goodbye Charlie. I’m not joking.

It’s fundamentally, fundamentally different. But if you say, “I’ve got to do this because this — my constituency, this is important to them. I know it’s not to your” — forget it.

The end result of all this is, in my career, I have been asked to do the eulogy of the most incredibly different people: Strom Thurmond, 100 years old, on his deathbed, I get a phone call from the hos- — from — from the — from the hospital, from out of Walter Reed. And it’s his wife, Nancy, saying, “Joe, I’m here with the doctors at the nurses station. Strom asked me to ask you whether or not you would do his eulogy.”

And I said, “Well, Nancy” — “No, Joe, it’s important to him. Would you do his eulogy?”

Well, you know, people change. I’m not making them rewrite Strom Thurmond. He was — he was a segregationist. But when Strom Thurmond got elected to the United States Senate, the second time around, the New York Times had a big headline in 19- — I can’t remember the year now — “Strom Thurmond, Hope of the South,” because Strom Thurmond decided that separate but equal is not right — not that Blacks and whites should be together, but if you do separate but equal, you had to spend as much money on Black schools as white schools.

By the time Strom Thurmond left the United States Senate, he had — I’m not making a case for him, but he had more African Americans on his staff than any United States senator had — more. Strom Thurmond had an illegitimate child with a Black woman. Never denied it and never stopped paying for her — his upbringing.

There’s a lot of strange people, a lot of different people. No, I mean — well, I bet I could look at you, and I could find some strange things too. (Laughter.)

No, but I’m really serious. Think about it. Think about it.

And so, when you sit down with people — I mean, the idea that I got Jesse Helms to vote to fund the United Nations. I’m serious. Went to Jesse Helms’s eulo- — I mean, Je- — Jesse Helms’s funeral. You know what Jesse Helms talked about? Before he died, he said, “I made a big mistake, Joe. I should have never said what I said.”

And, by the — I didn’t get on with him at all. But you know what he said? He said, “I should have never said what I said about, you know, all those folks just got out of trees not long ago, like monkeys.” He said, “I was wrong about that. I want to take it all back.”

People can change. But you got to know that — you got to talk to them. Doesn’t mean you can do it. But things can change.

And, folks, we can’t go through another 4, 8, 12 years what we did in the last previous four years. We can’t do it.

And a lot of you have a lot of experience in foreign policy. The rest of the world looks to us. They look to us. We’re the only organizational capacity of any nation in the world to pull these things together.

Who else will do it? They’re good people — the Brits, the French, the Germans, a whole range of people. But do you think any of them can do it? They’re looking to us.

We can do it without sending troops. We can do it without a war. We can do it without a whole — all the things that are the downsides.

And I think with your help and a lot of people — the help of the leadership here, we’ve done a pretty damn good job so far of putting things back on track.

So, please don’t listen to those who say, “Don’t talk.” You’re smarter than most of these people are. You know what you want to do. (Laughter.)

Well, I’m serious. Think about it.

How many people get here just purely based on prejudice, just purely based on the kinds of things that are just lies?

But people change. And so, I know I drove Barack crazy when I’d say, j- — I know, I know, I know — politics is all personal. But think about it.

How in God’s name do you think I got Yoon and the prime minister of Japan, after World War Two, never speaking to one another and hating each other because of what happened to the women, to sit down and sign a treaty together at Camp David? How did that happen? What changed? Not their publics, but they realized what they had at stake, and they decided to move something.

So, my point is: I’ve looked at all your res- — I should — shouldn’t say this, but I did. I looked at all your backgrounds. (Laughter.) You’re smart as hell. You’re incredibly, incredibly qualified.

So, please reach out. I don’t want you to compromise on any principle you fully disagree with, but just understand the other person’s perspective. It’s a way to get to go. Because if we don’t do that, look at — anyway, I’m confident you’re going to be able to change this, turn this around, in a way that we continue down the road we’re on.

And so, thank you, thank you, thank you. And God bless you all. And keep it personal. (Applause.)

Thank you. (Applause.)

7:29 P.M. EST

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East Room

1:23 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Please, everyone, be seated.

Well, good afternoon and Happy New Year.

AUDIENCE:  Happy New Year.

THE PRESIDENT:  As we gather in this room on January 2025, imagine March of 1865.  President Lincoln had just delivered

his inaugural address at the Capitol.  And he returned to the White House for a reception here in the East Room.

There were many well-wishers, but he spotted someone whose opinion he greatly valued.  President Lincoln asked him what he thought of the speech he had just delivered to the nation by a divided Civil War.  The man replied, “It was a sacred effort.”  “It was a sacred effort.”  That man was Frederick Douglass.

Here we are, nearly 160 years later, in the room where Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass stood to unify the nation.

I’m joined by our incredible first lady, Jill.  We’re joined by an incredible vice president, Kamala Harris, and second gentleman, Doug.  Doug is a hell of lawyer, by the way.  (Laughter.)  Finally get to — get to practice again, huh?  (Laughter.)

And for the final time as president, I have the honor of bestowing the Medal of Freedom on — our nation’s highest civilian honor on a group of extraordinary — truly extraordinary people who gave their sacred effort — their sacred effort to shape the culture and the cause of America.

So, let me just say to each of you, thank you, thank you, thank you for all you’ve done to help this country.  (Applause.)  You all — you all literally embody the nation’s creed, “E pluribus unum” — “out of many, one.”

Collect in a [A collective of] people of different backgrounds, beliefs, and talents, from the different generations and different genders, using their remarkable gifts and unwavering passion to strengthen our resolve as one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

It matters.  It really does matter.

As cultural icons, defined statesmans, di- — excuse me — dignified stateman, humanitarians, rock stars, sports stars, you feed the hungry, you give hope to those — those who are hurting, and you craft the signs and sounds of our movements and our memories.

You know, it’s amazing — your innovation, your — you inspire.  You bring healing and joy to so many lives otherwise wouldn’t be touched.

You answer the call to serve and led others to do the same thing.  And you defend the values of America even when they are under attack, which they have been as of late.  Together, you leave an incredible mark — and I mean this sincerely — this group up — you leave an incredible mark on our country, with insight and influence that can be felt around the globe, in major cities and remote areas alike, binding us closer as a people and showing us that — what’s possible as a nation — there’s nothing beyond our capacity — while representing your families, your communities, your ancestors with pride and appreciation at the same time.

I’d also like to take a moment to recognize those honorees who are no longer with us — (a child speaks in the audience) — including the young man speaking.  (Laughter.)

By the way, kids rule in this house.  Okay?  (Laughter and applause.)  Don’t worry about it.  And you all think I’m kidding.  I’m not.  (Laughter.)

Ash Carter, Ms. Fannie Lou Hamer, George Romney, Bobby Kennedy — heroes of the highest order.  And Bobby Kennedy is one of my true political heroes.  I love and I miss him dearly.

I thank their families — all their families.  You know, as — we carry on the sacred effort of courage and conviction that you all began.

So, today, I want to congratulate you on all you’ve accomplished.  And I’m grateful for the work you’ll inspire for generations to follow to stay engaged, to never give up, to always keep the faith.

And in that spirit, from the People’s House, where Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass and generation of patriots before us have stood watch over the Republic, I ask the military aide to begin the reading of the citations for this year’s Medal of Freedom honorees.  (Applause.)

MILITARY AIDE:  José Andrés.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to José Andrés.  From his parents’ kitchen in Spain, José Andrés arrived in America with little money and big dreams.  Over the course of three decades, he mastered his culinary craft with renowned restaurants that span culture and cuisine and bring people together.  His World Central Kitchen revolutionized humanitarian assistance by mobilizing fellow chefs and providing meals to people left in the wake of natural disasters and war.  With his unmatched personality and heart, José Andrés shows us that there is a seat for everyone at the table.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Bono.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Bono.  As lead singer of U2, one of the most successful rock bands in history, Bono changes the world through his art and activism.  In an Irish tradition of poetry and protest, rebellion and rejoicing, he has composed anthems to peace and civil rights.  As a humanitarian, he lifts up causes from ending poverty and disease to calling for debt relief for developing nations.  The common beat of his life’s work is the power of freedom, a tie that also binds Ireland and America as beloved friends.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Accepting on behalf of Ashton Baldwin Carter is Stephanie Carter.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Ashton Baldwin Carter.  A scientist turned Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter was a true patriot.  Over four decades, in and out of the Pentagon, he was a key leader, thinker, and strategist on critical issues ranging from nuclear nonproliferation, counterterrorism, and our sacred obligation to equip, care, and protect our service members and their families.  His scientific and technological innovations made our nation safer, and his integrity and mentorship inspired generations of Americans to serve and protect our nation with honor and dignity.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Hillary Rodham Clinton.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Hillary Rodham Clinton.  Hillary Rodham Clinton is guided by the Methodist creed, “Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can.”  As a lawyer, she defended the rights of children.  As first lady, she fought for universal health care and declared “women’s rights are human rights.”  As senator, she helped New York rebuild after September 11, 2001.  As secretary of State, she championed democracy worldwide.  And her nomination for president broke barriers and inspired generations.  Through it all, her career has been dedicated to an eternal truth: America’s ideals are sacred, and we must always defend and live by them.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Michael J. Fox.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Michael J. Fox.  Michael J. Fox is one of the most beloved actors of our time.  With remarkable wit and charm, he introduced iconic characters to the center of American culture, from Alex P. Keaton to Marty McFly and more.  With undaunted resilience and optimism, he also warms hearts and captivates audiences as a fearless advocate for those with Parkinson’s disease, channeling his endearing personality to advance treatments, move us closer to a cure, and remind us of the power of American possibilities.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Tim Gill.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Tim Gill.  A leading philanthropist and civil rights leader, Tim Gill advances the cause of equality for the LGBTQ community in America and the world.  A visionary entrepreneur, he has helped lead the fight against HIV/AIDS, laid the groundwork for marriage equality, and so much more.  His strong character, unwavering resolve, and indisputable effectiveness in fighting for love and equality for all make him a key figure in our nation’s story of freedom.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Jane Goodall.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Jane Goodall.  From war-torn England to the jungles of Tanzania, Dr. Jane Goodall’s childhood passion for animals led her to explore wildlife in Africa.  Her groundbreaking discoveries of chimpanzees challenged scientific convention, reshaped conservation methods, and redefined our understanding of the connection between humans, animals, and the environment we share.  Jane’s activism, vision, and message of hope have mobilized a global movement to protect the planet.  Above all, she has taught us that when we search for humanity in the natural world around us, we discover it within ourselves.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Accepting on behalf of Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer is Doris Hamer Richardson.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer.  One of the most powerful voices of the Civil Rights Movement, Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer spent 18 years as a sharecropper in Mississippi before learning that Black citizens had a constitutional right to vote.  With that newfound freedom, she sacrificed her own safety to organize and register fellow Black voters across the South.  Brutally beaten but undeterred, for decades she spoke truth to power to expand political participation and economic rights for all Americans and left these words echoing in the nation’s conscience: “Nobody’s free until everybody is free.”  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Earvin “Magic” Johnson.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Earvin “Magic” Johnson.  With unmatched vision and versatility, Earvin “Magic” Johnson drove the Showtime era for the Los Angeles Lakers: 5-time NBA Champion, 5-time MVP, 12-time All-Star, Olympic Gold Medalist, and the Naismith Hall of Famer.  Under the same bright lights, his honesty about his HIV status shattered stigma and saved lives.  The first — (applause) — the first retired athlete to build a true business empire, he champions underserved communities.  With a legendary will and smile, Magic Johnson rose from the playground in Lansing, Michigan, to become one of the most beloved athletes of our time.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)

Accepting on behalf of Robert Francis Kennedy is Kerry Kennedy.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Robert Francis Kennedy.  Born into a revered family of service, Robert F. Kennedy forged a path toward freedom that endures today.  Guided by the Constitution as his conscience, he was a key strategist to his brother’s successful campaigns for Senate and the presidency before serving as attorney general, senator, and a presidential candidate himself.  With deep empathy and resolve, powerful prose and poetry, he focused the nation’s moral compass on the cause of civil rights, the dignity of the poor, and the ripples of hope we can each cast as we choose not division, not hatred, not violence or lawlessness, but love, wisdom, and compassion toward one another.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Anyone who’s not a Kennedy, stand up.  (Laughter.)

MILITARY AIDE:  Ralph Lauren.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Ralph Lauren.  The son of Polish immigrants and a U.S. Army veteran, Ralph Lauren transformed a small necktie business into one of America’s most iconic brands, leaving a lasting imprint on the world of fashion, fragrance, furniture, and beyond.  Throughout it all, he remains a dedicated philanthropist, including fighting to end cancer as we know it.  Classic, yet creative, timeless yet innovative, Ralph Lauren reminds us of our distinct style as a nation of dreamers and doers.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

William Sanford Nye.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to William Sanford Nye.  A Washington, D.C., native, Bill Nye began his career as a cutting edge mechanical engineer in Seattle, before becoming a beloved science educator for the nation.  Earning 19 Emmy awards for his energetic experiments on television as “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” he also earned the trust of millions of children and families.  By sharing the magic of fun and science, he inspires generations of Americans to follow facts and reason and leave the world better than we found it.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Accepting on behalf of George W. Romney is Mitt Romney.  (Applause.)

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to George W. Romney.  Born to humble beginnings as the son of Mormon missionaries, George Romney developed a deep belief in the idea that everyone deserves a fair shot at the American dream.  As a respected auto executive and three-term Republican governor of Michigan, he served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development, advanced civil rights, tackled poverty, and stood up for everyday Americans, embodying an enduring faith in God and a love of country.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

David M. Rubenstein.  (Applause.)

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to David M. Rubenstein.  From a working-class family in Baltimore, David Rubenstein has become a renowned leader in business, arts, and culture.  After serving our nation on the staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee and in President Carter’s White House, David went on to become a transformational business leader and philanthropist, from advancing cutting-edge cancer treatment to restoring our nation’s monuments.  His leadership reminds us that at our best, we learn from, preserve, and share our history so that everyone sees themselves in the story of America.  (Applause.) 

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Accepting on behalf of George Soros is Alex Soros.  (Applause.)

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to George Soros.  Born into a Jewish family in Hungary, George Soros escape Nazi occupation to build a life of freedom for himself and countless others around the world.  Educated in England, he settled in America as he became an investor and philanthropist, supporting key pillars of open societies: rights and justice, equity and equality, freedom now and in the future.  His inspiring generosity reminds us all of our capacity and our obligation to stand up to the abuse of power and to be guardians of democracy and all people yearning to be free.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

George Stevens, Jr.  (Applause.)

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to George Stevens, Jr.  Born into an entertainment family in Los Angeles, George Stevens, Jr., found his own purpose as a storyteller.  As a young aide in the Kennedy administration, he produced hundreds of documentaries that championed freedom and democracy.  He then created the American Film Institute and Kennedy Center Honors, lifting up the arts and artists at the heart of American culture.  In a career spanning seven decades, George’s creativity, vision has helped redeem the soul of a nation founded on the power of free expression.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)

Denzel Washington.  (Applause.)

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Denzel Washington.  Denzel Washington is considered one of the greatest actors of our time.  Over four decades on screen and stage, his portrayals of iconic figures and everyday people have earned him wide acclaim that includes two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, and a Tony Award so far.  (Laughter.)  The admiration of audiences and peers is only exceeded by that of the countless young people he inspires.  With unmatched dignity, extraordinary talent, and unflinching faith in God and family, Denzel Washington himself is a defining character of the American story.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)

Anna Wintour.  (Applause.)

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Anna Wintour.  The daughter of a former newspaper editor, Anna Wintour has used her creative talent, taste, and style for decades to redefine fashion journalism in America and around the world.  Pushing creative boundaries, she uses fashion as a mirror to reflect our culture and helps the next generation of entrepreneurs and designers define their vision and find their voice.  From the pages of magazines to runways and red carpets, Anna Wintour has cemented her legacy as a global fashion, cultural, and business icon.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Not a bad group, huh?  (Laughter and applause.)

Folks, thank you all again.  Thank you and to your families for your service and theirs to the nation.

Congratulations.  But let’s remember: Our sacred effort continues.  We have to keep going.  As my mother would say, we got to keep the faith.

God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops.

Please enjoy the reception.  God love you all. 

Thank you.  (Applause.)

1:54 P.M. EST

The post Remarks by President Biden at Presentation of the Presidential Medal of Freedom appeared first on The White House.

East Room

5:18 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Please be seated. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, as commander in chief, this is the most solemn occasion that I participate in in my four years every time we do this event.

Secretary Austin, Secretary Wormuth, Chairman Brown — General, it’s good to see you — Representative Case, Castro, Ryan, and Takano, and, most importantly, veterans, service members, and previous Medal of Honor recipients: Today is the final time as commander in chief and I’m deeply privileged to honor seven American — seven American heroes. And that’s not hyperbole. These are genuine to their core heroes.

Heroes of different ranks, different positions, and even different generations. But heroes who all went above and beyond the call of duty. Heroes who all deserve our nation’s highest and oldest military recognition: the Medal of Honor.

First Private Bruno Orig. A proud son of Hawaii, Bruno joined the Army when he was just 19 years old. Less than one year later, he was completing a mission in Korea. Bruno saw his fellow soldiers were wounded and stranded under enemy fire. Without hesitation, he ran out to rescue them, giving his own life to save the lives of his brothers-in-arms. That’s valor. That’s the definition of valor.

Private First Class — you know, I think it’s incredible when I think of the men and women who have done — who have gotten this award — but Private First Class Wataru Nakamura. After an attack on Pearl Harbor, he was forced to live in an internment camp, like so many other Japanese-Americans — like my good friend Danny Inouye, who was a hero himself — put in an internment camp.

But still, he signed up to serve our nation during World War II and the Korean War. During his last mission in May of 1951, single-handedly, he defended his unit from enemy attack, fighting until he was killed by a grenade.

Corporal Fred McGee. A Midwesterner, a steelworker, and a gunner in one of the first integrated Army units of the Korean War. Fred embodied the very best of our country. In June 1952, his unit was attacked. They took casualties. They were ordered to fall back. But Fred refused — refused to leave until he helped every wounded soldier evacuate.

Private First Class Charlie Johnson. Growing up, in the words of one of Charlie’s high school classmate, “He was a heck of a football player.” Well, back in 1952, Charlie signed up to serve in Korea, trading his jersey for a uniform. During one battle, he gave his life to defend a bunker full of his wounded soldiers. His valor saved 10 men, including an old high school classmate.

General Richard Ca- — excuse me — excuse me — Cavazos. A young first lieutenant in Korea, Richard led his men through a difficult and deadly mission in enemy territory. Eventually, he was ordered to retreat, but he stayed. He stayed, rescuing wounded soldiers one by one until every one of them was evacuated. Richard went on to serve for three decades in the Army, becoming the first — the country’s first Hispanic four-star general.

And Captain Hugh Nelson. A Citadel graduate, helicopter pilot, and a proud young father. He was just 28 years old when he and his crew were shot down in Vietnam. Hugh freed his men who were trapped in the wreckage. Then, as the enemy began to attack, he used his body as a shield to protect them. It cost him dearly. It cost him his life. Hugh’s commanding officer called it the “ultimate act of self-sacrifice,” which it was.

And finally, Private First Class Ken David, who is here with us today. Nearly 55 years ago, in Vietnam, his company was ambushed by the enemy. Ken’s lieutenant was killed instantly. Then, Ken himself was hit in the back by shrapnel. But he couldn’t and wouldn’t give up. Instead, he shouted and fired his weapon attacking — to attract attention to him, away from others and away from the wounded men. Imagine that courage. “Come get me. Come get me. Don’t get those folks.” That’s selflessness.

Ken, I want to say to you that I wish I could say to every man we’re honoring today: You’re a hero. A genuine hero. A flat-out, straight-up American hero. And we owe you and the families owe you.

Let me close with this. I said ear- — as I said earlier, these are my final days as commander in chief. It’s been the greatest honor of my life to be entrusted with the greatest fighting force in the history of the world. They’re the finest military in the history of the world. And every day — every day their integrity, their patriotism, and their courage.

And to learn the stories of Americans like Bruno and Wataru and Fred and Charlie and Richard and Hugh, Ken. Americans who have not only fought for our nation but embodied the very best our nation has to offer.

Let me also say this. Today, we award these individuals the Medal of Honor. But we can’t stop there. Together, as a nation, it’s up to us to give this medal meaning. To keep fighting — to keep fighting for one another, for each other; to keep defending everything these heroes fought for and many of them died for — the ideals of America, the freedoms we cherish, the democracy that has made our progress possible.

And remember, we are the only nation in the world built on an idea. Every other nation is built based on geography, ethnicity, or religion. But we are the only nation based on an idea.

The idea is that we hold these truths evident — sel- — to be self-evident. All men and women are created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout their entire lives. We haven’t always lived up to it, but we’ve never, ever, ever walked away from it.

Today, we must say clearly: We never, ever, ever will.

Now it’s my great an- — honor to ask Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Lichi — excuse me — Lichi the Medal of Honor — to read the Medal of Honor citations.

And thank you all for being here. And God bless you. And may God also protect our troops who are still engaged. Thank you. (Applause.)

MILITARY AIDE: Loretta Orig, accepting on behalf of her brother, Private Bruno Orig.

Attention to orders. The president of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress March 3rd, 1863, has posthumously awarded, in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor to Private Bruno R. Orig, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

Private Bruno R. Orig distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company G 23rd Infantry Regiment, Second Infantry Division in the vicinity of Chipyong-ni, Korea, on February 15th, 1951.

While returning from a wire-laying mission, Private Orig observed a number of his comrades who had been wounded in a fierce enemy attack that was still in progress. With complete disregard for his own safety, Private Orig went to the aid of these men and remained in an exposed position in order to administer first aid to them. With the assistance of several comrades from the company command post, Private Orig began removing the wounded to a place of safety. While returning from one of these trips, Private Orig noticed that all except one man of a machine gun crew had been wounded.

Without hesitation, he volunteered to man the weapon. Remaining in this position, Private Orig placed such effective fire on the enemy that a withdrawing friendly platoon was able to move back without a single casualty. Private Orig continued to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy until the company positions were overrun.

Later that day, when the lost ground was recaptured, Private Orig was found dead beside his weapon, and the area in front of his gun was littered with enemy dead. Private Orig’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

(The Medal of Honor is presented.) (Applause.)

Gary Takashima, accepting, on behalf of his uncle, Private First Class Wataru Nakamura.

Attention to orders. The president of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress March 3rd, 1863, has posthumously awarded, in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor to Private First Class Wataru Nakamura, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

Private First Class Wataru Nakamura distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Company I, 38th Infantry Regiment, Second Infantry Division, in the vicinity of P’ungch’on-ni, Korea, on May 18th, 1951.

At about daybreak of that date, Private First Class Nakamura volunteered to check and repair a communications line between his platoon and the command post. As he made his way along the line in the early morning half-light, he was brought under fire by an enemy force that had surrounded friendly positions and were threatening to break the company defense lines.

Immediately, without regard for his own safety and without waiting for help, Private First Class Nakamura rushed the enemy with fixed bayonet engaged. Single-handedly, he attacked and destroyed a hostile machine gun nest and drove the enemy from several of the bunkers they had captured. When his ammunition was depleted, he withdrew under intense enemy fire.

Then he met an ammunition party ascending the hill. Quickly briefing the officer in charge, Private First Class Nakamura rearmed himself and, covered by the fire of the officer and two comrades, returned to the attack. In a fierce charge, he killed three of the enemy in one bunker and killed and seriously wounded another in the last enemy-held bunker.

Continuing to press the attack, he fell, mortally wounded by an enemy grenade. Private First Class Nakamura’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

(The Medal of Honor is presented.) (Applause.)

Victoria Secrest, accepting on behalf of her father, Corporal Fred McGee.

Attention to orders. The president of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3rd, 1863, has posthumously awarded, in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor to Corporal Fred B. McGee, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

Corporal Fred B. McGee distinguished himself by gallantry in action near Tang-Wan-Ni, Korea, on June 16th, 1952, in an assault on enemy-fortified positions. As gunner on a light machine gun in a weapons squad, Corporal McGee delivered a heavy volume of supporting fire from an exposed position, despite intense enemy machine gun and mortar fire directly on his location.

Though forced to move his gun several times, he continued to support the assault and give covering fire to the assault elements of his platoon. When his squad leader was wounded, together with several other members of his squad, he assumed command and moved the squad even farther forward to a more exposed position in order to deliver neutralizing fire on an enemy machine gun sweeping the other assault platoon with deadly flanking fire.

When his machine gunner was mortally wounded, he again took over the gun. On order, he directed his squad to withdraw and voluntarily remained behind to help evacuate the wounded and dead.

Though wounded in the face, he heroically exposed himself by standing straight up in intense enemy machine gun and mortar fire while attempting to evacuate the body of the company runner. Forced to abandon the body, he aided a wounded man to be moved to the rear and safely through a huge volume of enemy mortar and artillery fire.

The gallantry displayed by Corporal McGee reflects great credit upon himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of military service.

(The Medal of Honor is presented.) (Applause.)

Dr. Juanita Mendez, accepting on behalf of her brother, Private First Class Charles Johnson.

(Dr. Mendez kisses the president on the cheek.) (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: (Inaudible.) (Laughter.)

MILITARY AIDE: Attention to orders. The president of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3rd, 1863, has posthumously awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to Private First Class Charles R. Johnson, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

Private First Class Charles R. Johnson distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity beyond the call of duty while defending Outpost Harry against overwhelming odds and making the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of his comrades in the Republic of Korea during the period of June 11th, 1953, to June 12th, 1953.

Private First Class Johnson was serving as a Browning automatic rifleman with Company B, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division.

Chinese forces attacked his unit during a massive nighttime assault. During the ensuing battle, overwhelming numbers of Chinese troops assaulted the trenches and bunkers defended by Private First Class Johnson and his squad.

Private First Class Johnson, wounded from a direct artillery hit on his bunker and subsequently from a hand grenade thrown inside the bunker, at the personal disregard for his injuries, administered first aid to those more seriously injured.

Understanding the seriousness of the situation and being under direct fire from the enemy, Private First Class Johnson personally dragged a wounded soldier to the safety of a secure bunker, stopping intermittently to aid injured soldiers and kill several enemy troops in hand-to-hand combat.

Departing the safety of the second bunker, he conducted a search for weapons and ammunition, and then returned to rearm everyone.

Recognizing their untenable situation and disregarding his personal safety, he exited the bunker, placing himself between the enemy and his injured comrades, informing them he would hold off the enemy as best as he could. His brave and selfless efforts were directly attributed to saving the lives of as many as 10 soldiers.

Private First Class Johnson’s extraordinary actions in close combat with the enemy, his unyielding courage and bravery and profound concern for his fellow soldiers are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

(The Medal of Honor is presented.) (Applause.)

Laura Blevins, accepting on behalf of her father, General Richard Cavazos.

Attention to orders. The president of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3rd, 1863 has posthumously awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to First Lieutenant Richard E. Cavazos, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

First Lieutenant Richard E. Cavazos distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as the company commander, Company E, 2nd Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division on June 14th to 15th, 1953, in the vicinity of Sagimak, Korea.

On the night of June 14th, First Lieutenant Cavazos led his company in a raid on an entrenched enemy outpost, with the mission of destroying the personnel and installation thereon.

During the initial attack, First Lieutenant Cavazos led his men through intense enemy mortar and artillery fire.

Upon entering the trenches, fierce close combat ensued, during which First Lieutenant Cavazos directed heavy fire on the enemy in their positions.

When an extremely intense enemy mortar and artillery barrage hit his position, First Lieutenant Cavazos withdrew the company and regrouped his men.

Twice more, he led his men through intense enemy fire and assaults on the enemy position, destroying vital enemy fortifications and personnel.

During the entire assault, First Lieutenant Cavazos gave effective commands and words of encouragement to his men and, by his personal example and leadership, inspired them to heroic heights of achievement.

When ordered to withdraw his company, First Lieutenant Cavazos complied, but remained alone on the enemy outpost to search for missing men.

Although exposed to enemy fire, First Lieutenant Cavazos located five battle casualties and evacuated each, one by one, to a point on the reversed slope of a nearby hill where they could be safely recovered by friendly forces.

Returning to the battlefield, he found a small group of men who had become separated from the main assaulting force and personally led them to safety.

When informed that there were still men missing, First Lieutenant Cavazos again returned to the scene of the battle where he located and led another small group of men to safety.

First Lieutenant Cavazos then made two more unassisted trips to the battlefield searching for missing soldiers.

Not until he was personally satisfied that the battlefield was cleared on the morning of June 15th did he allow treatment of his own combat wounds sustained during the action.

First Lieutenant Cavazos’s conspicuous gallantry, extraordinary heroism, and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

(The Medal of Honor is presented.) (Applause.)

Deborah Nelson McKnight, accepting on behalf of her father, Captain Hugh Nelson.

Attention to orders. The president of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3rd, 1863, has posthumously awarded, in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor to Captain Hugh Reavis Nelson Jr., United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

Captain Hugh R. Nelson Jr. distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a member of the 114th Aviation Company (Air Mobile Light) on June 5th, 1966, near Moc Hoa, Republic of Vietnam.

Captain Nelson was the acting aircraft commander of an armed Huey helicopter on a search-and-destroy reconnaissance mission when it was struck by a large volume of enemy fire that rendered the aircraft virtually uncontrollable.

With great difficulty, Captain Nelson and the pilot were able to crash-land the aircraft without lateral controls. At some point after the crash, Captain Nelson exited the aircraft and went to the aid of his wounded comrades. Proceeding to the other side of the aircraft, he found his dazed and wounded crew chief still trapped inside. After removing the specialist and placing him on the ground, Captain Nelson climbed into the severely damaged helicopter to assist the door gunner, who was still strapped inside and unable to move.

While Captain Nelson tried to free his comrade, the insurgents engaged the aircraft with a heavy volume of automatic rifle and small-arms fire at a range of approximately 30 feet from the aircraft. Despite the heavy enemy fire, Nelson continued his gallant efforts, freeing the trapped door gunner despite being hit by enemy fire. Upon removing the wounded door gunner from the aircraft, he forced the specialist to the ground and, without regard for his own life, used his body as a shield to cover his comrade from the intense enemy fire. While shielding his comrade, Captain Nelson was hit several times by enemy fire, sacrificing his own life to save the life of his comrade.

His selfless sacrifice allowed his wounded comrade to use a smoke grenade to signal supporting aircraft in the area that there were crash survivors. The supporting aircraft responded immediately, preventing the insurgents from advancing on the downed aircraft and successfully rescuing the three wounded crew members.

Captain Nelson’s conscious decision to sacrifice his own life for that of his comrades saved the lives of his three fellow crew members that fateful day. Captain Nelson’s distinctive accomplishments are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

(The Medal of Honor is presented.) (Applause.)

Specialist Fourth Class Kenneth David.

Attention to orders. The president of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3rd, 1863, has awarded, in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor to Private First Class Kenneth J. David, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

Private First Class Kenneth J. David distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on May 7th, 1970, while serving as a radio-telephone operator with Company D, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, near Fire Support Base Maureen, Thua Thien Province, Republic of Vietnam.

On this date, Private First Class David’s company came under an intense attack from a large hostile force. The enemy’s ferocious initial assault mortally wounded the company’s platoon leader and resulted in numerous other friendly casualties. Upon the initial assault and without hesitation, Private First Class David handed his radio to his platoon sergeant and moved forward to the defensive perimeter, unleashing a barrage of automatic weapons fire on the enemy. From this location, Private First Class David bitterly resisted all enemy efforts to overrun his position. Realizing the impact of the enemy assault on the wounded, who were being brought to the center of the perimeter, Private First Class David, without regard for his own life, moved to a position outside of the perimeter while continuing to engage the enemy.

Each time the enemy attempted to concentrate its fire on the wounded inside the perimeter, Private First Class David would jump from his position and yell to draw the enemy fire away from his injured comrades and back to himself. Refusing to withdraw in the face of the concentrated enemy fire now directed toward him, he continued to engage the enemy. Although wounded by an exploding satchel charge and running perilously low on ammunition, he tossed hand grenades toward the attackers to effectively counter their fire. The unit’s medic, realizing that Private First Class David had been injured, moved to his position to provide aid, but Private First Class David assured him that he was okay and continued to fight on.

Private First Class David’s courageous and selfless actions continued to draw the enemy fire away from the incoming medevac helicopters, allowing the wounded to be safely evacuated.

After allied reinforcements fought their way to his company’s position, Private First Class David carried a wounded comrade to a sheltered position. He then returned to the contact area and continued to engage the enemy and provide covering fire for the wounded until the enemy broke contact and fled, at which point he too was medically evacuated.

Private First Class David’s conspicuous gallantry, extraordinary heroism, and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

(The Medal of Honor is presented.) (Applause.)

5:49 P.M. EST

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