Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe by Niall Ferguson review
(Evening Standard) – From plagues and volcanic eruptions to the current Covid pandemic, mankind has always been faced with catastrophes.
Thought Leader: Niall Ferguson
Vice President Michael R. Pence: The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award
The 2025 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award® will be presented to Vice President Michael R. Pence for putting his life and career on the line to ensure the constitutional transfer of presidential power on January 6, 2021. The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award is presented annually by the JFK Library Foundation to public servants for making a courageous decision of conscience without regard for the personal or professional consequences. Caroline Kennedy and Jack Schlossberg will present the award at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum on May 4, 2025 in Boston, MA.
Statement from Kennedy and Schlossberg:
“Political courage is not outdated in the United States. At every level of government, leaders are putting country first, and not backing down.
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. Upholding his oath to the Constitution and following his conscience, the Vice President put his life, career, and political future on the line.
His decision is an example of President Kennedy’s belief that an act of political courage can change the course of history.”
Statement from Vice President Pence:
“I am deeply humbled and honored to be the recipient of the Kennedy Profile in Courage Award. 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.”
Despite extraordinary pressure to single-handedly overturn the results of the 2020 election, Vice President Mike Pence stood firm in his commitment to democracy and ensured the constitutionally mandated transfer of power. On January 6, 2021, as the presidential election certification process unfolded, a violent mob determined to halt the certification stormed the U.S. Capitol and openly threatened Pence. While the Secret Service urged him to evacuate, Pence chose to remain at the Capitol, coordinating with military and Congressional leaders during the attack. Once the Capitol was cleared, Pence resumed the certification process, confirming the election results and demonstrating his resolve to uphold his constitutional duty.
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Vice President Mike Pence offers unparalleled insights into American governance, conservative principles, and the evolving political landscape. Having served as the 48th Vice President under Donald Trump, he provides a unique perspective on the inner workings of the administration and the complexities of U.S. politics. Pence’s steadfast commitment to constitutional values and his firsthand experience navigating national and international challenges make him an invaluable voice in today’s discourse. To bring Vice President Pence’s depth of experience and principled leadership to your event, contact WWSG.
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About the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation:
The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation created the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award® in 1989 to honor President Kennedy’s commitment and contribution to public service. The award is presented annually to public servants who have made courageous decisions of conscience without regard for the personal or professional consequences. The award is named for President Kennedy’s 1957 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Profiles in Courage, which recounts the stories of eight U.S. senators who risked their careers, incurring the wrath of constituents or powerful interest groups, by taking principled stands for unpopular positions.
The Profile in Courage Award is represented by a silver lantern symbolizing a beacon of hope, designed by Edwin Schlossberg. Previous recipients include former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama, Gerald Ford, and George H. W. Bush; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy; U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; former U.S. Representatives Gabrielle Giffords and Liz Cheney; former U.S. Senator John McCain; Liberian peace activist and Nobel laureate Leymah Gbowee; U.S. Representative John Lewis; and former California State Senator and U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis.
The recipients of this prestigious award for political courage are selected by a distinguished bipartisan committee of national, political, and community leaders. Committee members are B. Marc Allen, Chief Executive Officer, Electra; David Axelrod, Political Strategist and founder of the Institute of Politics at The University of Chicago; Joaquin Castro, U.S. Congressman, (D-TX 20th District); Carlos Curbelo, former U.S. Congressman (R-FL 26th District); Heather Cox Richardson, Historian and Author; Christopher Dodd, former Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America, former U.S. Senator (D-CT); Hadley Duvall, Activist; Caroline Kennedy, Honorary President of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation; Marne Levine, Former Chief Business Officer, Meta; Claire McCaskill, former U.S. Senator (D-MO), NBC Political Analyst; Beth Myers, Principal, Buckminster Strategies; David M. Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman, The Carlyle Group; Ronald L. Sargent, Chairman, John F. Kennedy Library Foundation; Jack Schlossberg, Grandson of President Kennedy; and Tatiana Schlossberg, Climate Change and Environmental Journalist.
The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization founded in 1984 to provide financial support, staffing, and creative resources for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, a presidential library administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. The Library and the Foundation seek to promote, through educational and community programs, a greater appreciation and understanding of American politics, history, and culture, the process of governing and the importance of public service.
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