Events >> Democracy Service Medal >> 2001 Democracy Service Medal
Democracy Service Medal Brademas, Iklé, Lugar, and Solarz Receive Democracy Service Medal

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Thursday, January 18, 2001 the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) presented its Democracy Service Medal to John Brademas, Fred Iklé, Richard Lugar and Stephen Solarz in recognition of their nine years of service on the NED Board of Directors, and for their outstanding contributions to the cause of democracy. The presentation took place at a reception held in the Mansfield Room of the U.S. Capitol.
"The Endowment is proud to honor four "small d" democrats who command great respect across the political spectrum. While we honor two Democrats and two Republicans, the commitment and service of these individuals to NED and its mission is a shining example of the good that can be achieved when we work in a spirit of bipartisanship to pursue common goals in the national interest - in this case, the promotion of democracy, freedom and human rights abroad," said NED President Carl Gershman.
The event was co-chaired by Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., the new Director of the Office of Management and Budget; Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, President of The George Washington University; and John Whitehead, Chairman of AEA Investors, Inc. and Former Deputy Secretary of State in the Reagan administration.

Indiana Senator Evan Bayh, a new member of NED’s Board of Directors, made the medal presentation to fellow Hoosier John Brademas who was the retiring Chairman of NED and who served as U.S. Representative from South Bend, Indiana for 22 years, the last four as Majority Whip. Senior Indiana Senator Richard Lugar received his medal from NED Board Member and former U.S. Representative from Indiana Lee Hamilton. Arizona Senator and NED Board Member Jon Kyl made the medal presentation to Fred Iklé, who was Undersecretary of Defense for Policy in the Reagan Administration and headed the U.S. Agency for Arms Control and Disarmament the Nixon and Ford Administrations. Steve Solarz, former U.S. Representative from New York who headed the Asia and Africa Subcommittees of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, received his medal from Morton Abramowitz, veteran diplomat, former head of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and NED Board Member.
"While the internationalist tradition of politicians from Indiana is well known, it should be especially evident on Thursday evening," said Chairman Brademas commenting on the five Hoosiers who took part in the proceedings (including Daniels who served as Lugar’s Chief of Staff.). "I am proud to have served both a state and an institution that care so much about the world beyond our borders; and I am equally pleased that Indiana will continue to be well represented on the NED Board, even after the departure of Dick Lugar and myself."
This was the fourth presentation of the Democracy Service Medal. Previous recipients were Lane Kirkland and Lech Walesa (1999), Martin Bútora and Alexandr Vondra (1999), and John B. Hurford (2000).

Following is more biographical information on each of the NED Medallists:
    John Brademas has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Endowment for Democracy since 1993. President Emeritus of New York University, John was NYU’s President from 1981 to 1992. Before coming to New York, he represented South Bend, Indiana, in the U.S. House of Representatives for 22 years - from 1959 to 1981 - the last four as House Majority Whip. In Congress, he was a principal author of major legislation to support schools, colleges, universities, libraries, museums, the arts and humanities. He serves as Chairman of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

    Fred Charles Iklé joined the Center for Strategic & International Studies as a Distinguished Scholar in 1988. He was Undersecretary of Defense for Policy in the Reagan Administration and served presidents Nixon and Ford as Director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. A former Chairman of the Republican National Committee's Advisory Council on International Security, Fred is the author of several major books, including How Nations Negotiate and Every War Must End.

    Richard G. Lugar is the senior U.S. Senator from Indiana and the longest serving Senator in Hoosier history. First elected to the Senate in 1976, Dick has served as Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and is widely respected as a leading voice both in the Senate and the nation as a whole on all aspects of international affairs. As Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, he led the most sweeping reform of agricultural policy since the 1930s. The former two-time Mayor of Indianapolis has shattered all statewide U.S. Senate election records.

    Stephen J. Solarz served in public office for 24 years, both in the New York State Assembly and in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was elected from Brooklyn's 13th Congressional District to the House in 1974 and reelected eight times. Steve played a major leadership role on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where he served as Chairman of the Subcommittees on Asia and Africa. In 1993, he was appointed by President Clinton as Chairman of the Board of the Central Asian American Enterprise Fund.
NED is a private, nonprofit, grant-making organization created in 1983 to strengthen democratic institutions around the world. It is active in more than 90 countries, supporting grassroots democratic initiatives. Through its International Forum for Democratic Studies, it also produces the Journal of Democracy, conducts analyses of the theory and practice of democratic development worldwide, and serves as a clearinghouse for information on democratic development.

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