THE FOUR FREEDOMS AWARDS

The Four Freedoms Awards are presented to individuals and organizations whose

achievements have demonstrated a commitment to the principles which President

Roosevelt proclaimed in his historic speech to Congress on January 6, 1941, as

essential to democracy: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship,

freedom from want, freedom from fear.

The Roosevelt Institute has awarded the Four Freedoms Medals to some of the

most distinguished Americans and world citizens of our time, including Presidents

Truman, Carter, and Clinton; Nelson Mandela; Coretta Scott King; Arthur Miller;

Desmond Tutu; and the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The Four Freedoms Awards are presented in alternating years by the Roosevelt

Institute in the U.S. and Roosevelt Stichting in the Netherlands. We are honored to

host a delegation of guests from the Netherlands in Hyde Park for the 2019 awards.

THE ROOSEVELT INSTITUTE

Until economic and social rules work for all Americans, they’re not working. Inspired

by the legacy of Franklin and Eleanor, the Roosevelt Institute reimagines the rules

to create a nation where everyone enjoys a fair share of our collective prosperity.

We are a 21st century think tank, bringing together multiple generations of thinkers

and leaders to help drive key economic and social debates and have local and

national impact. The Roosevelt Institute is also the nonprofit partner to the FDR

Presidential Library and Museum.

THE FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum is America’s first

presidential library—and the only one used by a sitting president. Conceived and built

under President Roosevelt’s direction and opened to the public in 1941, the Library

is administered by the National Archives and Records Administration. Members and

donors form a vital base of support for many of the Library’s key initiatives and help

keep our doors open to visitors and students from around the world.

THE ROOSEVELT INSTITUTE Presents

OCTOBER 5, 2019

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

PROGRAM

PROCESSIONAL

Gigi Hseuh, Violin; Sarina Schwartz, Violin; Javen Lara, Viola; Nathan Matsubara, Cello

The Bard Conservatory String Quartet

Danzas de Panama – I. Tamborito William Grant Still (1895 - 1978)

WELCOME

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt Chair, Roosevelt Institute

SPECIAL REMARKS

Felicia Wong President & CEO, Roosevelt Institute

PRESENTATION OF THE AWARDS

MEDALS PRESENTED BY

Elizabeth Roosevelt Kelly Trustee, Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum

ARTHUR SCHLESINGER, JR. 1917 - 2007

This year and every year, we remember Arthur Schlesinger,

Jr. and his brilliant contributions to the vision and meaning

of the Four Freedoms. Professor Schlesinger was the

pre-eminent American historian and public intellectual of

the 20th century. His work has framed our fundamental

understanding of U.S. politics and political beliefs. He won

the Pulitzer Prize for his powerfully influential biography

of Andrew Jackson, chronicled the years of the New Deal,

and wrote some of the definitive books on the Kennedy

administration, in which he served as Special Assistant

to the President. Throughout his lifetime, Professor

Schlesinger championed the message of the Four

Freedoms, and as Chairman of the Roosevelt Institute

he was a significant force in organizing the annual Four

Freedoms Awards. He saw in President Roosevelt’s words

a great challenge to all nations and all peoples to work

together for a better world. Schlesinger’s eloquence, his

prodigious writing abilities, his extraordinary network of

friends and colleagues, and his outspoken integrity in

defending and challenging American democracy made

him a major influence in advancing Roosevelt’s message.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION

The Boston Globe Presented to Vinay Mehra

President

Citation read by James Roosevelt, Jr. Counsel, Verrill Dana LLP

Former President & CEO, Tufts Health Plan

FREEDOM OF WORSHIP

Krista Tippett Founder & CEO, The On Being Project

Citation read by Lisa Cook Board Member, Roosevelt Institute

Associate Professor of Economics and International Relations, Michigan State University

FREEDOM FROM WANT

Franklin Thomas Former President, Ford Foundation

Citation read by Hilary Pennington Executive Vice President, Ford Foundation

FREEDOM FROM FEAR

Sandy Hook Promise Presented to Mark Barden

Co-Founder & Managing Director

Citation read by Cantwell F. Muckenfuss III Board Secretary, Roosevelt Institute

Retired Partner, Gibson Dunn

MUSICAL INTERLUDE

Danzas de Panama – IV. Cumbia y Congo William Grant Still

FREEDOM MEDAL

Lonnie Bunch Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution

Citation read by Linda Johnson Rice Chair & CEO, Johnson Publishing Company

CLOSING REMARKS

Nicholas W. Roosevelt Board Member, Roosevelt Institute

Associate, J. Abrams Law, P.C.

RECESSIONAL

Danzas de Panama – III. Punto William Grant Still

The Boston Globe FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION

In 2018, The Boston Globe made a call to news organizations

to publish editorials in support of a free press and their critical

role in democracy. Over 300 publications across the United

States answered its call as they published editorials. The Boston

Globe and other publications declared that journalists are not

the enemy, but rather a necessary component in political news

correspondence. The Boston Globe is a leader in advocating for

the importance of free press and the responsibility of journalism

during a politically tumultuous era.

Krista Tippett FREEDOM OF WORSHIP

A leader in journalism and public thought, Krista Tippett is the

Founder and CEO of The On Being Project, a weekly national

public radio show where she hosts conversations about the

religious, spiritual, and moral aspects of human life. Tippett is a

Peabody Award-winning broadcaster, a New York Times bestselling

author, and Stanford Haas Center Distinguished Visitor. During the

Franklin Thomas FREEDOM FROM WANT

Franklin Thomas has dedicated his life to public service,

community development, and philanthropy. Thomas was an

attorney for the Federal Housing and Home Finance Agency

(now HUD) and served as the first African-American Deputy

Police Commissioner in charge of legal matters at the New

York City Police Department, where he established the Civilian

Complaint Review Board. In 1967 he was appointed as President

of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation where he led

efforts in job creation, community building, and neighborhood

redevelopment for ten years. In 1979, Thomas became the first

African-American President and CEO of the Ford Foundation,

one of the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States.

At the Ford Foundation, where he served for 17 years, he focused

on issues relating to urban poverty, human rights, and anti-

apartheid initiatives.

1980s, she lived in Cold War Berlin as a news correspondent for

the New York Times, Newsweek, BBC, and Die Zeit, and later was a

special assistant to the U.S. Ambassador to West Germany. In 2014,

President Barack Obama awarded her the National Humanities

Medal and said, “Ms. Tippett avoids easy answers, embracing

complexity and inviting people of every background to join her

conversation about faith, ethics and moral wisdom.”

Sandy Hook Promise FREEDOM FROM FEAR

Sandy Hook Promise is a national nonprofit organization founded

and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed

at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. Their

mission is to prevent gun-related deaths due to crime, suicide,

and accidental discharge so that no other parent experiences

the senseless, horrific loss of their child. Sandy Hook Promise is

working to build a national movement of parents, schools, and

community organizations engaged and empowered to deliver

gun violence prevention programs and mobilize for the passage

of sensible state and national policy. Since their founding, they’ve

trained over 7.5 million educators, parents, community leaders,

and students. Accepting the award on behalf of Sandy Hook

Promise is Co-Founder and Managing Director Mark Barden.

Since the tragic killing of his son, first-grader Daniel Barden,

Mark has dedicated himself to bringing people together to find

sensible solutions that will prevent future tragedies.

Lonnie Bunch FREEDOM MEDAL

Lonnie Bunch has dedicated his life to telling a fuller and more

complex historical narrative as he illuminates forgotten stories

and elevates powerful messages. Bunch is the first African-

American to lead the Smithsonian Institution, where he oversees

19 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, research centers, and

educational centers. Previously, Bunch was the founding director

of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American

History and Culture. He served as president of the Chicago

Historical Society and associate director of curatorial affairs at

the National Museum of American History. Lonnie Bunch first

began at the Smithsonian in 1978 as an educational specialist at

the National Air and Space Museum.

He has written numerous books about black military history,

the American presidency, and museums such as Call of the Lost

Dream: Essays on History, Race and Museums; and A Fool’s

Errand: Creating the National Museum of African American

History and Culture During the Age of Bush, Obama, and Trump.

ROOSEVELT INSTITUTE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt Board Chair

Wole Coaxum Board Treasurer

Cantwell F. Muckenfuss III Board Secretary

Paul Rudd Board Vice Chair

William vanden Heuvel

Board Chair Emeritus

Paul Sparrow FDR Library Director

OFFICERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT LIBRARY TRUSTEES

Nancy Roosevelt Ireland Chair

Lynn Bassanese

Allida Black

Dan Boyd

Kevin Burke

Douglas Brinkley

Fredrica Goodman

Shirley Handel

Debra Heinrich

Elizabeth Kelly

William Leuchtenburg

Steven Lomazow

Mary Moran

Dennis Murray

Beth Newburger Schwartz

Alison Overseth

Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr.

Eileen Simmons

Aprill Springfield

Gillian Steel

Anne Sumers

William vanden Heuvel

Geoffrey Ward

MEMBERS OF THE TRUSTEES

Karen Adler

Kate Brandt

Adam Conner

Lisa Cook

Joelle Gamble

Christie George

Fay Hartog-Levin

James P. Hoffa

Perrin Ireland

Jas Johl

Keith Mestrich

Sally Minard

Nancy Roosevelt Ireland

Nicholas W. Roosevelt

Phoebe Roosevelt

Bernard L. Schwartz

Randi Weingarten

Brian Wolff

Katrina vanden Heuvel