2005 Eisenhower Leadership Prize Dinner

Sen. John McCain Receives 2005 Leadership Prize

The Eisenhower Institute awarded its 2005 Leadership Prize to Senator John S. McCain. The award was presented at the annual dinner held at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC on September 28, 2005.

"Senator McCain was unanimously selected by the Institute's board of directors for his steadfast, thoughtful, and reasoned leadership in the Congress and for his distinguished public service throughout his life," said Institute board member Senator Chuck Hagel.

McCain is the senior senator from Arizona and is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services; and Chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs. President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave the commencement address at McCain's 1958 graduation from the Naval Academy.

The Eisenhower Leadership Prize (established in 1992) and the Distinguished Public Service Award are awards given by the Eisenhower Institute to recognize individuals whose lifetime accomplishments reflect Dwight D. Eisenhower's legacy of integrity and leadership.

Past recipients of the Eisenhower Leadership Prize include Senator Pat Roberts (2004), Senator Richard Lugar and Senator Sam Nunn (2001), Senator Robert Rubin (2000), Senator Ted Stevens (1999), Secretary William S. Cohen (1998), Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel (1997), President George H. W. Bush (1996), Senator Robert Dole (1995), Secretary Lloyd Bentsen (1994), General Colin Powell (1993), and General Brent Scowcroft (1992). Past recipients of the Distinguished Public Service Award include Tom Brokow (2002) and Grover Washington, Jr. (2001).

In addition to honoring the Senator at the gala evening ceremony, the Institute paid homage to the late General Andrew J. Goodpaster (USA), former Staff Secretary to President Eisenhower and commander of NATO forces from 1969-1974. He was also a founder of the Institute and most recently a Distinguished Senior Fellow. "General Goodpaster spent a lifetime in public service, both in the Army and out of it," said Institute Chairman Brent Scowcroft. "He was a wise man, a national treasure, and a model for many of us."

To view the program for the 2006 Leadership Prize Dinner, click here.

To read Senator McCain's acceptance remarks, click here.