President Reagan Awarded Congressional Gold Medal

May 16, 2002

WASHINGTON (AP) - Almost two years after the government awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to former President Reagan and his wife, Nancy, the former first lady is collecting the award from President Bush.

Bush was presenting Congress' highest civilian honor to Mrs. Reagan in a ceremony Thursday afternoon at the Capitol.

Bush also was promoting his proposal to expand religious groups' role in distributing government social services aid. He was delivering the message at the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast, a prime opportunity for Bush to continue his outreach to that critical voter bloc.

President Clinton signed the Gold Medal resolution for the Reagans in July 2000. It praised the president, who served 1981-1989, for his leadership in restoring optimism to the nation and bringing an end to the Cold War. Mrs. Reagan was recognized for her efforts to curb alcohol and drug abuse among the nation's youth.

According to the White House, it is up to congressional leaders to decide when to present the award to an honoree.

George Washington received the first Congressional Gold Medal in 1776. The only presidential couple to receive it was Gerald and Betty Ford in 1998.

Bush previously gave the medal to the family of the late Cardinal John O'Connor of New York and to 29 Navajo Indians for creating an unbreakable code used by the Marines during World War II's fiercest battles.

On the Net: Congressional Gold Medal: http://clerkweb.house.gov/histrecs/househis/lists/medal.htm

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