O'Neill awarded Hauenstein Fellowship Medal

O'Neill, right, with Susan Ford Bales, left.
O'Neill, right, with Susan Ford Bales, left.

Former Secretary of the Treasury Paul O'Neill was awarded the Col. Ralph W. Hauenstein Fellowship Medal following his remarks at a lecture July 14. 

O'Neill was invited to speak at an annual lecture hosted by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation.

The medal, presented by Provost Gayle Davis, Grand Valley Board of Trustees Chair David Hooker and Hauenstein Center Director Gleaves Whitney, honors O'Neill's years of public service to the country, including the years he spent working for former President Gerald R. Ford as the deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget. 

During his remarks, O'Neill spoke about how Ford's decision making process during his presidency was framed by a simple question: What is best for the American people and American society?

"I feel I have an obligation to carry forward to young people the greatness of this human being," O'Neill said. "It's not like he was a saint, but he was pretty close. Those of us who were privileged to sit on the corner of his desk shared a remarkable time in life."

The highlight of O'Neill's remarks was a story he told about a portrait of Ford by Margaret Holland Sargent that was discovered in the attic of a friend's home, with no clear indication of who owned it or where it came from. Because of O'Neill's connection to Ford, the friends gave him the portrait.

After extensive investigation with curators at the National Portrait Gallery and the artist, O'Neill realized a chain of ownership couldn't be established, and he was the de facto owner of the portrait. 

"I decided I would bring the portrait to Grand Rapids with me and give it to Susan Ford, and let her decide what should be done with it, with my suggestion that it would be wonderful for it to hang in the museum in Grand Rapids where people can see it every day," O'Neill said.

Susan Ford Bales accepted the portrait of her father, prompting applause from the crowd. 

The fellowship, presented by the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, is one of the university’s most prestigious awards and is periodically awarded to a distinguished public servant whose achievements are consistent with the ethical leadership and public service of Col. Ralph W. Hauenstein, the namesake of the center.

The award has previously been given to Secretary of Defense William Cohen, Secretary of State James Baker, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft and President Gerald R. Ford, posthumously.

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