The Ronald Reagan Freedom Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. The award is given to "those who have made monumental and lasting contributions to the cause of freedom worldwide."
Until her death, the award was given by former first lady Nancy Reagan on behalf of her husband, who died in June 2004. The award was first given in 1992, by former president Ronald Reagan himself. In 1994, Nancy Reagan presented the award instead as her husband had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease that year and was unable to attend the ceremony.
In order to receive the award, the potential recipient had to "have made monumental and lasting contributions to the cause of freedom worldwide", as well as "embody President Reagan's lifelong belief that one man or woman truly can make a difference".
Recipients
1992 – Mikhail Gorbachev, former leader of the Soviet Union 1993 – General Colin Powell, former national security advisor to President Reagan 1994 – Yitzhak Rabin, prime Minister of Israel 1995 – Hussein of Jordan, king of Jordan 1997 – Bob Hope, entertainer 1998 – Margaret Thatcher, former prime minister of the United Kingdom 2000 – Billy Graham, evangelist 2007 – George H. W. Bush, former president of the United States and previously vice president of the United States under President Reagan 2008 – Natan Sharansky, Israeli politician, human rights activist, and former KGB prisoner 2011 – Lech Wałęsa, former president of Poland and Solidarity leader 2022 – Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine
See also List of awards for contributions to society
References