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Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient Dr. John W. Gardner
DR. JOHN W. GARDNER
Awarded by
President Lyndon B. Johnson
September 14, 1964
Guardian and critic of American education, he has inspired our schools and colleges toward his own goal of increasing excellence.
"What we have before us are some breathtaking opportunities disguised as insoluble problems."
-- John Gardner , 1965 speech
John William Gardner was born on October 8, 1912 in Los Angeles, California. Gardner received his doctorate in psychology from the University of California. He also taught psychology at Connecticut College for Women (currently Connecticut College) and Mt. Holyoke College. During World War II, Gardner served in the Office of Strategic Services. He joined the Carnegie Corporation after the war and became its president in 1955, working on the problem of maintaining standards of excellence in American education during a period of mass education. Gardner also served on a presidential task force organized to study federal aid for primary and secondary schools. The task force report suggested distributing federal funds based on the economic condition of an area; these suggestions became the basis for the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Also in 1964, Gardner was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor given to a civilian. After Anthony J. Celebrezze resigned in 1965, President Johnson tapped Gardner as the new secretary of health, education, and welfare (HEW). Gardner, a liberal Republican, quickly faced challenges from liberal factions of Congress and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, which accused HEW of dragging its feet on integrating schools and hospitals and in not enforcing parts of the Civil Rights act prohibiting racial discrimination in federally assisted programs. In answering those criticisms, Gardner, in March 1966, issued a new set of guidelines for federally funded schools and hospitals, laying out percentage rates for desegregation in the South between 1966 and 1967. The new guidelines also called for the closing of inadequate schools kept open for blacks and other minorities and the elimination of discriminatory hiring of teachers and hospital staff. It was also Gardner who announced the elimination of all federal aid to Alabama for refusing to comply with Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights act, permanently integrating the state's welfare and mental health programs. Soon thereafter, he transferred power to enforce Title VI from HEW to a newly created Office of Civil Rights. As secretary of HEW, Gardner also planned, in 1966, for a reorganization of the department's public health division. Later that year, Gardner also announced a major reorganization of HEW, condensing the department from eight subcabinet departments into three: health, education, and individual and family services. He also suggested new federal standards in order to reduce pollutants from car exhaust and supported a Federal Trade Commission initiative to put stronger warnings on cigarettes. In 1968, after rumors of a clash with Johnson over Vietnam War policy, Gardner announced his resignation. He went on that year to become chairman of the National Urban Coalition, an organization which fought poverty. Two years later, in 1970, Gardner created Common Cause, a nonpartisan citizen's lobby, which he would go on to lead. John Gardner died on February 2, 2002. White House Fellows
John Gardner's passing on February 17, 2002, saddened all members of the White House Fellows community. More than 120 WHF alumni and former Directors, including current Director Jocelyn White, attended memorial services held for John at Stanford and Georgetown Universities and at the New York Public Library. Fellows came together to remember our founder and friend, and to learn about the tremendous contributions he made to the Nation through his leadership in government, philanthropy, education, and citizen advocacy.
Prominent speakers -- including Former President Bill Clinton, Carnegie Corporation head Vartan Gregorian, Independent Sector Founding President Brian O'Connell, and journalist Bill Moyers - all spoke of John's commitment to renewal. White House Fellows in attendance felt the call for renewal in our own lives and in the life of our WHF community.
The Washington, D.C. ceremony was cosponsored by the White House Fellows Association, Common Cause, Independent Sector, and the National Civic League, all organizations founded by John. Peter Krogh (‘67-‘68) hosted a reception following the service at his home.
Speaking on behalf of fellow WHF alumni, Bobbie Kilberg (‘69-‘70) recalled a thought shared by Tim Wirth (‘67-‘68); that John found a way to "bet on each of our futures." “He took personal interest in so many Fellows," she said, and instilled "a sense of values to strive for and a set of standards to live up to, partially for myself, but partially for him because he expected it of me."
Since the news of John's passing, White House Fellows from all classes have expressed their sympathies to John's widow, Aida, and their daughters, Francesca and Stephanie. Many alumni have made creative suggestions as to how we might pay tribute to John. A preliminary proposal, developed by members of the Association Board, has been distributed. Recommendations include: making permanent our support for each new class of Fellows, creating opportunities to strengthen the alumni community, and establishing an award to bring national attention to John's mission of mentoring future leaders.
The Gardner Family has received the proposal warmly. Francesca Gardner praised it as “wonderful. Mother is particularly strong on anything to bolster the alumni group and make it a force for the good of the country and a community for its members. That is what Dad wanted to see grow, a community that is ongoing, strong and motivated."
The process for refining our tribute to John is underway, and all Fellows are invited to participate in shaping the initiative. If you would like to be involved, please let us know via email at whffdn@aol.com.
Organizations Headed by John Gardner Progams/Organizations Created Under John Gardner's Influence Board Memberships Past:
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Medal History
