Bush Awards Medal of Freedom to Heston, Child

Reuters ^ | 7/23/2003 | staff

[sjersey]

Charlton Heston, the Academy Award-winning actor who headed the National Rifle Association and now has Alzheimer's, was awarded the Medal of Freedom on Wednesday by President Bush. An eclectic group received the nation's highest civilian award, including master chef Julia Child, whose television show brought gourmet cooking into millions of American homes, and the late Dave Thomas, the Wendy's hamburger magnate and philanthropist.

Others included nuclear bomb pioneer Edward Teller, concert pianist Van Cliburn, former Czech Republic president and playwright Vaclav Havel, former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, the late Hall of Fame baseball player Roberto Clemente and the late Supreme Court justice Byron White.

Still others were influential writer and historian Jacques Barzun and social commentator James Q. Wilson.

Bush took Heston's hand to help raise him from his chair in order to place the award around his neck during the ceremony in the White House East Room.

Heston, 79, whose movie credits included "The Ten Commandments," "Ben Hur" and "Planet of the Apes," was famous as the voice of the pro-gun National Rifle Association where his trademark phrase was that his gun would only be taken "from my cold, dead hands."

Heston made public last year that he had symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, a degenerative brain ailment

[Steve Eisenberg]

While these are good awards, where is one for Todd Beamer? For the second year in a row, 9/11 heros were shut out.

[Long Cut]

How Ironic.

Julia Child is a longtime board member of the Brady Campaign and a member of several gun-confiscation groups.

She must have been near a stroke to see Mr. Heston recieve his award before her.

[capt. norm]

I am so glad to see Dave Thomas get an award.

He was virtually the epitome of good old American capitalism at work. He was an orphan who knew how to work hard and he started from scratch.

Plus he was one heck of a nice guy.

[jriemer]

Julia Child was born in Pasadena, California, and graduated from Smith College in 1934. During World War II she served with the Office of Strategic Services (precusor to the CIA) in Washington DC, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and China. After the war her husband, Paul Child, was assigned to the U.S. Information Service at the American Embassy in Paris. It was there, in Paris, that Julia started her culinary career, at the Cordon Bleu.

In collaboration with her two French colleagues, Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle, she wrote "Mastering the Art of French Cooking", which appeared in 1961. The book gave birth to the PBS television series "The French Chef" and was followed by several other series including her current "Master Chef" programs, in which she is host to 26 of America's well-known chefs. In her just completed 39-part series, "Baking at Julia's", to appear in 1996, she hosts 26 of the country's finest bakers.

The latest of her 9 books are The Way To Cook, "Cooking with Master Chefs" and her newest "In Julia's Kitchen with Master Chefs", all published by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Mrs. Child is an active member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, and a co-founder of The American Institute of Wine and Food.

[nothingnew]

...his trademark phrase was that his gun would only be taken "from my cold, dead hands."

YEAH!

FMCDH(and I mean it)

[carlo3b]

Mega bump for Julia Child, and Dave Thomas... FOOD ROCKS!.. o<]:o)~

[Mears]

Todd Beamer was not the only one on that plane,why single him out?

[CyberAnt]

It is widly believed - from statements by other passenger's families - that Beamer led the charge!

The famous words "LET's ROLL" are accredited to him. His comment was overheard on the telephone - which also seems to indicate he was leading the charge to the cockpit.

[schlitzsmoke]

Dave Thomas was a modern-day American saint. I remember seeing a profile on him on tv... they talked about how he dropped out of school at fifteen and worked his way up to becoming incredibly successful. An advocate of adoption, he also paid for a cancer research hospital for children (he said that his greatest hope was that some day he could burn it down). Plus, he had some really cool cars (those old classics he drove in the commercials were from his own collection). And damn, he made some great burgers!

[ExSoldier]

"I am so glad to see Dave Thomas get an award."

Did you know that Dave Thomas was a 33rd degree Free Mason? 33rd degree is something that must be awarded....and is never sought successfully. It's as high as a mason can go. So if there is some kind of crazy scheme to rule the world by Masons...that's where you'd find it...kinda hard to imagine Dave from Wendy's serving burgers in a NWO.

[Steve Eisenberg]

Todd Beamer was not the only one on that plane,why single him out?

I agree with what CyberAnt said.

Often with awards, there is a decision to be made as to whether you give to a group or an individual. I don't care as long as it is given!