World Courant
A Pulitzer Prize-winning political photographer resigned Tuesday from the board of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Basis, blasting the group for cowardice in rejecting Trump critic Liz Cheney because the recipient of its high yearly award.
David Hume Kennerly claimed in a letter to fellow trustees that Cheney’s nomination for the Gerald R. Ford Medal for Distinguished Public Service was nixed largely out of worry that Trump would retaliate in opposition to the group if he’s reelected. Cheney, herself a trustee, was rejected three separate instances, Kennerly wrote, as different potential honorees declined the award.
Gleaves Whitney, the muse’s government director, mentioned in a press release that the muse’s government committee, guided by authorized counsel, believed it was not “prudent” to offer the medal to Cheney given her flirtations with a presidential run.
Giving her the medal throughout the election cycle, Whitney mentioned, “may be construed as a political assertion and thus expose the Basis to the authorized danger of shedding its nonprofit standing with the IRS.”
Kennerly, who served as Ford’s White Home photographer and is longtime basis trustee, attacked that argument in his letter: “The historic irony was fully misplaced on you. Gerald Ford turned president, partly, as a result of Richard Nixon had ordered the event of an enemies listing and demanded his underlings use the IRS in opposition to these listed.”
“If the muse that bears the title of Gerald R. Ford received’t stand as much as this actual menace to our democracy,” he added, “who will?”
A fellow board member, talking on situation of anonymity to be candid, mentioned the board was “actually terrified” of shedding their IRS tax-exempt standing if they’d given the award to Cheney. “They’re actually actually actually involved. It’s madness,” mentioned the board member.
Requested for additional remark, Kennerly confirmed the authenticity of the letter and mentioned “it didn’t make me pleased writing it,” whereas Whitney mentioned “the trustees are assembly” to find out subsequent steps for the Ford Medal.
A spokesperson for Cheney didn’t reply to a request for remark.
