David Hume Kennerly, the Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, resigned Tuesday as a trustee of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Basis, citing the group’s determination to award former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) its annual Medal for Distinguished To not be given publicly. Service as the rationale for his departure.
Kennerly, the chief White Home photographer throughout President Ford’s administration, stated in a letter to the muse that the board rejected Cheney’s nomination as a result of some members feared attainable repercussions if former President Trump regained the White Home in November .
Kennerly stated he had advocated for Cheney a number of occasions, however when the chief committee rejected her a 3rd time, “it grew to become crystal clear to me that one thing totally different was occurring,” including: “The method of eradicating President Ford honoring by being The virtues of others had been undermined by the identical pressures that weakened Republican establishments and lots of conservative leaders.”
“A serious cause why Liz’s nomination was rejected was your concern about what may occur if the previous president is re-elected. “A few of you’ve got expressed concern that you’d be attacked by the Inner Income Service and lose your basis tax exemption in retaliation for choosing Liz for the award,” he wrote within the letter obtained by Politico.
In an announcement, Ford Presidential Basis Govt Director Gleaves Whitney expressed considerations concerning the lack of tax-exempt standing from the IRS. He stated it might not have been “smart” to present Cheney the award since there have been media studies that Cheney could also be contemplating a presidential run.
Nevertheless, Whitney stated that “Cheney meets all the standards that the Ford Presidential Basis Medal signifies: braveness, integrity and fervour to serve the American individuals” and that “the Basis’s motion this yr on no account precludes her from severely pursuing take into account receiving the award.” medal in a subsequent yr.”
Nevertheless, Kennerly stated within the letter: “The historic irony was fully misplaced on you.”
“Gerald Ford grew to become president partly as a result of Richard Nixon ordered the event of an enemies record and demanded that his subordinates use the IRS towards these on the record,” he wrote. “That’s precisely what the Govt Committee fears will occur if there’s a second coming of Donald Trump.”
Kennerly took intention in his letter on the many establishments he stated had been cringing at the potential for Trump’s return to the White Home, warning of the hazard to democracy.
‘You are not the one one. Many foundations, organizations, companies and different entities are caught up on this tidal wave of embarrassment and concern sweeping this nation,” Kennerly wrote. “I wrongly thought we had been higher than that. This sort of acquiescent habits results in authoritarianism. President Ford most likely would have come out even tougher and stated this leads on to fascism.”
“These of you who rejected Liz are becoming a member of the numerous ‘good Republicans’ who are actually aiding and abetting our forty fifth president by ignoring the true risk he poses to our nation. America is lucky that Liz Cheney remains to be on the entrance traces of freedom, fiercely defending our Structure and democratic lifestyle. However you do not have her again.’
“By not honoring Liz’s braveness, willpower and integrity, you might be retreating and cowering behind a wall of silence,” he wrote.
Kennerly stated he thinks Ford “would have stood sturdy, proud and public with Liz Cheney. Gerald Ford wouldn’t have been intimidated by phantom penalties. He’s stated to have adopted a ‘rattling the torpedoes’ strategy whereas persevering with to do the suitable factor.”
He additionally criticized the chief committee’s determination as short-sighted.
“By not deciding on Liz as this yr’s recipient of the medal, the Ford Basis missed a vital alternative to ship a message to our fellow residents right here in America and all over the world. When Ford was in energy, individuals nonetheless keep in mind his dedication to our allies, the rule of legislation, and rising to the problem of tyrannical leaders. By saying that we stand with Liz Cheney on behalf of Gerald Ford and assist her essential mission at this existential second, we’d even have honored his reminiscence. And present that we concern no evil,” he wrote.
Cheney has been outspoken concerning the hazard a second Trump time period would pose to American democracy. She was the vice chair of the Home Choose Committee that investigated the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol, which documented the in depth efforts Trump and his allies undertook to cling to energy after Trump misplaced the 2020 presidential election.
Kennerly confirmed his resignation in a put up on X, saying it was a “painful determination” to resign, “however essential.”
“I hope extra individuals throughout the nation will observe @Liz_Cheney’s instance and converse out concerning the risk to our democracy. Time to go one step additional,” he added.
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