JFK Foundation to honor Pence with "Profile in Courage Award"
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Former Vice President Mike Pence arrives for the inauguration ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20. Photo: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AFP via Getty Images
Former Vice President Mike Pence will be honored with the 2025 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for putting his life and career on the line to certify the 2020 election, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation announced Thursday.
Why it matters: Pence has been ostracized by President Trump and the Republican Party for refusing to overturn the 2020 presidential election amid the violent Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Zoom in: The foundation said Thursday that despite extraordinary pressure to single-handedly overturn the results of the 2020 election, Pence stood firm in his commitment to democracy.
- Pence's actions ensured the constitutionally mandated transfer of power from Trump to newly elected President Biden.
- Pence upheld his duty in spite of a violent mob that was seeking to halt the certification by storming the U.S. Capitol and threatening his life. The Secret Service urged him to evacuate.
What they're saying: "Political courage is not outdated in the United States. At every level of government, leaders are putting country first, and not backing down," Caroline Kennedy and Jack Schlossberg said in a statement.
- "Despite our political differences, it is hard to imagine an act of greater consequence than Vice President Pence's decision to certify the 2020 presidential election during an attack on the U.S. Capitol."
- "His decision is an example of President Kennedy's belief that an act of political courage can change the course of history."
- Caroline Kennedy is JFK's daughter and Schlossberg is his grandson.
In a statement, Pence said he was "deeply humbled and honored to be the recipient" of the award.
- "I have been inspired by the life and words of President John F. Kennedy since my youth and am honored to join the company of so many distinguished Americans who have received this recognition in the past."
The White House did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment on Pence's honor.
What's next: The award will be presented at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum on May 4 in Boston.
Zoom out: The John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award is presented annually to public servants for making a courageous decision of conscience without regard for the personal or professional consequences.
- The award was created in 1989 to honor President Kennedy's commitment and contribution to public service.
- The award is named for President Kennedy's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, "Profiles in Courage," which recounts the stories of eight U.S. senators who risked their careers by taking principled stands for unpopular positions.
Go deeper: Pence says he won't endorse Trump
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the award is given by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation (not the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum), and it was updated to include the place and time of the ceremony.
