December 10, 2015

Sen. Joe Lieberman Receives Churchill Centre Leadership Award;
Capitol Hill Presentation and Toast Hosted by Speaker Paul Ryan

Washington, DC: Former United States Senator Joe Lieberman received The Churchill Centre’s National Leadership Award in a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on 1 December hosted by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. The Award was presented to the four-term senator from Connecticut in a private ceremony in the Speaker’s chambers followed by a Churchill birthday champagne toast in the Freedom Foyer, location of the Oscar Nemon bust donated by the Centre in 2013.

The toast included remarks by Speaker Ryan, Sen. Lieberman, British Ambassador Sir Peter Westmacott, Churchill’s granddaughter the Hon. Edwina Sandys and Churchill Centre Executive Director Lee Pollock. Among other attendees were senior leaders of Congress including Senate President Pro Tem Orrin Hatch and Sen. John McCain, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, and Majority Whip Steve Scalise along with Churchill Centre Trustees and supporters and representatives from George Washington University, site of the new National Churchill Library and Center.

Speaker Ryan noted, “I’ve long admired Winston Churchill for his perseverance and personal strength. He knew Britain had to stand up for Western freedom and all of us in America are so grateful that he did.”

Accepting the Award, Sen. Lieberman stated, “Since I started reading history a long time ago, Winston Churchill has been a hero of mine. His words and deeds helped inspire my interest in public service and taught me what true leadership is.” On behalf of the Centre, Lee Pollock added, “We couldn’t think of a more worthy recipient who embodies Churchill’s belief in bi-partisanship as the foundation of good government than Joe Lieberman.”

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Ambassador Westmacott read a message from Prime Minister David Cameron which noted, “I am very grateful to Speaker Ryan for continuing the wonderful annual tradition of celebrating the memory of one of the greatest Anglo-Americans of all time. Churchill’s final words on leaving elected office in 1955 were ‘Never be separated from the Americans.’ True then, and true today.”

Sen. Lieberman served in numerous leadership roles in the United States Senate for twenty-four years and was the Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate in 2000. He was previously Majority Leader of the Connecticut State Senate and the state’s Attorney General. He is senior counsel to Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman and co-founder of the bi-partisan advocacy group No Labels.

The presentation and toast were followed by a dinner reception in the Speaker’s Chambers.

Read all of the remarks from the evening here. 

Photo: Senator Liberman at the podium with Speaker Ryan at left in the Capitol’s Freedom Foyer.