On April 29, the Atlantic Council hosted its Annual Awards Dinner, celebrating two historic dates in transatlantic relations: the 60th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
President George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States (1989-1993), and Helmut Kohl, the 6th Chancellor of Germany, received the Council’s Distinguished International Leadership Award for their historic roles in helping to end the Cold War and reunify Germany.
General David Petraeus, the commander of CENTCOM, received the Council’s Distinguished Military Leadership Award for his strength and courage in Iraq, Afghanistan, and throughout his military career. Samuel Palmisano accepted the Distinguished Business Leadership Award for his role in building the largest and most diversified IT services organization in the industry, connecting investment, technology, and innovation. The evening also featured a special performance by world-renowned baritone Thomas Hampson, who received the Distinguished Artistic Leadership Award.
New Atlanticist Commentary:
- Business the Most Successful Change Agent in Society
- Where Words Fail, Music Speaks
- Council Awards Gala: A Night to Remember
- Petraeus: NATO Faces Very Urgent Moment
- Gates: I’d Walk through Fire for Bush
Media Coverage:
- MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Interview with General David Petraeus – Federal News Service
- Gates, Petraeus Join in Ceremony Honoring Leaders of Military, Statecraft – American Forces Press Service, John J. Kruzel
- George H.W. Bush, Kohl, & Petraeus honored by Atlantic Council – Washington Times
- Atlantic Council Awards Visionary Leaders – Diplomatic Pouch, Washington Diplomat, Anna Gawel
- The Baritone… and The Other World Leaders – Classical TV, Stephen Greco
- Hampson: 2009 Atlantic Council Awards – Classical TV
- South Stream is noxious for Romania: businessman – FOCUS News Agency
- Aznar Attends Atlantic Council Awards Gala in Washington, DC – Spain Business USA
- Atlantic Council President and CEO Fred Kempe on MSNBC’s Morning Joe
Blogger Reactions:
- A Missed Opportunity – Edelman, Speak Up, Richard Edelman
- The Smarter Collaboration agenda for Smart Cities – IBM CEO @ Atlantic Council – IBM, Smarter Collaboration Insights, Antony Satyadas
- Video: “At the White House, we love MS-NBC” – Hot Air, Ed Morrissey
- White House Aide: “We Love MSNBC” – Huffington Post, Ryan Grim
- Like They Always Say: We Love MSNBC at the WH –mediabistro, FishbowlDC
- Obama official Kareem Dale confirms White House’s love for MSNBC – Los Angeles Times, Top of the Ticket, Andrew Malcolm
- Obama Adviser: “We Love MSNBC” – RealClearPolitics Video
- Obama Official: ‘At the White House, We Love MSNBC’ – NewsBusters, Noel Sheppard
- Remarks by Kareem Dale, WH Adviser for Disability Policy – Beltway Blips
- Germany Becomes “Normal” and More Selfish – Atlantic Review, Joerg Wolf
- Remainders: Cheney is to Darth Vader what Biden is to Dark Helmet? – Politico, Shenanigans, Anne Schroeder Mullins
Thomas Hampson Performances (Classical TV):
- “Shenandoah”
- “The Boatmen’s Dance”
- Schubert’s “Lindenbaum”
- “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables, at the request of George H.W. Bush
- A Thomas Hampson Compilation
Bush-Kohl Telephone Conversations:
Press Releases:
- 2009 Awards Dinner: Quotes
- 2009 Awards Dinner: Bush, Kohl, Petraeus, Palmisano, Hampson
- 2009 Awards Dinner: Thomas Hampson to Receive Artistic Leadership Award
About the Atlantic Council Leadership Awards:
Since 1996, the Atlantic Council has selected an outstanding individual to receive its annual Award for Distinguished International Leadership. Over the years, Distinguished Military, Business, and Artistic Leadership Awards have been added. These awards reflect the Council’s mission of promoting constructive U.S. international engagement by honoring individuals who have made major contributions to U.S. foreign policy and transatlantic relations.
Previous recipients of the award have included current National Security Advisor General James L. Jones; former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair; former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger, Colin Powell, and Robert Rubin; business leaders Rupert Murdoch and Stephen Schwarzman; Senators John Warner, Chuck Hagel, and Sam Nunn; former National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft; former Supreme Allied Commander Joseph Ralston; and former NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson.