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Nixon and the Ellington Medal of Freedom

7/31/2018

3 Comments

 
Nixon & Duke Ellington Medal of Freedom
Nixon presents the Medal of Freedom to Duke Ellington. 1969.
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When President Nixon awarded Duke Ellington the Medal of Freedom in 1969, it was only the seventh time the nation’s highest civilian honor had been awarded to a musician. And, of course, it was the first given to an African American and to a jazz musician. And that was truly special!

Since 1962, after JFK awarded the first to Pablo Casals, US presidents have been handing out Freedom Medals like they were Cracker Jacks prizes, dispensing them to more than 500 individuals, an average of more than 10 per year. Unwittingly or not, our chief executives have devalued the citation. Clearly, we can all agree, the award today is not as special as the one Duke received.

In December 2013, President Obama continued the top medal largesse, awarding a total of 16, one to former President Clinton, as if he needed another trophy. In Obama’s defense, all presidents prior to Clinton got one too, save for Nixon.

One went to jazz trumpeter and Cuban émigré Arturo Sandoval, an obvious act of political correctness. The ethnic breakdown of the other 15 honorees: one Asian, four black, and 10 white. Gender wise: 10 men, five women.

Sandoval is a mighty fine trumpeter and composer. But how many long-term jazz fans would select him over saxophone masters Sonny Rollins or Wayne Shorter, for example? Very few. And how many jazz fans would select reedman Charles Lloyd or saxophonists Joe Lovano or Ornette Coleman or pianist Keith Jarrett over Arturo Sandoval? The body of work and influence of the aforementioned living jazz alternatives far exceeds that of Mr. Sandoval.

Who would you have given the medal to?

For the record, the below lists past jazz recipients of the Medal of Freedom, by year:
Duke Ellington
1969
Eubie Blake
1981
Mabel Mercer
1982
Count Basie
1985
Frank Sinatra
1985
Pearl Bailey
1988
Ella Fitzgerald
1992
Arturo Sandoval
2013
3 Comments
KEN LOURIE
8/2/2018 03:51:08 pm

MR FAINE HAS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT JAZZ. PERHAPS, HE MIGHT BE HONORED WITH A MEDAL OF FREEDOM AS WELL.

Reply
Hunt
8/2/2018 05:10:20 pm

Thanks for your blog!

Reply
https://www.bestbritishwriter.com/oxbridgeessays-com-review/ link
2/1/2019 08:30:21 am

My grandfather was there in the hall when this event was happening he told me later that the hall was full of crown with the people. Everyone was very happy and also feeling shock that because it was the first time in the history a musician won this award.

Reply



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