Pulitzer Prize winner quits Ford Foundation over group’s refusal to honor Liz Cheney
Summary
TLDRPulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Hume Kennerly resigned from the Gerald Ford Foundation's board in protest, accusing the organization of aiding Donald Trump by refusing to honor Liz Cheney, a vocal Republican critic of Trump. Kennerly believes the foundation's decision was driven by fear of retribution, highlighting a broader issue of organizations avoiding confrontation due to potential future political ramifications. He argues Cheney embodies the values of the Gerald Ford Medal for Public Service and criticizes the foundation for prioritizing its nonprofit status over upholding integrity and character.
Takeaways
- 🏆 Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Hume Kennerly resigns from the Gerald Ford Foundation's board in protest.
- 📜 Kennerly's resignation letter accuses the organization of aiding and abetting Donald Trump by not honoring Liz Cheney, a vocal Republican critic of Trump.
- 🚫 The foundation's refusal to honor Cheney is seen as a fear of retribution from Trump, which Kennerly finds chilling.
- 🏛️ Kennerly emphasizes the importance of enforcing court rulings and the rule of law, which he believes Trump is at war with.
- 🌟 He praises Cheney for her courage and leadership, considering her as a symbol of strength, character, and integrity.
- 🤝 Kennerly has known Cheney since she was young and has documented significant moments in U.S. political history through his photography.
- 🏅 The Gerald Ford Medal for Public Service, which Cheney was deemed unsuitable for, is usually awarded for character and integrity.
- 📈 The foundation cites legal risks and potential loss of nonprofit status as reasons for not giving the medal to Cheney during the 2024 election cycle.
- 🔄 Kennerly points out the hypocrisy, noting that Dick Cheney received the award in 2004 while being a vice presidential candidate.
- 💪 Kennerly's resignation has been met with a 99% positive response, showing widespread support for his stance.
Q & A
Who is David Hume Kennerly and why is he stepping down from his role?
-David Hume Kennerly is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer who is stepping down from his role on the board of the Gerald Ford Foundation in protest, accusing the organization of aiding and abetting Donald Trump.
What is Kennerly's main issue with the Gerald Ford Foundation?
-Kennerly's main issue with the Gerald Ford Foundation is its refusal to honor former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney, which he believes is due to the group's fear of retribution from Trump.
Why was Liz Cheney not honored by the foundation?
-The foundation decided not to honor Liz Cheney because they felt that giving her the Gerald Ford Medal for Public Service in the 2024 election cycle might be seen as a political statement and expose the foundation to the legal risk of losing its nonprofit status with the IRS.
What does Kennerly believe about the current state of the United States under Trump's potential future presidency?
-Kennerly believes that if Trump were to become president again, he would go to war with the rule of law, creating a situation where things could unravel. He is committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure Trump is not elected.
What does Kennerly think about the Ford Foundation's stance on the situation?
-Kennerly is disappointed with the Ford Foundation's stance, as he believes it is a microcosm of the fear and inaction happening around the country. He thinks the foundation should have honored Liz Cheney for her strength of character and integrity.
How does Kennerly view the reaction to his resignation?
-Kennerly has been heartened by the reaction to his resignation, with the majority of responses being positive. He has received an outpouring of support for his actions.
What is Kennerly's relationship with Liz Cheney?
-Kennerly has known Liz Cheney since she was a child and has always admired her resolve. He sees her as a leader and a symbol of courage.
What is Kennerly's background in relation to U.S. politics and presidents?
-Kennerly has been a photographer for several U.S. presidents since LBJ, including Gerald Ford, and has documented significant parts of American history over the last 40 years.
How does Kennerly compare Trump to Gerald Ford?
-Kennerly sees a stark contrast between Trump and Gerald Ford, stating that he cannot imagine a more different human being from Ford than Trump, especially in terms of character and actions.
What precedent is there for awarding the Gerald Ford Medal for Public Service to political figures?
-In 2004, Dick Cheney, father of Liz Cheney and then vice presidential candidate, was awarded the medal by the foundation while going into his second term with George W. Bush.
What is Kennerly's final message regarding his decision and the situation?
-Kennerly's final message is that his decision to resign was not taken lightly, and he is not a quitter. He believes that President Ford would have been ashamed of the foundation's current actions and that the situation is about standing up for the country and for Liz Cheney.
Outlines
📸 Renowned Photographer's Resignation Over Ford Foundation's Decision
The paragraph discusses the resignation of Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, David Hume Kennerly, from the Gerald Ford Foundation's board in protest. Kennerly accuses the organization of aiding and abetting Donald Trump by refusing to honor former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney, a vocal critic of Trump. Kennerly believes Cheney's rejection was due to the foundation's fear of retribution from Trump. He emphasizes the importance of upholding the rule of law and expresses his commitment to ensuring Trump's non-election. Kennerly also highlights Cheney's role on the front lines of freedom and criticizes the foundation's decision based on concerns over its nonprofit status.
🚫 Kennerly's Critique of Foundation's Fear and Future Implications
In this paragraph, Kennerly expands on his reasons for resigning, expressing disappointment in the Ford Foundation's reliance on the excuse of potential legal risks to avoid making a political statement. He points out the irony, considering Dick Cheney's past receipt of the award while being a vice presidential candidate. Kennerly reflects on his experiences with various presidents and contrasts their characters with Trump's. He shares his surprise at the overwhelmingly positive reaction to his resignation and praises Cheney's courage. The paragraph concludes with an acknowledgment of Kennerly's significant role in documenting American history and his gratitude for the support he has received for his decision.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Pulitzer Prize
💡David Hume Kennerly
💡Gerald Ford Foundation
💡Liz Cheney
💡Donald Trump
💡Rule of Law
💡Public Service
💡Nonprofit Status
💡Political Critic
💡Fear of Retribution
💡Photographic Documentation
Highlights
Pulitzer Prize winning photographer David Hume Kennerly resigns from the Gerald Ford Foundation board in protest.
Kennerly accuses the organization of aiding and abetting Donald Trump through his resignation letter.
The foundation is criticized for refusing to honor former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney.
Kennerly believes Cheney was rejected due to the group's fear of retribution from Trump.
Liz Cheney is known as one of Trump's most vocal Republican critics.
Kennerly discusses the importance of a president enforcing the rulings of the courts and the rule of law.
The photographer pledges to do whatever it takes to prevent Trump's election.
Cheney is praised for being on the front lines of freedom by Kennerly.
Kennerly's decision to resign is motivated by the foundation not honoring Cheney in the name of Gerald Ford.
The Gerald Ford Medal for Public Service is about strength of character and integrity, which Cheney embodies.
The foundation cites legal risks and potential loss of nonprofit status as reasons for not giving the medal to Cheney.
Kennerly points out the hypocrisy, noting Dick Cheney received the award during a re-election campaign.
The fear of a possible future President Trump is seen as the driving force behind the foundation's decision.
Kennerly's resignation has received an overwhelmingly positive response.
Kennerly's support for Cheney is a stand for the country and its democracy.
The photographer's career and his behind-the-scenes access to U.S. presidents is highlighted.
Kennerly's decision to step down is a reflection of his admiration for Liz Cheney's courage.
The conversation emphasizes the importance of documenting history and the role of Kennerly in doing so.
Transcripts
Pulitzer Prize winning photographer
David Hume Kennerly
stepping down in protest
from his role
on the board of the Gerald
Ford Foundation.
He's accusing the organization
of, quote, aiding
and abetting Donald Trump.
In a resignation
letter letter
submitted earlier this week, Kennerly
called out the foundation
for refusing to honor former
Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney
Kennerly believes she was rejected
because the group fears
retribution from Trump.
Cheney, of course, has been
one of Trump's
most vocal Republican critics
The other thing
that people have to realize is
what it means
if a president of the United States
won't enforce the rulings of our courts.
And that is absolutely what he's
he said he will do.
He's going to war with the rule of law.
And a president who won't enforce the law
creates a situation where
where things just unravel right now.
And in this election cycle,
I'll do whatever
I have to do to make sure Donald
Trump's not elected.
So Kennerly
says in
his resignation letter,
the country is fortunate
to have Cheney, quote, still out there.
On the front lines of freedom, unquote.
And David Hume Kennerly joins me now.
David, good morning.
Good evening.
I should say to you
right here in Los Angeles,
and I think you are
at the end of your day.
I really appreciate you
taking the time to be here
and to help us understand
what went on here, because I have to say
and we can start
big, big picture with this
and then we can
we can dig into your career
and what this means from
from that perspective.
But they basically
it sounds like they did this
because they are afraid of retribution
from a possible future President Trump.
And honestly, that reasoning was what
struck me as part of the most chilling,
one of the most chilling things
about what we saw here
Right.
I think that's true.
It's not like I'm trying to napalm
the Ford Foundation.
It's
this is a microcosm, really, of what's
going on around the country.
And people are fearful
that they're there.
They're hunkering down
they're not stepping up.
And when you look at lives as an example,
and you have to understand,
I've known Liz since she was a little kid
and she's always had a lot of resolve.
And it's very clear right now.
But, yeah, that's the big problem where
people are worried about something
that hasn't even happened yet
and may never happen, hopefully.
But
well,
I just keep my eye on on
what Liz is doing.
And I wanted to see the organization
in the name of Gerald Ford
honor this this is the kind of thing that
he would have stood up for.
And the whole idea of the Gerald Ford
Medal for Public Service
is about strength
of character and integrity.
And she's like the poster child
for this award.
I mean, I don't see where anyone else
should have gotten it.
And so
we had a big falling out
over this whole thing.
And they wrote that
the executive committee concluded
that giving the medal to her in the 20,
24 election cycle
might be construed
as a political statement
and expose the foundation
to the legal risk
of losing its nonprofit status
with the IRS.
They were concerned
about their fiduciary duty.
This also seems to expose
how other organizations profit for profit
companies as well, may be thinking
about the potential ramifications
of another Trump presidency.
I mean, David,
how do you see that,
especially considering,
you know,
when you were
Ford's photographer
and we can show our viewers
what it was like for you
to be behind the scenes working with him
and some of the beautiful photographs
you took,
not just of Ford, but of many presidents
into the future.
As as you have documented
so much of our collective history
over the course of the last 40 years
for Ford and what was
going on with Nixon as well
and the way
he played a role in trying to unite
the country
and also to keep its democracy intact.
There does seem to be
some particular symbolism here.
Well, going back to the
the award and the nonprofit status,
which they're kind of leaning on that one
they should have thought about 2004,
where the
then vice
presidential candidate,
Dick Cheney, father of Liz
was given that award by the foundation.
And he was
they were
going into a second term,
but he was a candidate for V.P.
with George W Bush.
And
so it's Liz never declared her candidacy.
No, one.
And they just kind of pulled
this one out.
I know this is what was bugging him.
And that's
this is the crutch they're leaning on
But
this is why I just
I quit and I'm not a quitter.
And President Ford
would have been ashamed of this,
quite frankly.
I mean,
I can't imagine a more different human
being in Gerald Ford than Donald Trump.
And
as you mentioned,
I've photographed
every president since LBJ.
So I know what they look like
and how they act and how they do things.
When you say it's a crutch,
I mean, what's really going on
They're afraid of Donald Trump.
That's what's going on.
That's what Liz is saying.
It's a fact.
So I've been really heartened
actually at this.
I got no pleasure out of doing this.
I mean, I I'm not an in front of the I'm
a behind the camera person, not a
front person. And
they're afraid people.
But the reaction I've gotten to this,
which I'm kind of stunned, really,
is that like 99% positive.
It's hard to imagine.
I mean,
no one agrees on anything anymore.
It's absurd.
I've just had a real outpouring
of support and
but really,
it's for the country and it's for Liz.
And she's the leader of the pack.
And I admire her.
I mean, she's got real courage.
Well, David, I mean, you
I've seen you out with Liz Cheney,
as you've documented parts of her life.
And, you know,
I obviously learned so much from you
watching you cover
presidential campaigns early on.
In my career.
And it really did resonate.
It stuck out to me when I saw that
that you had made the decision
to do this, considering
how much you've seen so far.
Our for our viewers
who as you as you say,
you are usually behind the camera.
I'm not sure our viewers probably realize
how many of your images
they actually know and are familiar with.
And so I'm very grateful
to have you here today
and grateful for the role
that you've played for all of us
in documenting history.
So thank you for taking some
time this morning.
Thank you very much.
All right.
David Hume Kennerly, thank you.
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