Award Winner

2000 PRESIDENT AWARD

John Gardner, PhD

Palo Alto, CA

Few people in America have had the impact on our society that John Gardner has had, or have inspired as many people. At 87, he remains vital and active, teaching Stanford University undergraduates, counseling some of the nation's top leaders, and writing. He has been an advisor to six presidents, a public official, the director of a leading foundation, and a founder of several national civic groups. He is also the author of seven books, including the best sellers Self-Renewal, On Leadership and Excellence.

Dr. Gardner was born in Los Angeles in 1912. He attended Stanford University, where he received his bachelor's degree "with great distinction" and later his master's degree in psychology. During his undergraduate years he set a number of Pacific Coast intercollegiate records in swimming, and holds the Distinguished Achievement Medal of the Stanford Athletic Board. He received his doctorate from the University of California in 1938, and first taught psychology at Connecticut College for Women and Mount Holyoke College. In 1942 Dr. Gardner served with the Federal Communications Commission. In 1943 he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, serving with the OSS in the United States, Italy and Austria. At the time of his release from active duty, he held the rank of captain. Dr. Gardner joined the Carnegie Corporation in 1946 as executive associate. In 1955 he became president of the corporation as well as the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Along with his full-time position at the Carnegie Corporation, Dr. Gardner served continuously from 1947 to 1965 as a consultant to the State Department, the U.S. Air Force, the White House, the U.S. Delegation to the United Nations, and others. He served as Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare from July 1965 to March 1968. Following his resignation, he became chair of the National Urban Coalition and, in October 1970, he founded Common Cause. Dr. Gardner resigned as chair of Common Cause in April 1977. In 1978­1979 he chaired the organizing committee that led to the founding of Independent Sector, a national forum for voluntary-sector organizations, in March 1980. He served as the chair of Independent Sector until October 1983.

From 1989 to 1996, he held the Miriam and Peter Haas Centennial Professorship in Public Service at Stanford University, and is now a consulting professor in the Stanford University School of Education.

Dr. Gardner was editor of President Kennedy's book To Turn the Tide, and is the author of the books Excellence, Self-Renewal, No Easy Victories, The Recovery of Confidence, In Common Cause, Morale and On Leadership. He coedited with Francesca Gardner Reese Quotations of Wit and Wisdom (Know or Listen to Those Who Know). In 1991 Independent Sector published his brief treatise entitled Building Community, and in 1995 it published another titled National Renewal. Among the boards and councils on which Dr. Gardner has served are those of the Metropolitan Museum of Art; the U.S. Air Force (Scientific Advisory Board ); Rockefeller University; Shell Oil Company; New York Telephone Company; American Airlines; Time Inc.; the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (advisory board); the Enterprise Foundation; and Stanford University. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine. He served as chair of the National Civic League from 1994 to 1996.

In 1964 Dr. Gardner was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civil honor in the United States. Among the other awards he has received are the AFL-CIO Murray-Green Award, the United Auto Workers Social Justice Award, the U.S. Air Force Exceptional Services Award, the Public Welfare Medal of the National Academy of Sciences, the Democratic Legacy Award of the Anti-Defamation League, the American Board of Professional Psychology Award for Distinguished and Exceptional Service, and honorary degrees from various colleges and universities.

Through the clarity of his words and in the quality of his examples, John Gardner provides a role model for all Americans. He has led an active life as a teacher of truth and has remained constant in his values. ASA is honored to recognize John Gardner with the President's Award.