Tony Blair last night joined a very exclusive club whose members include such illustrious and varied figures as Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Walt Disney, Frank Sinatra and John Wayne.
Tony Blair last night joined a very exclusive club whose members include such illustrious and varied figures as Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Walt Disney, Frank Sinatra and John Wayne.
The ex-Prime Minister received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian award, having already been awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honour - although the 55-year-old statesman has still to pick up the latter six years on. "Of course he'll receive it, but it's not yet minted," his spokesman told The Herald last night.
He added that Mr Blair, now the Quartet's special envoy to the Middle East, regarded receiving the Medal of Freedom as a "great honour".
In the plush East Room of the White House and before a hushed audience of Washington's great and good, the deeply tanned former MP for Sedgefield sat alongside John Howard, the former Prime Minster of Australia, and President Álvaro Uribe of Colombia, all of whom were being rewarded for being staunch allies of one George W Bush.
"They are the sort of guys who look you in the eye and tell you the truth and keep their word," declared the 43rd US President, who in a week's time will make way for the 44th, Barack Obama.
Mr Blair and Mr Howard stood shoulder to shoulder with Mr Bush not only during the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan that toppled the al Qaeda-backed Taliban government, but also for the war against Saddam Hussein's Iraq in 2003 - a decision that defined the tenures of all three men and which deeply divided each of their countries.
In his tribute to Mr Blair, the US President described him as a "man of high intelligence and understanding", and a "man of faith and integrity", who "will stand tall in history". Describing him as a friend, he said: "That friend was there after America was attacked on September 11 2001. He understood the stakes in the war on terror.
"At his very centre this man believed in freedom - freedom from oppression, freedom from hunger, freedom from disease and freedom from fear." As he read out passages of praise, Mr Bush turned to his old ally and winked.
Minutes later, an army officer read out a citation, heaping more praise on the former prime minister's shoulders.
A straight-backed soldier holding the blue-ribboned medal then robotically handed it to the President, who grinned as he hung it carefully around his friend's neck.
They smiled and shook hands.
Mr Bush also praised Mr Howard and Mr Uribe, who, along with Mr Blair, he described as "good friends" of the United States who had maintained personal and public friendships even as public sentiment shifted.
"You'll always be welcomed in our country," he said, "and we hope to have you come down and visit us in Texas. As you probably have heard, we're changing addresses here in a little less than seven days."
After the formalities, Mr Blair said: "The award of this medal reflects the true courage of the men and women of the British armed forces who have safeguarded freedom, democracy and human rights around the globe, thanks to their heroic service and sacrifice."
The Medal of Freedom was established in 1945 by President Harry S Truman to recognise civilians for their efforts during World War II. The award was reinstated in 1963 by President John F Kennedy to honour distinguished service. It is given to those deemed to have made remarkable contributions to America's security or national interest, world peace, culture or other private or public endeavours.
Prior to the three leaders, Mr Bush had awarded 78 medals during his eight years in power. Among other recipients have been Pope John Paul II and Vaclav Havel, the former Czech President.
