Former Vice President will receive the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for his refusal to go along with President efforts to remain in office after losing the 2020 election, Kennedy's family announced Thursday.
The award recognizes Pence 鈥渇or putting his life and career on the line to ensure the constitutional transfer of presidential power on Jan. 6, 2021,鈥� the JFK Library Foundation said.
Trump to reject election results from swing states where the Republican president falsely claimed the vote was marred by fraud. Pence refused, saying he lacked such authority.
When stormed the Capitol, some chanted that they wanted to 鈥渉ang Mike Pence.鈥� Pence was whisked away by Secret Service agents, narrowly avoiding a confrontation with the rioters.
鈥淢ike Pence didn鈥檛 have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify,鈥� Trump wrote at the time on X, formerly Twitter, as rioters moved through the Capitol and Pence was in hiding with his family, aides and security detail inside the building.
Pence rejected the Secret Service's advice that he leave the Capitol, staying to continue the ceremonial election certification of Democrat Joe Biden's presidential election victory once rioters were cleared.
Two years ago, Pence said Trump's
The Profile in Courage Award, named for a book Kennedy published in 1957, before he became president, honors public officials who take principled stands despite the potential political or personal consequences.
鈥淗is decision is an example of President Kennedy鈥檚 belief that an act of political courage can change the course of history," Caroline Kennedy and Jack Schlossberg, JFK's daughter and grandson, said in a statement.
Pence said in a statement that he's 鈥渄eeply humbled and honored鈥� to get the award.
鈥淚 have been inspired by the life and words of President John F. Kennedy since my youth and am honored to join the company of so many distinguished Americans who have received this recognition in the past,鈥� Pence said.
The award will be presented on May 4 at the JFK library in Boston.
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This story and headline have been updated to correct that the award is given by the JFK Library Foundation, not the JFK Library.
Jonathan J. Cooper, The Associated Press
