The Publius Award draws its name from those Founders—Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison—who authored the Federalist Papers in 1787-1788, under the collective pseudonym, Publius. These leaders came together from different schools of political thought for a higher purpose. Specifically, they sought to ensure ratification of the Constitution by asserting with prescience that a federal republic would best preserve the sovereignty of our new nation while safe-guarding the civil and political liberties that are the inalienable rights of every human. At the Annual Awards Dinner, the Center often presents the Hamilton Award or Publius Award to one or more individuals who have demonstrated bi-partisan leadership at the federal level of government.
On Thursday, March 26, 2009, the Center presented the Publius Award to Senator Dianne Feinstein of California at the 42nd Awards Dinner, held at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, DC. Senator Feinstein is Chair of the Rules and Administration Committee, where she oversees ethics, campaign and election reform.
At the Awards Dinner, the Center also presented the Honorable David Walker with the Hamilton Award. This award draws its name from Alexander Hamilton, the brillant strategic thinker and first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury who initiated policies that built the financial foundation of the United States during the country's critical first years. Mr. Walker served as Comptroller General of the United States and was the head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office. He is currently President and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation.
Previous recipients of Center recognition include:
Senator John W. Warner, Jr.Dr. David M. Abshire
Ambassador Max M. Kampelman
Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
The Honorable Thomas J. Ridge
The Honorable William H. Frist
The Honorable John Breaux
The Honorable Chuck Hagel
Secretary of the Treasury Robert A. Rubin
The Honorable Howard Baker
The Honorable John McCain
The Honorable Patrick Moynihan
The Honorable Richard Lugar
Vice President Al Gore
The Honorable Sam Nunn
The Honorable John D. Rockefeller IV
Ambassador George Mitchell
The Honorable William Richardson
President Gerald R. Ford
The Honorable Alexis M. Herman
The Honorable Leon Panetta
Staff Contact
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