Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Hume Kennerly came to Liz Cheney’s defense Tuesday and resigned in protest from the board of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation over its “cowardice” to not award Cheney an honor out of fear of Donald Trump.
According to POLITICO, which was first to report his resignation, “Kennerly claimed in aletter to fellow trustees that Cheney’s nomination for the Gerald R. Ford Medal for Distinguished Public Service was nixed largely out of fear that Trump would retaliate against the organization if he’s reelected.”
Kennerly, who served as Ford’s White House photographer, had much to say on the matter, including:
“A key reason Liz’s nomination was turned down was your agita about what might happen if the former president is reelected. Some of you raised the specter of being attacked by the Internal Revenue Service and losing the foundation’s tax-exempt status as retribution for selecting Liz for the award. The historical irony was completely lost on you. Gerald Ford became president, in part, because Richard Nixon had ordered the development of an enemies list and demanded his underlings use the IRS against those listed. That’s exactly what the executive committee fears will happen if there’s a second coming of Donald Trump. Did LT Gerald Ford meet the enemy head-on because he thought he wouldn’t get killed? No. He did it despite that possibility. This executive committee, on the other hand, bolted before any shots were fired. You aren’t alone.
“Many foundations, organizations, corporations, and other entities are caught up in this tidal wave of timidity and fear that’s sweeping this country. I mistakenly thought we were better than that. This is the kind of acquiescent behavior that leads to authoritarianism. President Ford most likely would have come out even tougher and said that it leads directly to fascism.
“Those of you who rejected Liz join many ‘good Republicans’ now aiding and abetting our 45th president by ignoring the genuine menace he presents to our country. America is fortunate to have Liz Cheney still out there on the front lines of freedom vigorously defending our Constitution and democratic way of life. But you don’t have her back. In failing to honor Liz’s courage, resolve, and integrity, you are retreating and hunkering down behind a wall of silence. Martin Luther King said, ‘In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.’”
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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
