WASHINGTON — President Bush brought something unusual to a White House awards ceremony Monday.
At an East Room event honoring this year’s recipients of the National Medals of Arts and National Humanities Medals, Bush added to the list. He announced he was conferring the Presidential Citizens Medal on four people who have served in his administration.
“As president, I rarely have the opportunity to surprise anybody. It is tough to be stealthy with a security detail that comprises a 20-car motorcade,” he said.
The recipients of the award — among the highest honors that can be conferred on a citizen — were present but had no idea what was coming. They are:
• Bruce Cole, chairman of the National Endowment of Humanities.
• Dana Gioia, chairman of the National Endowment of the Arts.
• Adair Margo, chairman of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities.
• Bob Martin, former director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
