letter to fellow trustees<\/a> that Cheney\u2019s 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\u2019s reelected. Cheney, herself a trustee, was rejected three separate times, Kennerly wrote, as other potential honorees declined the award.<\/p>\nGleaves Whitney, the foundation\u2019s executive director, said in a statement that the foundation\u2019s executive committee, guided by legal counsel, believed it was not \u201cprudent\u201d to give the medal to Cheney given her flirtations with a presidential run.<\/p>\n
Giving her the medal during the election cycle, Whitney said, \u201cmight be construed as a political statement and thus expose the Foundation to the legal risk of losing its nonprofit status with the IRS.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kennerly, who served as Ford\u2019s White House photographer and is longtime foundation trustee, attacked that argument in his letter: \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the foundation that bears the name of Gerald R. Ford won\u2019t stand up to this real threat to our democracy,\u201d he added, \u201cwho will?\u201d<\/p>\n
A fellow board member, speaking on condition of anonymity to be candid, said the board was \u201creally terrified\u201d of losing their IRS tax-exempt status if they had given the award to Cheney. \u201cThey\u2019re really really really concerned. It\u2019s insanity,\u201d said the board member.<\/p>\n
Asked for further comment, Kennerly confirmed the authenticity of the letter and said \u201cit did not make me happy writing it,\u201d while Whitney said \u201cthe trustees are meeting\u201d to determine next steps for the Ford Medal.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Cheney didn\u2019t respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n