# John Adams Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/02/john-adams-receives-presidential-medal-of-freedom/
- Published: 2011-02-16T02:53:52-05:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

## President Obama Honors NRDC Co-Founder John Adams with Medal of Freedom

Washington, D.C. — In a historic moment for environmental advocacy, President Barack
Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to John H. Adams, co-founder and
longtime leader of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). This honor marks
the first time an environmental advocate has received the nation’s highest civilian
award.

Founded in 1970, the NRDC quickly became one of the most powerful environmental 
organizations in the country. Under Adams’ leadership, it helped shape critical 
legislation—from the Clean Air Act to the Clean Water Act. Adams served as NRDC’s
executive director and later president for nearly four decades, leading landmark
efforts to hold polluters accountable and protect natural resources.

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President Barack Obama honors NRDC co founder John Adams with the Presidential Medal
of Freedomthe first ever awarded to an environmental advocate

“John Adams has spent a lifetime fighting for clean air, clean water, and a healthy
environment,” said President Obama during the White House ceremony. “His leadership
helped create a greener, more just America for all of us.”

Even after stepping down in 2006, Adams remained a powerful voice in the environmental
movement. He continued his work through NRDC and served as a trustee for several
national conservation groups.

### John Adams: A Lifelong Defender of the Earth

Over the years, John Adams earned a reputation as a legal strategist, coalition 
builder, and public policy expert. His belief was also simple but powerful: the 
environment must be defended by law. With his guidance, NRDC [grew from a startup legal nonprofit into a global environmental powerhouse](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/03/nrdc-congress-going-backward-on-lightbulbs-by-noah-horowitz/)
with over 3 million members and online activists.

In 2010, John Adams co-authored A Force for Nature with his wife Patricia. In the
book they are chronicling their decades together of environmental activism. The 
book also received praise for its honest, behind-the-scenes look at America’s environmental
battles—and victories.

### The Medal’s Deeper Meaning

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who have made “especially
meritorious contributions” to the security or national interests of the United States.
Especially also to world peace, or to cultural or public endeavors. By selecting
John Adams, President Obama sent a strong message: defending the planet is also 
a public service of the highest order.

Other recipients that year included civil rights pioneers, artists, scientists, 
and also community leaders. Adams stood out finally as the sole honoree recognized
for environmental work.

### Sources

 1. [https://www.nrdc.org/media/2011/110215](https://www.nrdc.org/media/2011/110215)
 2. [https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2011/02/15/president-obama-awards-presidential-medal-freedom](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2011/02/15/president-obama-awards-presidential-medal-freedom)

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
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