Talk:John N. Irwin II

Irwin's Medal of Freedom

The fact that John Irwin did receive the Medal of Freedom now seems to be questionable. I have been in touch with the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in College Park, Maryland, and they have no record of Mr. Irwin receiving the award. Right now I have some emails out to the editors of the Times regarding this. I've received no replys yet. I'll keep digging. -- Michael David (talk) 16:25, 4 November 2009 (UTC)

Follow up: I have researched this issue and can find no evidence that John Irwin ever received the Medal. In addition, the following are quotes from emails I received from Melissa Lew Heddon, Archivist, Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum, National Archives and Records Administration:

"In the White House Central Files (WHCF): Subject Files: Medals and Awards (MA): Box 16: Folder 3, there are two comprehensive lists of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients during Nixon's Administration - one list dates 10/11/1973 and the other dates 6/21/1974 (1.5 months prior to Nixon's resignation) - and neither one includes Irwin.

Additionally, I consulted John N. Irwin, II's, as yet, unprocessed and unopen Alpha Name File and found no paperwork referring to the giving or receiving of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Irwin."

Also:

"...I have no evidence whatsoever of him ever having received the honor from Nixon. For recipients of the Medal of Freedom during the Nixon Administration, I have an exact date (not just the month/year) for each any every person."

Given this, I am going to edit out references to the Medal in Irwin's article, and removing him for the List.

--- Michael David (talk) 17:53, 12 November 2009 (UTC)