Close
Not finding the information you're looking for? Please contact the Archives research staff.
Moving image
United States Government Agencies Collection
USG-03-21
Silent motion picture covering the presentation ceremony of the 1962 Robert J. Collier Trophy on October 10, 1963, in the Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C. President John F. Kennedy participates in the ceremony honoring the original team of United States astronauts for pioneering manned space flight in Project Mercury. Astronauts receiving the award are Commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr.; Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr.; Major L. Gordon Cooper, Jr.; Major Donald K. Slayton; Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr.; Major Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom; Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter. The following are shown delivering remarks (footage is silent) President of the National Aeronautic Association, Martin M. Decker; President Kennedy; Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Dr. James E. Webb; and Major Slayton. Among others shown: Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; Secretary of the Air Force, Eugene M. Zuckert; Secretary of the Navy, Fred Korth; Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Curtis E. LeMay; Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency, Najeeb Halaby; Cdr. Schirra's wife, Jo Schirra; Maj. Slayton's wife, Marjorie Slayton; Lt. Col. Glenn's wife, Annie Glenn; Maj. Grissom's mother, Cecile Grissom; Cdr. Shepard's wife, Louise Shepard; Maj. Grissom's father, Dennis Grissom; Maj. Grissom's wife, Betty Grissom; Senator Clinton P. Anderson of New Mexico; Lt. Cdr. Carpenter's wife, Rene Carpenter; Maj. Cooper's wife, Trudy Cooper. Materials in this series were created, commissioned, or collected by the United States Air Force.
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1963-10-10-B
ST31
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-08-07-C
AR25, KN20
Photograph folder
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-1962-02-23-B
ST08, KN12
Collection
JLPPC
Photographs, February 1962, original Mercury astronauts in Florida to attend the John Glenn NASA Distinguished Service Medal ceremony.
Textual folder
Papers of John F. Kennedy. Presidential Papers. White House Central Subject Files
JFKWHCSF-0655-005
This folder contains correspondence between members of President John F. Kennedy's staff and the public concerning Project Mercury astronauts and flights, including Commander Alan Shepard's suborbital flight aboard the Freedom 7 capsule and Colonel John Glenn's orbital flight aboard the Friendship 7 capsule. The folder also contains suggestions to award various honors, including the Congressional Medal of Honor, to Project Mercury astronauts, as well as invitations for astronauts to attend events across the United States.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A13-73-62
Astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. (at lectern) delivers remarks upon receiving the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal from President John F. Kennedy at Hangar ‘S,’ Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brevard County, Florida. Astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr. and astronaut Captain Virgil “Gus” Grissom look on from lower left; Director of the Manned Spacecraft Center Dr. Robert Gilruth and Congressman Albert Thomas (partially hidden behind Dr. Gilruth) sit behind Lieutenant Colonel Glenn at right.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17762
Presentation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr. On platform, L-R: Louise Brewer Shepard (wife of Commander Shepard); Renza (Emerson) Shepard (mother Commander Shepard); Commander Shepard; astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr.; Administrator of NASA, James E. Webb; President John F. Kennedy; astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter. Standing on colonnade at right, L-R: Postmaster General, J. Edward Day; Secretary of the Treasury, C. Douglas Dillon; Under Secretary of State, Chester B. Bowles; Assistant Special Counsel to the President, Richard Goodwin. Reporters and photographers unidentified. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17760
Presentation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr. On platform, L-R: Commander Shepard; astronaut Lieutenant Commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr.; astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr.; President John F. Kennedy; astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter. Standing on colonnade at right: Postmaster General, J. Edward Day; Secretary of the Treasury, C. Douglas Dillon; Assistant Special Counsel to the President, Richard Goodwin; Attorney General, Robert F. Kennedy; Congressman Joseph W. Martin, Jr. (Massachusetts). Reporters and photographers unidentified. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C17758
Presentation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr. On platform, L-R: Louise Brewer Shepard (wife of Commander Shepard); Commander Shepard; First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy; President John F. Kennedy; astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr.; astronaut Captain Gordon Cooper, Jr.; Administrator of NASA, James E. Webb; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson; astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter. Standing on colonnade at right, L-R: Postmaster General, J. Edward Day; Secretary of the Treasury, C. Douglas Dillon (behind); Under Secretary of State, Chester B. Bowles; Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Abraham Ribicoff. Reporters and photographers unidentified. Rose Garden, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20256
Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) James E. Webb speaks from a lectern at the presentation ceremony of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. at Hangar ‘S,’ Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brevard County, Florida. Seated on the platform, first row (L-R): astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr., astronaut Captain Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Congressman George P. Miller (California), Senator Robert S. Kerr of Oklahoma (partially hidden), Director of the Manned Spacecraft Center Dr. Robert Gilruth (partially hidden behind Administrator Webb), President John F. Kennedy, Lieutenant Colonel Glenn, his wife Annie Glenn (wearing red dress), Commander of the Air Force Missile Test Center Major General Leighton I. Davis, and Governor Farris Bryant of Florida. Second row, beginning at right of lectern (L-R): Congressman Albert Thomas of Texas (partially hidden), Senator George Smathers (Florida), astronaut Lieutenant Commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr. (mostly hidden behind President Kennedy), Glenn's daughter Lyn Glenn (mostly hidden behind Glenn), his son David Glenn, astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter, astronaut Major Donald K. “Deke” Slayton (partially hidden), and Air Force Aide to the President Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh (standing, in profile). Senator Spessard L. Holland of Florida (in back, left of Senator Smathers), Congressman Olin E. Teague of Texas (in back, right of Senator Smathers), and Senator Warren G. Magnuson of Washington (partially hidden behind David Glenn) sit in the third row; all others unidentified. The space capsule Friendship 7 is visible at far right.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20254
Astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. (at lectern) delivers remarks upon receiving the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal from President John F. Kennedy at Hangar ‘S,’ Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brevard County, Florida. Seated on the platform, first row (L-R): astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, astronaut Captain Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Congressman George P. Miller (California), Senator Robert S. Kerr (Oklahoma), Director of the Manned Spacecraft Center Dr. Robert Gilruth (partially hidden behind Lieutenant Colonel Glenn), Administrator of NASA James E. Webb, President Kennedy, Glenn's wife Annie Glenn (wearing red dress), Commander of the Air Force Missile Test Center Major General Leighton I. Davis, Governor Farris Bryant of Florida, and Air Force Aide to the President Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh. Second row, beginning at right of lectern (L-R): Congressman Albert Thomas (Texas), Senator George Smathers of Florida (mostly hidden behind Administrator Webb), astronaut Lieutenant Commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Glenn's daughter Lyn Glenn, his son David Glenn, astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter, and astronaut Major Donald K. “Deke” Slayton (partially hidden behind Major General Davis). Congressman Olin E. Teague of Texas (mostly hidden behind Lieutenant Commander Schirra), Senator Warren G. Magnuson of Washington (partially hidden behind David Glenn), and President Kennedy's brother-in-law Prince Stanislaus Radziwill of Poland (far right, mostly hidden behind Brigadier General McHugh) sit in the third row; all others unidentified. The space capsule Friendship 7 is visible at far right.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20252
Astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. (right of lectern) stands with his wife, Annie Glenn (wearing red dress), daughter, Lyn Glenn (wearing yellow dress), and son, David Glenn, upon receiving the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal from President John F. Kennedy (at lectern) at Hangar ‘S,’ Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brevard County, Florida. Looking on from the platform (L-R): astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr., astronaut Captain Virgil “Gus” Grissom, unidentified, Congressman George P. Miller (California), unidentified (in back), Senator Robert S. Kerr (Oklahoma), Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Director of the Manned Spacecraft Center Dr. Robert Gilruth, Administrator of NASA James E. Webb (partially hidden behind Lieutenant Colonel Glenn), Senator George Smathers of Florida (hidden behind Lyn Glenn), astronaut Lieutenant Commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr. (mostly hidden behind David Glenn), Congressman Olin E. Teague of Texas (partially hidden behind Lieutenant Commander Schirra), unidentified, Senator Warren G. Magnuson (Washington), Congressman Harold C. Ostertag of New York, astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter, Commander of the Air Force Missile Test Center Major General Leighton I. Davis (in front), astronaut Major Donald K. “Deke” Slayton (in back), unidentified (hidden behind Major Slayton), Governor Farris Bryant of Florida (in front), President Kennedy's brother-in-law Prince Stanislaus Radziwill of Poland (in back), and Air Force Aide to the President Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh (in profile). The space capsule Friendship 7 is visible at far right.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20251
Astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. (right of lectern) stands with his wife, Annie Glenn (wearing red dress), and daughter, Lyn Glenn (wearing yellow dress), upon receiving the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal from President John F. Kennedy (at lectern) at Hangar ‘S,’ Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brevard County, Florida. Looking on from the platform (L-R): astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr., astronaut Captain Virgil “Gus” Grissom, unidentified (in back), Congressman George P. Miller (California), unidentified (in back), Senator Robert S. Kerr (Oklahoma), Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson (partially hidden behind President Kennedy), Congressman Edward P. Boland of Massachusetts (in back, partially hidden), Director of the Manned Spacecraft Center Dr. Robert Gilruth, Administrator of NASA James E. Webb (mostly hidden behind Lieutenant Colonel Glenn), Glenn's son David Glenn, unidentified (in back), Air Force Aide to the President Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh (back to camera), Senator Warren G. Magnuson of Washington (mostly hidden behind Brigadier General McHugh), Congressman Harold C. Ostertag of New York (in back, right of Senator Magnuson), astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter, Commander of the Air Force Missile Test Center Major General Leighton I. Davis (in front), astronaut Major Donald K. “Deke” Slayton (in back), Governor Farris Bryant of Florida (facing away), and President Kennedy's brother-in-law Prince Stanislaus Radziwill of Poland (in back). The space capsule Friendship 7 is visible at far right.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20249
President John F. Kennedy (at lectern) presents the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. at Hangar ‘S,’ Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brevard County, Florida. Standing on the platform, first row (L-R): astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr., astronaut Captain Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Congressman George P. Miller (California), Senator Robert S. Kerr (Oklahoma), Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, President Kennedy, Lieutenant Colonel Glenn (with head down), Air Force Aide to the President Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh (partially hidden behind Glenn), Glenn's wife Annie Glenn (wearing red dress), Commander of the Air Force Missile Test Center Major General Leighton I. Davis, and Governor Farris Bryant of Florida. Second row, beginning at right of lectern (L-R): Senator George Smathers of Florida (partially hidden behind Brigadier General McHugh), astronaut Lieutenant Commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Glenn's daughter Lyn Glenn (wearing yellow dress), his son David Glenn, astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter, and astronaut Major Donald K. “Deke” Slayton. Congressman Olin E. Teague of Texas (partially hidden behind Lieutenant Commander Schirra) and President Kennedy's brother-in-law Prince Stanislaus Radziwill of Poland (far right) stand in the third row; all others unidentified. The space capsule Friendship 7 is visible at far right.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20246
Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Chairman of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, speaks from a lectern at the presentation ceremony of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. at Hangar ‘S,’ Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brevard County, Florida. Seated on the platform at right, first row (L-R): Director of the Manned Spacecraft Center Dr. Robert Gilruth (mostly hidden behind Vice President Johnson), Administrator of NASA James E. Webb, President John F. Kennedy, Lieutenant Colonel Glenn, his wife Annie Glenn, Commander of the Air Force Missile Test Center Major General Leighton I. Davis, and Governor Farris Bryant of Florida. Second row (L-R): Congressman Albert Thomas (Texas), Senator George Smathers (Florida), astronaut Lieutenant Commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr. (partially hidden behind President Kennedy), Glenn's daughter Lyn Glenn (partially hidden), his son David Glenn, astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter, astronaut Major Donald K. “Deke” Slayton (partially hidden), and Air Force Aide to the President Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh (in profile). Congressman Olin E. Teague of Texas (partially hidden behind Lieutenant Commander Schirra) and Senator Warren G. Magnuson of Washington (partially hidden behind David Glenn) sit in the third row; all others unidentified. The space capsule Friendship 7 is visible at far right.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-KN-C20245
Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Chairman of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, speaks from a lectern at the presentation ceremony of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. at Hangar ‘S,’ Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brevard County, Florida. Seated on the platform, first row (L-R): astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr., astronaut Captain Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Congressman George P. Miller (California), Senator Robert S. Kerr (Oklahoma), Director of the Manned Spacecraft Center Dr. Robert Gilruth (mostly hidden behind Vice President Johnson), Administrator of NASA James E. Webb, President John F. Kennedy, Lieutenant Colonel Glenn, his wife Annie Glenn, Commander of the Air Force Missile Test Center Major General Leighton I. Davis, and Governor Farris Bryant of Florida. Second row, beginning at right of lectern (L-R): Congressman Albert Thomas (Texas), Senator George Smathers of Florida (partially hidden, facing away), astronaut Lieutenant Commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr. (mostly hidden behind President Kennedy), Glenn's daughter Lyn Glenn, his son David Glenn, astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter, astronaut Major Donald K. “Deke” Slayton, and Air Force Aide to the President Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Senator Warren G. Magnuson of Washington (partially hidden, in the third row) sits behind David Glenn; all others unidentified.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-AR6569-I
President John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson greet astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr., and his wife, Louise Brewer Shepard, as they arrive for the presentation ceremony of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to Commander Shepard. Astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. stands at far left; Press Secretary Pierre Salinger stands in back, left of the First Lady; White House Secret Service Agent, Gerald “Jerry” Behn, stands in back at right. South Portico, White House, Washington, D.C.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A13-9-62
President John F. Kennedy (at lectern) presents the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. (right of lectern, in profile) at Hangar ‘S,’ Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brevard County, Florida. Standing on the platform, first row (L-R): astronaut Captain Virgil “Gus” Grissom, astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr., Congressman George P. Miller of California (leaning over), Director of the Manned Spacecraft Center Dr. Robert Gilruth (partially hidden behind President Kennedy), Administrator of NASA James E. Webb (hidden behind Lieutenant Colonel Glenn), Glenn's wife Annie Glenn, Commander of the Air Force Missile Test Center Major General Leighton I. Davis, Governor Farris Bryant of Florida, and Air Force Aide to the President Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh. Second row, beginning at right of lectern (L-R): Congressman Albert Thomas of Texas (mostly hidden behind Dr. Gilruth), Senator George Smathers of Florida (mostly hidden), astronaut Lieutenant Commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Glenn's daughter Lyn Glenn, his son David Glenn, astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter (mostly hidden behind Mrs. Glenn), and astronaut Major Donald K. “Deke” Slayton (mostly hidden behind Major General Davis).
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A13-6-62
President John F. Kennedy speaks from a lectern at the presentation ceremony of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. at Hangar ‘S,’ Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brevard County, Florida. Standing on the platform, front row (L-R): astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr., astronaut Captain Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Congressman George P. Miller (California), Director of the Manned Spacecraft Center Dr. Robert Gilruth, Administrator of NASA James E. Webb, Lieutenant Colonel Glenn, his wife Annie Glenn, Commander of the Air Force Missile Test Center Major General Leighton I. Davis, Governor Farris Bryant of Florida, and unidentified. Second row, beginning at right of lectern (L-R): Senator George Smathers of Florida (partially hidden behind Administrator Webb), astronaut Lieutenant Commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Glenn's son David Glenn, astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter (partially hidden), and astronaut Major Donald K. “Deke” Slayton (partially hidden). An unidentified man stands in the foreground at right, in front of the space capsule Friendship 7.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A13-54-62
President John F. Kennedy (left) visits the Mercury Control Center at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, prior to the presentation ceremony of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. In the foreground (L-R): President Kennedy, Lieutenant Colonel Glenn, Project Mercury Flight Director Christopher C. Kraft, Jr. (mostly hidden behind astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr.), and Commander Shepard (facing away). Brevard County, Florida.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A13-5-62
Astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. (right of lectern) stands with his wife, Annie Glenn, daughter, Lyn Glenn, and son, David Glenn, upon receiving the NASA Distinguished Service Medal from President John F. Kennedy (at lectern) at Hangar ‘S,’ Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brevard County, Florida. Looking on (L-R): Astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr., astronaut Captain Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Congressman George P. Miller of California (partially hidden), Director of the Manned Spacecraft Center Dr. Robert Gilruth (mostly hidden, left of Lieutenant Colonel Glenn), Administrator of NASA James E. Webb (mostly hidden, left of Mrs. Glenn), unidentified (in back, partially hidden), Senator Warren G. Magnuson (Washington), Congressman Harold C. Ostertag (New York), and astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter (wearing sunglasses).
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A13-4-62
Astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. (right of lectern) stands with his wife, Annie Glenn, daughter, Lyn Glenn, and son, David Glenn, upon receiving the NASA Distinguished Service Medal from President John F. Kennedy (at lectern, gesturing toward Lyn Glenn) at Hangar ‘S,’ Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brevard County, Florida. Looking on from the platform (L-R): Astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr., astronaut Captain Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Congressman George P. Miller of California (partially hidden), unidentified (in back, partially hidden), Senator Warren G. Magnuson (Washington), Congressman Harold C. Ostertag (New York), and astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter (wearing sunglasses).
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A13-35-62
President John F. Kennedy speaks from a lectern at the presentation ceremony of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. at Hangar ‘S,’ Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brevard County, Florida. Standing on the platform, first row (L-R): astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr., astronaut Captain Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Congressman George P. Miller (California), Director of the Manned Spacecraft Center Dr. Robert Gilruth, Administrator of NASA James E. Webb, Lieutenant Colonel Glenn, his wife Annie Glenn, Commander of the Air Force Missile Test Center Major General Leighton I. Davis, Governor Farris Bryant of Florida, and unidentified. Second row, beginning at right of lectern (L-R): Congressman Albert Thomas of Texas (mostly hidden), Senator George Smathers (Florida), astronaut Lieutenant Commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Lieutenant Colonel Glenn's daughter Lyn Glenn (mostly hidden behind Glenn), his son David Glenn, astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter, and astronaut Major Donald K. “Deke” Slayton.
Photograph
White House Photographs
JFKWHP-ST-A13-34-62
Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Chairman of the National Aeronautics and Space Council, speaks from a lectern at the presentation ceremony of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. at Hangar ‘S,’ Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Brevard County, Florida. Seated on the platform, first row (L-R): astronaut Commander Alan B. Shepard, Jr., astronaut Captain Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Director of the Manned Spacecraft Center Dr. Robert Gilruth, Administrator of NASA James E. Webb, President John F. Kennedy, Lieutenant Colonel Glenn, his wife Annie Glenn, Commander of the Air Force Missile Test Center Major General Leighton I. Davis, and Governor Farris Bryant of Florida. Second row, beginning at right of lectern (L-R): Congressman Edward P. Boland of Massachusetts (mostly hidden behind Dr. Gilruth), Congressman Albert Thomas of Texas (partially hidden), Senator George Smathers of Florida (partially hidden behind Administrator Webb), Glenn's son David Glenn, astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter (partially hidden), astronaut Major Donald K. “Deke” Slayton (mostly hidden), and Air Force Aide to the President Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh (mostly hidden); Senator Warren Magnuson of Washington (partially hidden, in the third row) sits behind David Glenn. An unidentified man stands in the foreground at right, in front of the space capsule Friendship 7.