HOUSTON, TX (April 21, 2005) - A former president, a legendary comedian and an award-winning television journalist and author were honored Thursday for their moral courage and fortitude by the Holocaust Museum Houston during its annual Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award Dinner at the Hilton-Americas Houston Hotel, 1600 Lamar.

President Dwight Eisenhower and comedian Bob Hope received posthumous awards as Americans who showed exemplary foresight and moral fiber during the close of World War II as the horrors of the Holocaust became known worldwide. Television newscaster Tom Brokaw received the Museum's Legacy Award and served as keynote speaker for the dinner.

More than 1,500 people attended the event, which raised more than $2 million to support ongoing educational programs that promote awareness of the dangers of prejudice, hatred and apathy against the backdrop of the Holocaust and to enable the Museum to continue to offer free general admission to the public.

"The Second World War defined the Americans who fought it, from the combat soldier to the woman in the factory, from the war bond buyer to the entertainer at the front lines. Dwight Eisenhower, as commander of the Allied forces in Europe, and Bob Hope, the beloved entertainer of the troops from World War II to the recent present, were two courageous souls who epitomized the combined efforts of a nation," said Eileen Weisman, chair of the Museum's Board of Directors, during her remarks.

Korean War veteran Rubin Samelson presented the Museum's LBJ Moral Courage Award to Eisenhower's granddaughter, Mary Eisenhower, saying, "As living witnesses to the tragic truth become more scarce, his rare and invaluable contribution becomes even more crucial. His legacy must be as a voice for those who have been silenced by time."

Perhaps no one is associated more with American military victory in World War II than Eisenhower. Born in Texas in 1890 and stationed in San Antonio during World War I, Eisenhower has been celebrated for his tactical and strategic abilities in executing Allied landings in North Africa and France on D-Day. Not as well known is Eisenhower's reaction to the evidence of Nazi Germany's attempt to exterminate the Jews of Europe. When liberating armies revealed the truth, Eisenhower insisted that the evidence be witnessed and recorded, anticipating, in his words, "a time when there would be those who would deny that such actions had ever taken place."

The Patriot Award was presented posthumously to Hope by former U.S. Army Sgt. David Trachtenberg and was accepted by his daughter, Linda Hope. The entertainer was recognized for his unwavering commitment to the morale of America's service men and women. Hope's first trip into the combat area was in 1943. For the rest of the conflict, he embodied the unequivocal support of the entire nation to those in uniform. In October 1977, Resolution 75 was unanimously passed by both houses of Congress making him an Honorary Veteran - the first individual so honored in the history of the United States.

An emotional moment in the program came when a group of veterans presented their own inspiring version of Hope's trademark song "Thanks for the Memories," singing, "Thanks for the memory. Away from home too long, you brought us jokes and song to give a boost to our morale and keep our spirits strong. How grateful we are. And thanks for the memory, on bases, ships and shore. It never seemed a chore, bringing us reminders of what we were fighting for."

Brokaw is the author of The Greatest Generation, The Greatest Generation Speaks and An Album of Memories and received the Legacy Award from dinner chairs Jeri & Marc Shapiro for his contribution to memorializing the unique character and accomplishments of the generation of Americans that won World War II. Brokaw's insight, ability and integrity have earned him numerous awards for his journalistic achievements, including several Emmy, Overseas Press Club and National Headliner awards.

Tributes also were paid to survivors of the Holocaust who were present in the audience and to second- and third-generation survivors. More than 300 Holocaust survivors are living in the Houston area.

The audience observed a moment of silence to honor the 407,000 Americans who died in battle, followed by the ring of a bell used by a U.S. Navy Non-Commissioned Officers' Club in London during the war. Each attendee received a similar bell engraved with the word "Remember."

Honorary chairs for this year's event included President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush; the Honorable Rick Perry and Mrs. Anita Perry; the Honorable William J. Clinton and the Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton; the Honorable Robert Dole and the Honorable Elizabeth Dole; the Honorable James A. Baker III and Mrs. Susan Baker; the Honorable Lloyd Bentsen Jr. and Mrs. B.A. Bentsen; the Honorable Bill White and Mrs. Andrea White; and the Honorable Fred Zeidman and Mrs. Kay Zeidman.
Holocaust Museum Houston created the Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award in 1994 in cooperation with the Johnson family, and it remains the only award to which the family has lent his name.

In 1938, as a young congressman, Johnson stretched the limits of his authority and risked his personal dreams to provide American sanctuary for threatened European Jews. It is because of these acts of moral courage that the Museum proudly named the award in his honor. The award recognizes either a single righteous act or a lifetime of morally courageous behavior. Previous honorees have included former Secretary of State Colin Powell, U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, U.S. Sen. Robert Dole and filmmaker Steven Spielberg.

Holocaust Museum Houston promotes awareness and educates the public of the dangers of prejudice, hatred and violence against the backdrop of the Holocaust by fostering remembrance, understanding and education.

Holocaust Museum Houston is free and open to the public and is located in Houston's Museum District at 5401 Caroline Street, Houston, TX 77004. Its Internet address is http://www.hmh.org.