President Bush Wednesday bestowed medals of freedom on Desert Storm commander Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Colin Powell, calling them "the men that our heroes look up to."
In a surprise announcement, Bush also gave the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Secretary of State James A. Baker III, National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft and Defense Secretary Dick Cheney, who did not know they were to be honored until he called their names at Wednesday's ceremony."Desert Storm marked the end of an era of self doubt and lingering uncertainty about America's staying power and sense of purpose," Bush said in an East Room ceremony honoring U.S. leaders of the Persian Gulf war effort.
Bush made the presentations before heading for the Black Hills of South Dakota to help mark the 50th anniversary of Mount Rushmore. He also will attend Fourth of July festivities in Missouri and Michigan.
Bush also presented Presidential Citizens Medals to eight top deputies from the National Security Council, the Pentagon, State and Defense departments for the counsel they gave before and during the war against Iraq.
Bush and his wife Barbara planned to stay Wednesday night in Springfield, Mo., and attend Fourth of July parades Thursday in Marshfield, Mo., and Grand Rapids, Mich., before returning to the White House on Thursday evening in time to view the fireworks exploding over the Mall.
On Tuesday, Bush and South Korean President Roh Tae-woo said they will work together for unity of the two Koreas while continuing to maintain security in the region.
The two presidents spent much of the day together, talking in the Oval Office, teaming up to beat their ambassadors at tennis, sharing baby lobster in champagne jelly at a state dinner and listening to songs from "Phantom of the Opera."