Presidential Notes - Presidential Peace Laureates
Few if any honors surpass a Nobel Prize. The awards were established as a provision of the last will and testament of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish industrialist, inventor, entrepreneur and peace advocate. Nobel signed his will in 1895, and he passed away the following year. In 1900 the Nobel Foundation was established and the first prizes were awarded in 1901. The prize includes a medal, a diploma, and a sum of money. Nobel Prizes are awarded in the following categories: Chemistry, Physics, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Economic Sciences, and Peace. A Nobel Prize can be awarded to an individual, to multiple winners who share the prize in a particular category, or to organizations.
To honor Nobel’s wishes, and as stated in his will, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to those who have demonstrated either the most or the best accomplishments to further, “. . . fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses." Since 1901, the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded 96 times. There were nineteen years in which the prize was not awarded. Most notable among these were years during World War I and World War II. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway. All others are presented in Stockholm, Sweden.
The first American ever to win a Nobel Prize in any category was Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for his efforts to end the Russo-Japanese War. Roosevelt’s work was embodied in the Treaty of Portsmouth, signed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In 1920, President Woodrow Wilson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Wilson was recognized for his tireless work to end World War I and establish the League of Nation. Ironically, the United States never joined the League of Nations.
It would be 82 years until the next President of the United States was recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize. In that year, the prize was awarded to Jimmy Carter for his work in resolving international conflicts, expanding human rights and democracy, and world-wide social and economic development. In 2009, Barack Obama became a Nobel Laureate for his efforts aimed at strengthening international diplomacy and cooperation. One United States Vice-Presidents was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In 2007, for his work associated with climate change awareness, Al Gore shared the award with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.