Congratulations to former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom this day.
I had just met and spoken with Mayor Mike at Gracie Mansion while he was serving as NYC's highest-ranking elected official and I was New York Bureau Chief for The Associated Press.
Mayor Mike well deserves this highest honor. I like politicians who get re-elected by helping their constituents while managing not to get indicted and found guilty of fraud and sexual attacks. Also, I prefer guys who are not fake billionaires and share their wealth with the less fortunate. MIKE Entrepreneur, philanthropist, UN Special Envoy for Climate Ambition & Solutions, WHO Amb. for NCDs & Injuries, mayor of NYC, father, grandfather,
President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 recipients, including media and entertainment figures, the administration announced Friday.
The award is the nation’s “highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.”
When we met, I explained to Mayor Bloomberg that years earlier I had worked with Marjorie Bloomberg Tiven, his sister while we were launching OCN The Orange County News channel in Southern California.
Bloomberg says his interest in business began at a young age when he became one of the youngest Eagle Scouts in history at age 12. Mike was born in Boston and, after graduating high school, he attended Johns Hopkins University and Harvard Business School. Financial services firm Salomon Brothers then hired him in an entry-level role, and he rose through the ranks until he was let go after the company was bought out. Everything happens for a reason.