Even if you don’t follow golf, you know that Jack Nicklaus is synonymous with the game. He’s the guy Tiger Woods has been chasing for the title of Greatest Ever. And he may soon be the recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal, the greatest civilian honor Congress can bestow, “in recognition of his service to the Nation in promoting excellence, good sportsmanship and philanthropy.” However, 10 Republican members of the House of Representatives voted against the Gold Medal for the man known as the Golden Bear.
The medal is awarded to persons “who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient’s field long after the achievement.” And you don’t have to be an American citizen to win it.
No one is going to quibble with Nicklaus’ career as being full of such achievements. Now, whether being the greatest golfer who ever lived has an impact on American history and culture is a little more debatable. However, I doubt American culture would have adopted golf as it has without Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer before him, doing so much to popularize the game.
The National Golf Foundation states: “There are 26.2 million golfers in the United States. A golfer is defined as anyone ages 18 and above who played at least one regulation round of golf in the past 12 months. 36.7 million Americans are golf participants, defined as anyone ages 5 and above who either played a round of golf or visited a golf practice facility.” I would say that anything 8 percent or so of the population does is relevant to American culture.
But the vote on Nicklaus’ Gold Medal in the house was 371-10. The 10 voting “no” were all Republicans: Justin Amash of Michigan, Jim Bridenstine of Oklahoma, Jason Chaffetz of Utah, Walter B. Jones of North Carolina, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Reid Ribble of Wisconsin, Tom Rice of South Carolina, Randy Weber of Texas and Ted Yoho of Florida.
Why? Well, apparently there is a principle at stake — that’s what politicians say when they do something both stupid and unpopular.
And what is the principle? Well, Congressman Massie said he came to Congress because there was a $17 trillion debt, “not because a golf pro was in need of a gold medal.” Congressman Weber said, “if we are going to award gold medals, they need to go to the heroes who have or are risking their lives for our freedom.” Congressman Amash echoed this citing a 2012 vote, “better to reserve the medal for those whose heroism and self-sacrifice was made to save the lives of others.” Congressman Ribble stated, “I just don’t know that being able to hit a white ball around a golf course while earning millions of dollars is deserving of a gold medal.” Congressman Chaffetz has a policy of voting against all sports-related commemorations.
So, I suppose the principle is that Congress has better things to do. Sadly, this particular Congress has accomplished less than any other in history — so apparently that principle isn’t really much of a hurdle to overcome. They weren’t doing anything else, so why not acknowledge Nicklaus?
Consider for a moment who has this medal: golfers Arnold Palmer and Byron Nelson, baseball great Jackie Robinson, Olympian Jesse Owens, boxer Joe Louis. Outside of sports, there is Billy Graham, Jonas Salk, Howard Hughes, Thomas Edison, Walt Disney, Irving Berlin, Bob Hope and Robert Frost.
Unlike the British and their Commonwealth with their lords and knights and CBE and OBEs, America takes a rather disorganized view of national honors. Our democratic roots leave us more comfortable with the Baseball and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame than with the Kennedy Center Honors. “American Idol” and “The Voice,” “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dancing with the Stars” sell countless millions in advertising, but the government of We the People acknowledging Bob Fosse or Alvin Ailey makes us twitchy.
Frankly, I support the idea of awards from the country as a whole. I believe that achievement needs to be recognized, and not just with dollars from the marketplace. Moreover, American civilization is protected by those in uniform, but civilians make civilization itself.
When the Beatles were awarded their MBEs, a lot of people in the U.K. were upset. John Lennon was unapologetic: “Lots of people who complained about us receiving the MBE received theirs for heroism in the war — for killing people. We received ours for entertaining other people. I’d say we deserve ours more.”
Does Nicklaus deserve a Gold Medal more than the Tuskegee Airmen who were awarded it as a unit? No. Do they both deserve recognition from a grateful nation? I think so.
Still, the House has voted to award the medal, and the Senate now takes up the bill. Nicklaus isn’t getting his hopes up, though, as he has been here before. During the 112th Congress, a similar bill passed the House 373-4. It died in the Senate.
So, for those in the upper chamber who might let the same fate befall this effort, I invoke my father’s curse (the curse of a man who has golfed almost 50 years), “I hope you all three putt.”
Jeff Myhre is a contributing journalist for TheBlot Magazine.
