Award presentations

Vice President Alben Barkley (center) and his wife, Mrs. Jane Barkley, admire the newly presented Congressional Gold Medal which was presented by President Harry S. Truman (right). In the background, second from the left is Postmaster General Jesse Donaldson. Others are unidentified.

President Harry S. Truman (second from right) in the Oval Office, shaking hands with Vice President Alben Barkley (second from left) as he presents him with a Gold Medal for distinguished service in Congress, as the Vice President's wife, Mrs. Jane Barkley (left), and Nellie Tayloe Ross, Director of the Bureau of the Mint (right), look on.

President Harry S. Truman (right) presents a Congressional Gold Medal, authorized by Congress, to Vice President Alben Barkley, in the Oval Office.

American Legion National Commander Paul Griffith (standing, left) receiving award from unidentified man. There is a picture of him in the background.

American Legion National Commander Paul Griffith (standing, left) receiving award from unidentified man while standing in front of a photo of himself. Unidentified military officer also in photo.

President Harry S. Truman (left) presents a Medal of Merit to Secretary of Defense James Forrestal (right) in the Oval Office. Standing in the background are Secretary of the Interior Julius Krug (third from the left) and Admiral William D. Leahy (fourth from the left, between Truman and Forrestal). Others are unidentified.

President Harry S. Truman in the oval office with four men who received the Medal of Merit. L to R: W. John Kenney, Undersecretary of the Navy; W. Stuart Symington, Secretary of the Air Force; President Truman; James Forrestal, Secretary of Defense; and John L. Sullivan, Secretary of the Navy. Standing in the back on the left is Admiral William D. Leahy. Standing in the back on the right is Eben Ayers. Others are unidentified.

President Harry S. Truman (middle, third from the right) presenting Medal of Merit to top officials. Standing with President Truman are (from left to right) W. John Kenney, Under-Secretary of Navy; W. Stuart Symington, Secretary of the Air Force; James Forrestal, Secretary of Defense; and John L. Sullivan, Secretary of the Navy. Standing in the back row are Secretary of the Interior Julius Krug (fourth from left); Secretary of State George Marshall (fifth from left); and Admiral William D. Leahy (sixth from left). All others are unidentified.

The children of Under Secretary of the Navy W. John Kenney and Secretary of the Navy John L. Sullivan in the Oval Office while their fathers receive the Medal of Merit from President Harry S. Truman. Secretary of State George Marshall is on the far right. Others are unidentified.

President Harry S. Truman (third from the left) presenting Medal of Merit to John L. Sullivan (right), Secretary of the Navy. With the President and Secretary Sullivan are Mr. Sullivan's family: children Patricia, Charles, and Deborah, and his wife Priscilla. Standing on the right in the background is General Harry Vaughan.