Gov. Ridge Presents Allegheny College Prize for Civility to VP Joe Biden and Sen. John McCain

June 7, 2016 (Washington, DC) – Allegheny College President James H. Mullen, Jr. and Governor Tom Ridge, the first U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and a 2012 Allegheny College honorary degree recipient, presented the 2016 Prize for Civility in Public Life to Vice President Joe Biden and Senator John McCain.

Both award recipients spoke to the need for increased civility in today’s political arena, looking at their own friendship and each other’s ability to work across the aisle as inspiration.

Gov. Ridge, in presenting the award, remarked that he “can’t imagine two public servants more deserving of this prize.”

“Ask anyone who has sat across a table from Joe Biden or John McCain and they’ll tell you the same thing – that these are men of principle who hold strong to their beliefs and will argue passionately in defense of their positions. But they also understand that one need not demonize their opposition in order to effectively govern.”

To watch the full award presentation online, click here.

To learn more about the Allegheny College 2016 Prize for Civility in Public Life, click here.