As a distinguished author, public servant and diplomat, The Honorable Clare Boothe Luce has rendered a lifetime of outstanding service to the United States and its citizens. In unusually diverse and multiple fields of endeavor and in positions of extraordinary responsibility, Clare Boothe Luce has exemplified, through her accomplishments in the national interest and manner of achievement, the ideals of West Point, which have inspired and motivated generations of
West Point graduates.

An author and lecturer of singular foresight, diversity and perception, Mrs. Luce has demonstrated, in her plays, news reports, essays and lectures, a combination of felicity of expression and integrity of substance which have earned for her a reputation as one of the most respected and influential public figures of her time. Both in the example provided by her literary accomplishments and in the image which she presents, Mrs. Luce has provided hope and inspiration to millions of Americans and has represented to them the best our nation has produced.

As public servant and diplomat, Mrs. Luce has served our nation at the highest levels of national policy and decision-making. She has stood for a strong national defense posture and for the greatest possible freedom for individual action and achievement. In her participation in an unusually broad range of public activities, Mrs. Luce has exemplified a willingness to serve, a degree of integrity, and a sense of patriotism that are in the finest tradition of American public service.

Through her long and dedicated service to our country, both in and out of the government, Mrs. Luce has made a lasting contribution to the welfare and security of our nation. Through her writings, her public service and her life she has reflected and symbolized the values inherent in “Duty, Honor, Country,” upon which the United States Military Academy is based. Accordingly, the Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy hereby awards the 1979 Sylvanus Thayer Award to Clare Boothe Luce.