Ex-Sen. Joe Manchin Bags James Madison Award at Whig-Clio Event

Joe Manchin III, the former U.S. Senator from West Virginia, was honored with the James Madison Award for Distinguished Public Service. The award was presented to him by the American Whig-Cliosophic Society on Saturday afternoon.

The ceremony was held at McCosh Hall 10, with approximately 70 attendees, including students, faculty, parents, and staff. Manchin III was recognized for his over four decades of public service, including his tenure as West Virginia’s governor from 2005 to 2010 and his time in the Senate from 2010 to 2025. During his time in the Senate, he was the only congressional Democrat representing West Virginia.

Previous recipients of the James Madison Award include notable figures such as former Supreme Court Justices Earl Warren and Antonin Scalia, President Jimmy Carter, General Mark Milley ’80, former Prime Minister of Israel Golda Meir, and Senator Ted Cruz ’92.

The ceremony was initiated by Samuel Kligman ’26, Whig-Clio’s president, who reemphasized the university’s commitment to free expression. He noted that honoring those who have devoted their lives to improving society is at the core of the society’s mission. This was followed by Vice President Khoa Sands ’26 who introduced Manchin III, praising him for his commitment to bipartisanship and his dedication to both environmental sustainability and economic growth.

While accepting the award, Manchin III shared how his understanding of public service was shaped by his upbringing in his hometown of Farmington, W.Va. He urged the audience to remember their roots, stating that one’s upbringing defines who they are. His words were, “I want you to think about where you came from, because you are who you are because of where you were raised. That’s been my North Star.”

Manchin III attributes his political perspective to his Czech immigrant grandparents who owned a small grocery store. He fondly recalled his grandmother’s saying that people would appreciate your knowledge only when they understand how much you care about them.

During the Biden administration, Manchin was the most conservative member of the Democrats’ caucus. His vote was crucial to the passage of any bill, and he was a staunch defender of the filibuster, a Senate procedure that requires a bill to have 60 votes to pass. Manchin stood by his decision to retain the filibuster, referring to an opinion he wrote in the Washington Post in 2021. Furthermore, he made a clear statement that he would never vote to eliminate the filibuster, stressing its importance for maintaining checks and balances.

Manchin also called for significant institutional reforms, including term limits for the members of both chambers of Congress.

During a Q&A session, Manchin answered questions on a variety of topics, including his stance on energy policy and gun violence. He emphasized the need for balance when it comes to environmental goals and economic livelihoods. Manchin warned against the negative impact of shifting focus towards renewable energy without a proper plan in place for those employed in the coal industry.

He referenced his work on the Inflation Reduction Act to demonstrate how balance can be achieved and argued for cleaner usage of fossil fuels.

After the Q&A session, Manchin received applause from the attendees before joining them at a reception in the Whig Hall lounge. In a post-event interview, Kligman and Sands highlighted the significance of the award and expressed gratitude to the University’s Office of Government Affairs for their help in organizing the event.