“Leadership is not an end in itself. It's what you do with it that counts.

…there is no better example of that kind of leadership than General Wesley K. Clark. Wes is one of my personal heroes -- and not just because of the way he looks in a uniform.

“General Clark has proven himself to be a diplomat of the highest order as well as an outstanding military commander and strategist. In Dayton, he offered creative solutions -- and a mastery of detail -- to help bridge seemingly intractable differences; and he used a combination of charm and persistence to win the confidence of three leaders who had little if any trust in each other.

“But for General Clark, that was just a warm-up. In Kosovo, he had what Italy's foreign minister correctly called "the most difficult task of them all" during NATO's first real military campaign.

“In Kosovo, we asked the political and military leaders of nineteen nations to work together, and decide -- by consensus! -- on tactical as well as strategic decisions. And we asked Wes Clark to lead and coordinate the entire effort.

“I can testify that he did a tremendous job, from start to finish.

"He is a man of wisdom and courage, who helped change history just a little bit. He has my personal admiration for everything he has done.

"In short, General Clark is the embodiment of everything John Gardner hoped for when he created the White House Fellowships.

"Wes has well-earned this award and the lasting gratitude of our nation.