John J. McCloy Awards Dinner
Lufthansa Group and Evan Gershkovich, Wall Street Journal reporter.
On January 31, 2024, the ACG held
the 30th John J. McCloy Awards Dinner and honored
Dr. Belén Garijo, Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck KGaA, and Alexander C. Karp, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Palantir Technologies Inc.
“Interesting lecture series, study trips and high-level conferences on current economic and political issues are but some of the diverse activities which make the American Council on Germany a key forum for frank and intensive dialog bringing together decision-makers and young hopefuls from both sides of the Atlantic. The American Council on Germany... has repeatedly proven itself to be an essential pillar of a vibrant, enduring transatlantic partnership.”
- Chancellor Angela Merkel“Since its inception, the ACG has sought to strengthen the important alliance between the United States and Germany. Its valuable work has furthered the political, economic, and social understanding between the two countries.”
- President Donald J. Trump“The job of foreign politics should not be left to diplomats and politicians alone. People to people relations are crucial to our two societies and to bringing us closer together. So the ACG is doing an outstanding job on this front.”
- Former German Ambassador to the U.S. Peter Wittig“The time is right for the ACG’s strategic engagement and an ambitious portfolio of activities that aim to inform and influence public debate, as well as conversations among U.S. and German opinion leaders and decision-makers.”
- ACG Vice Chairman Dr. Richard M. Hunt“The transatlantic relationship, from the beginning of the Marshall Fund to the creation of NATO to our support for German reunification, is one of the great success stories – economically, politically, and militarily – of world history. Moving forward, we need the same level of political will – on both sides of the Atlantic – to continue to bring a pragmatic, problem-solving approach to the challenges we face. And the American Council on Germany can play a significant role in helping to bring that about.”
- Ambassador John B. Emerson, ACG Chairman“In the years ahead, working with the Atlantik-Brücke and other organizations, the Council will create new programs and develop new ties under its present leadership between our two countries and enable both American and Germany to live at last in a better world with much better memories of the past and much brighter hopes for a more peaceful future.”
- Lieutenant General Peter Schelzig, Vice Chief of Defense (Deputy Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), German Ministry of Defense