National Medal for Literature (original) (raw)

The National Medal for Literature was a literary award recognizing an individual for distinguished and continuing contributions to American letters. First presented to Thornton Wilder by Lady Bird Johnson at a White House ceremony in 1965, the award consisted of a cash prize of $15,000 and a bronze medal. The medal was not presented for 1974–75, nor 1982–83. After a brief hiatus, the prize was effectively replaced in 1988 with the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, awarded by the National Book Foundation.