David Rubenstein, board chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, received praise from U.S. President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken during recent celebrations for this year’s recipients of the 47th Kennedy Center Honors.
Biden called Rubenstein “one of the most generous people” during his remarks at the White House reception for the honorees on Dec. 8.
Biden said that when he prepared to live in the president’s residence in the White House, his brother said, “‘Look, you want to be able to see from your desk—you want to be able to see Rubenstein.’ I said, ‘I beg your pardon?’ He said, ‘The Washington Memorial.’ This guy rebuilt the sucker.”
“You’re the best, David,” Biden added. “You are.”
Rubenstein announced on Nov. 21 that he will stay on as board chairman through September 2026 after previously announcing his intent to retire from the Kennedy Center board after 14 years in the leadership position.
During the medallion ceremony at the State Department on Dec. 7, Blinken told Rubenstein, “Your contributions to American philanthropy, to the arts, are simply unparalleled. Your tenure as the board chair of the Kennedy Center—genuinely historic.”
The Secretary of State reflected on the location of the special tribute ceremony, which took place in the Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room in the Harry S. Truman Federal Building.
“I’m reminded of the story of when Thomas Jefferson was appointed to follow Franklin as the United States ambassador to France,” Blinken said. “When Jefferson presented his credentials, the French foreign minister said, ‘You replace Monsieur Franklin,’ to which Jefferson replied, ‘I succeed him. No man can replace him.’”
Blinken addressed Rubenstein, saying, “David—I’m glad the Kennedy Center has persuaded you to stay while they work to find the Jefferson to your Franklin.”
Those selected for the Lifetime Artistic Achievement awards include director and filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola; singer, songwriter and guitarist Bonnie Raitt; The Grateful Dead; jazz trumpeter, pianist and composer Arturo Sandoval; and The Apollo, which will receive a special honor as an iconic American institution.