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Award

Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service

Lula speaks at the opening of the UN General Assembly, on September 23, 2009, two days after receiving the Woodrow Wilson Award in New York (the photo does not show the presentation).
Lula speaks at the opening of the UN General Assembly, on September 23, 2009, two days after receiving the Woodrow Wilson Award in New York (the photo does not show the presentation).Photo: Ricardo Stuckert/PR (Agência Brasil), CC BY 3.0 BR

Documentary record

The Wilson Center announced that it would present the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service to Lula, President of Brazil, at a dinner on September 21, 2009 at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, in New York.[1]

According to the Wilson Center, on September 21 the Brazil Institute honored Lula with the award; it was presented by Joseph B. Gildenhorn, Charles L. Glazer, and Lee H. Hamilton, at a dinner in the Imperial Room of the Waldorf-Astoria, in New York.[2]

Stated rationale: the struggle for democracy and social justice and Lula's role as union organizer, party leader, and president in the political and economic transformation of Brazil.[3]

The president of the Wilson Center, Lee H. Hamilton, stated that Lula contributed decisively to the end of military rule and the democratic reopening in Brazil.[4]

Sources and evidence

Excerpts are quoted in the original language of the source.

  1. 1. The Wilson Center announced that it would present the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service to Lula, President of Brazil, at a dinner on September 21, 2009 at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, in New York.

    • President Lula to Receive Woodrow Wilson Public Service Award · Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Granting institution
      Where: body, paragraph 1. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution will present the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service to His Excellency Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, at a dinner to be held on September 21, 2009, at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City.”

  2. 2. According to the Wilson Center, on September 21 the Brazil Institute honored Lula with the award; it was presented by Joseph B. Gildenhorn, Charles L. Glazer, and Lee H. Hamilton, at a dinner in the Imperial Room of the Waldorf-Astoria, in New York.

    • Woodrow Wilson Public Service Award · Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Granting institution
      Where: paragraph 1 of the event summary. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “On Sept 21st, the Brazil Institute honored President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva with the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service in a dinner chaired by Eike Batista, Chairman and CEO of the Brazilian EBX Group, and Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil.”
    • Woodrow Wilson Public Service Award · Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Granting institution
      Where: paragraph 1 of the event summary (sentence 2). Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “The award was presented to the Brazilian president by the chairman of the Woodrow Wilson International Center of Scholars Board of Trustees, Joseph B. Gildenhorn, board member Charles L. Glazer, and the Center's President and Director, Lee H. Hamilton.”
    • Woodrow Wilson Public Service Award · Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Granting institution
      Where: paragraph 2 of the event summary. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “welcomed the than 320 guests who attended the dinner, held at the Imperial Room of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, in New York.”

  3. 3. Stated rationale: the struggle for democracy and social justice and Lula's role as union organizer, party leader, and president in the political and economic transformation of Brazil.

    • Woodrow Wilson Public Service Award · Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Granting institution
      Where: paragraph 3 of the event summary. Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “The president of Brazil was honored in recognition of his fight for democracy and social justice, and for the fundamental role he played as a union organizer, party leader and President in Brazil's political and economic transformation.”

  4. 4. The president of the Wilson Center, Lee H. Hamilton, stated that Lula contributed decisively to the end of military rule and the democratic reopening in Brazil.

    • President Lula to Receive Woodrow Wilson Public Service Award · Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Granting institution
      Where: body, paragraph 2 (quotation from Lee H. Hamilton). Accessed October 13, 2026.
      “He is a political leader who contributed decisively to bringing about the end of military rule and reopening the road to democracy in his country.”