Foundation to honor former Alcoa CEO O’Neill

WASHINGTON — Paul H. O’Neill, the Alcoa CEO who became U.S. treasury secretary, is being honored for his service to the nation. The Gerald R. Ford Medal for Distinguished Public Service will be presented to him June 3 at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington.

“Paul has devoted his life to service to the American people with his long-serving public service positions and dedication to making a difference,” said Mike Ford, chairman of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and son of the former president.

President George W. Bush appointed Mr. O’Neill secretary of the treasury in 2001, but he served only briefly. He was frequently at odds with other White House advisers who had different views of economic policy and taxation, and he left the Cabinet in 2002.

Mr. O’Neill, now 83 and a Pittsburgh resident, had previously worked during the Johnson, Nixon and Ford administrations as a computer systems analyst and as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget. He left government work to serve as president of International Paper Co. and then as CEO of Alcoa. He returned to Washington when Mr. Bush tapped him as treasury secretary.

The Ford Medal has been given annually since 2003..