Commems Collection Medals: 1971 Jose Antonio Navarro - In Congress

From the era when United States ("US") commemorative medals were "in" and commemorative coins were "out"...

In September 1969, in the House of Representatives ("House"), Henry B. Gonzalez (D-TX) introduced a bill proposing the striking of commemorative medals "in commemoration of the many contributions to the founding and early development of the State of Texas and the city of San Antonio by Jose Antonio Navarro."

The bill called for up to 100,000 bronze medals to be struck (plus potential silver and/or gold medals which would not count against the bronze medal limit).

Upon its introduction, the medal bill was referred to the House Committee on Banking and Currency. The Committee reported the bill favorably, with a recommendation to pass. The Committee did, however, recommend one amendment that was put forth by the Department of the Treasury that added a termination of striking authority date to the bill (December 31, 1970).

Representative Gonzalez submitted a prepared statement to the Committee on behalf of his bill; it was included in the Committee's Report. It begins with a concise statement that speaks to the worthiness of Navarro for the proposed commemorative medal:

"Jose Antonio Navarro was a unique individual who made many contributions to the founding and early development of the State of Texas and the city of San Antonio and who stood by Texas in her struggle for liberty even though he was a Mexican patriot ."

Note: Navarro was a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence.

After receiving the Committee Report, the House brought the bill up for consideration.

Harold Royce Gross (R-IA) was the first to speak up. and, reserving his right to object to the measure, questioned the potential of some portion of the Navarro medals being struck in silver or gold.

Leonor Kretzer Sullivan (D-MO), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Banking and Currency, responded to Representative Gross, informing him that while the striking of silver and gold medals is possible under the legislation, if the sponsor desired such pieces they would be responsible for purchasing the required precious metals on the open market and providing same to the Treasury/Mint - US Government supplies of gold and silver would not be touched for medal production.

Gross then referred to the use of gold in US currency as "an anachronism and even barbaric" and stated "Surely the Banking and Currency Committee would not want to sully the name of a patriot of the character of Navarro by using [gold or silver." (A weak attempt to thwart the bill IMO.)

Note: Reading such comments, I wonder if Representative Gross was recalling the words of influential British economist John Maynard Keynes. who, in the 1920s, referred to the gold standard as a "barbarous relic." (If you're unfamiliar with "Keynesian Economics", I would encourage at least a brief investigation into the topic.)

Representative Sullivan reminded Gross that medals were under discussion, not coins. She also provided extended comments on the actions of the Subcommittee on Banking and Currency to curtail the issue of commemorative coins and replace same with commemorative medals.

Apparently, Representative Gross felt he had voiced his "gold bad" stance adequately, as he dropped further challenges to the medal bill. Ultimately, Representative Gross did not object to the bill and it was passed by the House - with the Committee-recommended amendment - and sent to the Senate for its consideration.

Upon being received in the Senate, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Banking and Currency. It was reported favorably with a recommendation to pass; the Senate Committee did not recommend any amendments.

After receiving the Committee Report, the Senate considered the bill and passed it without issue. The bill was subsequently sent to the President for his review and approval. US President Richard Milhous Nixon signed the Navarro medal bill into law on May 9, 1970 - the same day he unexpectedly visited the Lincoln Memorial to speak with college students (and others) who were there protesting the Vietnam War.


Continue the story with Part II - The Medal


For other of my posts about commemorative coins and medals, see: Commems Collection