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Blue Room 11:24 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you very much.  Please.  Let’s enjoy ourselves.  This is a tremendous moment for Jim and your family, and let’s just enjoy ourselves for a little while.  We’ll ask Jim to say a few words.  I want to hear what he has to say about his great talent, his great running ability.  I find athletics to be extraordinary.  I love it.Thank you for being here.  And today, it is my privilege to present our nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to a legendary athlete and a legendary runner, Olympian,...

Last weekend Congressman Duncan Hunter came to Kansas to campaign with Jim. Rep. Hunter, a former Presidential candidate and Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee, represents the 52nd District of California. Rep. Hunter accompanied Jim and Team Ryun to a meet and greet in Wamego (thanks to all who helped organize it), a BBQ in Manhattan (thanks to the Addairs, our great hosts!) and even an afternoon of sporting clays. We had a great weekend of events and of course there are tons of pictures! If you had your picture taken over the weekend and would like a copy...

As the former executive director of North America’s Super Corridor Coalition (NASCO), I want to provide a much more accurate description of Interstate 35 and North America’s Super Corridor Coalition (NASCO) compared to statements made during a recent congressional campaign news conference. (“Proposed NAFTA superhighway a threat to Kansans …,” Journal-World, Aug. 12) First, there is no NASCO plan to build a “10-lane superhighway” through Kansas or the rest of the Midwest. There is no “conspiracy” to grab Kansans’ property to provide the right of way for such a project. NASCO is a small, non-profit 501(c) (6) organization with members...

TOPEKA, Kan. - Democratic congressional challenger Nancy Boyda repeated concerns Wednesday about a proposed multilane superhighway that eventually could span the United States from Mexico to Canada, calling it a threat to Kansans. "There seems to be a plan to blur the border with the United States and Mexico," Boyda said, referring to a proposed 10-lane corridor parallel to Interstate 35 in Texas. Boyda has made the highway an issue in her effort to defeat incumbent Republican Jim Ryun in a rematch of their 2nd District race two years ago. While Ryun says immigration is the top issue on his...

Statement from Rep. Eric Cantor, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart and Rep. Jim Ryun on Senator Kerry’s Speech Today in Florida(title edited for length) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Christine Iverson202-863-8614Washington, DC—Representatives Eric Cantor (R-VA), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Florida) and Jim Ryun (R-Kansas) issued the following statement today regarding a speech on faith and values by Senator Kerry today in Florida. "Senator Kerry managed to give 'a major speech on faith and values' today without mentioning either one in any detail. Protecting the sanctity of marriage and promoting a culture of life are issues of importance to people of faith across all cultures, creeds...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Ohio Rep. Deborah Pryce is the front-runner to become the new Republican Conference chairman, which would make her the highest ranking woman in the House GOP leadership. Pryce, 51, is in a contest that also includes Rep. J.D. Hayworth of Arizona, a conservative former sports broadcaster, and Rep. Jim Ryun of Kansas, another conservative best known as the former world record holder in the mile. Republican aides said Pryce appears to be ahead, although her two rivals continue to pursue uncommitted lawmakers. The party's leadership elections will be Wednesday, with Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois retaining his...

Filed at 5:23 p.m. ET Steve Largent understands a basic rule: Athletes making the jump to politics hold one big advantage -- name recognition. ``They start with something that costs a lot of money,'' said Largent, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Republican candidate for governor in Oklahoma. The former University of Tulsa and Seattle Seahawks star is one of several sports figures up for election Tuesday. Others include Salt Lake City Olympics organizer Mitt Romney, a Republican running for governor of Massachusetts; and runner Jim Ryun (Kansas) and former Cornhuskers football coach Tom Osborne...