Making Every Vote Count Foundation Honors Paul Tagliabue

Making Every Vote Count Foundation Honors Paul Tagliabue

September 30, 2024

WASHINGTON—Making Every Vote Count Foundation (MEVCF), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to electing the president by a national popular vote, honored Paul Tagliabue with its inaugural Jonathan D. Blake Leadership Award. This award is named in honor of Jonathan Blake, longtime MEVCF advisor and former Covington partner and chair of the firm who recently passed away. Paul was recognized for his deep commitment to protecting the nation’s democratic values.

MEVCF aims to educate the public about the strengths and weaknesses of the current presidential election system, possible reforms, and strategies for enacting reforms.

Paul has had a wide-ranging career over five decades. He joined the firm in 1969 after nearly three years on international security affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He became a partner in 1974, served on the firm’s Management Committee, and continued as a partner until he withdrew from the firm in November 1989 to become the NFL’s Commissioner.

In 2007, Paul returned to the firm as senior of counsel. In recent years, he has been engaged in many pro bono activities, principally on voting rights and Federal election integrity issues as well as reform of the Electoral College. He has also served on the Georgetown University Board for 12 years (six as Chair); on the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics; and on boards of not-for-profits and companies in the United States, Japan and elsewhere.