Robert Rauschenberg, who died Monday night, was one of the most influential American artists of the 20th century — and a great supporter of the freedom that allows artists to thrive. He created “People For the American Way”, a limited edition lithograph, in 1991 in celebration of People For’s 10th anniversary. Several years later, he designed the “Equine Posterior Achievement Award,” which was cast in bronze by sculptor Robert Graham. People For has occasionally awarded the accolade to “a leader whose abilities to misrepresent an issue and pander to our baser instincts reach such ridiculous heights that we don’t know whether to laugh or cry.”

People For salutes this extraordinary American.