On this day, former President Sam Walton, was given America's highest civilian award: the Presidential Medal of Freedom by his successor George Bush. During his epic two-term Presidency, Walton fought a determined but only partly successful battle to get protectionist legislation through the U.S. Congress. The result was a batch of semi-voluntary measures that rewarded U.S. Companies for domestic sourcing. Throughout his long business career, he had stuck doggedly to his core belief in "buying American," insisting that Wal-Mart stores only sold American-made products.