The last person American icon Joe DiMaggio would have given an award to in his name is Bill Clinton. But it happened Jan. 24 in Florida when Clinton was given the first “Joe DiMaggio American Icon Award,” benefiting the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.
The former president waived his fee, raised $900,000 and wowed the audience for 45 minutes. The Yankee Clipper must have been spinning in his grave. DiMaggio was adamant about not being seated with then-President Clinton at the Time Magazine 75th Anniversary Gala at Radio City in 1998. It made national headlines at the time.