Presentation of the National Geographic Societys Gold Medal to Jacques Cousteau, 12:03PM. President John F. Kennedy presents the National Geographic Society's Gold Medal to Captain Jacques Cousteau, Director General of the Oceanarium of Monaco (center) on the steps of the West Wing Colonnade, White House, Washington, D.C. President and editor of National Geographic Melville Bell Grosvenor (right of Cousteau) looks on. Among those standing on the steps are French Ambassador to the United States Hervé Alphand and his wife Nicole Merenda Alphand; Cousteau's wife Simone Melchior Cousteau.