President Obama will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 16 people, including former President Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey.
The modern version of the Medal of Freedom, established by John F. Kennedy, is the highest honor the U.S. gives civilians. It has been awarded to more than 500 people since its creation, according to Boston.
“This year’s honorees have been blessed with extraordinary talent, but what sets them apart is their gift for sharing that talent with the world,” Obama said, according to the White House press release.
Clinton (above with NJ Gov. Chris Christie) will be honored for his significant role in American politics and his humanitarian work through the Clinton Foundation, which promotes global public health, economic development and environmental protection. Also of note is his co-formation, with former President George W. Bush, of the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund in 2010.
Winfrey’s philanthropic efforts focusing on education and opportunities for females in the U.S. and Africa, plus her impressive career as a broadcaster and actress, have earned her the Presidential honor.
The other recipients are former senator Daniel Inouye, journalist Ben Bradlee, astronaut Sally Ride, former senator Richard Lugar, writer and activist Gloria Steinem, baseball player Ernie Banks, civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, psychologist and Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman, country singer, Loretta Lynn, chemist and Nobel Laureate Maria Molina, jazz musician Arturo Sandoval, former University of North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith, Judge Patricia Wald, and civil rights activist and minister C.T. Vivian.
The president chose the honorees from a list of recommendations by the advisory board of people who have contributed to America’s cultural, security and other public interests.
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