Presidential Medal of Freedom
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Contents
- Introduction
- Background
- History
- Design and Protocol
- Nomination, Selection, and Presentation
- Role for Members of Congress
- Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Related CRS Products
Tables
- Table 1. Number of Presidential Medals of Freedom, by President
- Table 2. Presidential Medals of Freedom: Donald J. Trump (2017-2021, 2025-Present)
- Table 3. Presidential Medals of Freedom: Joseph R. Biden Jr. (2021-2025)
- Table 4. Presidential Medals of Freedom: Barack H. Obama (2009-2017)
- Table 5. Presidential Medals of Freedom: George W. Bush (2001-2009)
- Table 6. Presidential Medals of Freedom: William J. Clinton (1993-2001)
- Table 7. Presidential Medals of Freedom: George H. W. Bush (1989-1993)
- Table 8. Presidential Medals of Freedom: Ronald W. Reagan (1981-1989)
- Table 9. Presidential Medals of Freedom: James E. Carter Jr. (1977-1981)
- Table 10. Presidential Medals of Freedom: Gerald R. Ford Jr. (1974-1977)
- Table 11. Presidential Medals of Freedom: Richard M. Nixon (1969-1974)
- Table 12. Presidential Medals of Freedom: Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969)
- Table 13. Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients, 1963-2025
Summary
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is considered the U.S. government's highest civilian honor. Awarded by the President, it is often presented to individuals to recognize a lifetime of significant achievements in the arts, public service, science, or other fields.
Created by President Harry S. Truman in 1945 as the Medal of Freedom, the medal was renamed by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 as the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Executive Order 11085 (February 22, 1963) allows the President to recognize "any person who has made an especially meritorious contribution to (1) the security or national interests of the United States, or (2) world peace, or (3) cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."
The medal is a white star over a red pentagon, surrounded by five gold eagles. At the star's center is a blue circle with 13 gold stars. The Presidential Medal of Freedom comes in two degrees, with the more prestigious version known as the Presidential Medal of Freedom "with distinction."
There is no formal procedure for nominating and selecting recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The President has wide latitude under Executive Order 11515 (March 13, 1970) to award the medal to "any person recommended to the President for award of the Medal or any person selected by the President upon his own initiative." Selections often reflect the President's political and personal interests.
Numerous Members of Congress have sent nominations to the President. Some Members have made floor remarks about potential or past recipients and introduced resolutions congratulating honorees or urging the President to recognize a specific individual.
Between 1963 and 2025, the Presidential Medal of Freedom was awarded 673 times to 670 individuals and one group (the Apollo 13 Mission Operations Team); two people (Ellsworth Bunker and Colin Powell) received the medal twice. This report contains a comprehensive list of honorees and indicates the 56 medals known to have been awarded "with distinction."
Introduction
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is considered the U.S. government's highest civilian honor. Awarded by the President, it is often presented to individuals to recognize a lifetime of significant achievements in the arts, public service, science, or other fields.
This report describes the history of the medal, provides information about its design and related protocol, and discusses the nomination and selection process. It concludes with tables containing a comprehensive list of honorees since 1963.
In July 1945, President Harry S. Truman issued an executive order, near the end of World War II, to create the Medal of Freedom. In establishing the award, he sought to honor civilians who "performed a meritorious act or service which has aided the United States" or one of its allies overseas during wartime, "and for which an award of another United States medal or decoration is considered inappropriate."1 During the Korean War, President Truman expanded the medal's eligibility to include actions during "any period of national emergency."2 It was awarded thousands of times, mostly by federal officials other than the President.3
In his 1955 State of the Union address, President Dwight D. Eisenhower called for "awards of merit … whereby we can honor our fellow citizens who make great contribution to the advancement of our civilization."4 The House twice passed bills to create a Medal for Distinguished Civilian Achievement: H.R. 11923 in the 84th Congress5 and H.R. 488 in the 85th Congress.6 In each case, the Senate referred the bill to committee and took no further action.7
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy issued Executive Order 11085 to modify the Medal of Freedom, including by giving it a new name: the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It would now be awarded solely by the President to "any person who has made an especially meritorious contribution to (1) the security or national interests of the United States, or (2) world peace, or (3) cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."8
President Kennedy said at the time that
in a period when the national government must call upon an increasing portion of the talents and energies of its citizens, it is clearly appropriate to provide ways to recognize and reward the work of persons, within and without the government, who contribute significantly to the quality of American life.9
On July 4, 1963, President Kennedy announced the first slate of 31 honorees.10 President Lyndon B. Johnson presented the initial Presidential Medals of Freedom two weeks after President Kennedy's assassination, with two posthumous additions to the list: Pope John XXIII and President Kennedy.11
|
Figure 1. Presidential Medal of Freedom Front of the medal awarded to Rosa Parks in 1996 |
 |
|
Source: Library of Congress. |
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is a white star over a red pentagon, surrounded by five gold eagles. At the star's center is a blue circle with 13 gold stars.
Harry D. Temple, the head of the Army's Institute of Heraldry, designed the medal with input from President Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.12 A contemporary White House document described the white star—a symbol displayed on military vehicles—as "the identifying emblem of United States elements in the defense of freedom" and "recognized universally as a symbol of our selfless determination to maintain the freedom and democracy of mankind."13
The Presidential Medal of Freedom comes in two degrees, with the more prestigious version known as the Presidential Medal of Freedom "with distinction."
At the first White House awards ceremony, President Johnson described the Presidential Medal of Freedom as "the Nation's highest civil honor."14 It has also been described as "the civilian equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor"15 and "the highest civil award that can be presented by the President of the United States."16
Guides to etiquette and precedence typically list the Presidential Medal of Freedom first among nonmilitary U.S. awards.17
Nomination, Selection, and Presentation
There is no formal procedure for nominations or the evaluation of potential recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.18
The President can award the medal to "any person recommended to the President for award of the Medal or any person selected by the President upon his own initiative."19 Selections often reflect the President's political and personal interests.
The medal is often, though not always, presented at an annual White House ceremony.20
Numerous Members have sent nominations to the President, often in a formal written letter.21
Some Members have also made floor remarks and inserted statements into the Congressional Record about potential or past recipients.22
In addition, some Members have introduced resolutions urging the President to recognize specific people with the award,23 and to congratulate or memorialize honorees.24
In recent years, some Members have also asked the President to revoke a previously awarded medal.25 President Barack H. Obama said in 2015 there was "no precedent for revoking the medal."26
Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom was awarded 673 times between 1963 and 2025.27
The recipients included 670 individuals and one group, the Apollo 13 Mission Operations Team.28 Two people received the medal twice: Ellsworth Bunker (in 1963 and 1967) and Colin Powell (in 1991 and 1993).
An academic analysis of recipients through 2013 found the most common primary area of achievement was political and public service (about 27% of recipients), followed by art, acting, and music (about 15%) and academia and science (about 14%). Additional areas of achievement included civil rights (about 9% of recipients), humanitarianism and philanthropy (about 6%), military service (about 6%), and journalism and broadcasting (about 6%). Smaller numbers of recipients were recognized for achievements in writing and literature, athletics, labor, business, religion, conservation and environmentalism, and architecture and engineering.29
Table 1 shows the total number of medals awarded by each President. An initial slate of 31 honorees announced by President Kennedy received their medals from his successor, President Johnson, and are included in the latter's total.
|
President |
Number Awarded |
|
Lyndon B. Johnson |
89a |
|
Richard M. Nixon |
28 |
|
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
28 |
|
James E. Carter Jr. |
34 |
|
Ronald W. Reagan |
86 |
|
George H. W. Bush |
38 |
|
William J. Clinton |
89 |
|
George W. Bush |
82 |
|
Barack H. Obama |
118 |
|
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
57 |
|
Donald J. Trump |
24b |
|
Total |
673 |
Sources: CRS analysis based on information from the Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents, Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, news reports, and White House press releases.
Notes: Current as of January 2025.
a. Includes 31 honorees selected by President John F. Kennedy before his assassination.
Tables 2-12 list honorees by the President who presented their medal. Recipients are listed in alphabetical order by last name.30 The recipients who are known to have been awarded the medal "with distinction" are marked with a table note (a).31
|
Name |
Year |
|
Miriam Adelson |
2018 |
|
Bob Cousy |
2019 |
|
Dan Gable |
2020 |
|
Orrin G. Hatch |
2018 |
|
Lou Holtz |
2020 |
|
Jim Jordan |
2021 |
|
Jack Keane |
2020 |
|
Arthur Betz Laffer |
2019 |
|
Rush Limbaugh |
2020 |
|
Edwin Meese |
2019 |
|
Devin Nunes |
2021 |
|
Alan Cedric Page |
2018 |
|
Roger Penske |
2019 |
|
Gary Jim Player |
2021 |
|
Elvis Presley |
2018 |
|
Mariano Rivera |
2019 |
|
Babe Ruth |
2018 |
|
Jim Ryun |
2020 |
|
Antonin Scalia |
2018 |
|
Annika Sorenstam |
2021 |
|
Roger Thomas Staubach |
2018 |
|
Jerry West |
2019 |
|
Tiger Woods |
2019 |
|
Mildred Didrikson Zaharias |
2021 |
Source: Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents.
Notes: Current as of January 2025.
|
Name |
Year |
|
José Andrés |
2025 |
|
Simone Biles |
2022 |
|
Michael Bloomberg |
2024 |
|
Bono |
2025 |
|
Greg Boyle |
2024 |
|
Simone Campbell |
2022 |
|
Ashton B. Carter |
2025 |
|
Hillary Rodham Clinton |
2025 |
|
James Clyburn |
2024 |
|
Elizabeth Dole |
2024 |
|
Phil Donahue |
2024 |
|
Medgar Evers |
2024 |
|
Pope Francis Ia |
2025 |
|
Michael J. Fox |
2025 |
|
Juliet García |
2022 |
|
Gabrielle Giffords |
2022 |
|
Tim Gill |
2025 |
|
Jane Goodall |
2025 |
|
Albert Gore Jr. |
2024 |
|
Fred Gray Sr. |
2022 |
|
Fannie Lou Hamer |
2025 |
|
Steve Jobs |
2022 |
|
Magic Johnson |
2025 |
|
Clarence B. Jones |
2024 |
|
Alexander Karloutsos |
2022 |
|
Robert Francis Kennedy |
2025 |
|
John Kerry |
2024 |
|
Khizr Khan |
2022 |
|
Ralph Lauren |
2025 |
|
Frank R. Lautenberg |
2024 |
|
Katie Ledecky |
2024 |
|
Opal Lee |
2024 |
|
Sandra Lindsay |
2022 |
|
John McCain |
2022 |
|
Lionel Messi |
2025 |
|
Diane Nash |
2022 |
|
Bill Nye |
2025 |
|
Ellen Ochoa |
2024 |
|
Nancy Pelosi |
2024 |
|
Megan Rapinoe |
2022 |
|
Cecile Richards |
2024 |
|
Jane Rigby |
2024 |
|
Teresa Romero |
2024 |
|
George W. Romney |
2025 |
|
David M. Rubenstein |
2025 |
|
Judy Shepard |
2024 |
|
Alan Simpson |
2022 |
|
George Soros |
2025 |
|
George Stevens Jr. |
2025 |
|
Jens Stoltenberg |
2024 |
|
Jim Thorpe |
2024 |
|
Richard Trumka |
2022 |
|
Wilma L. Vaught |
2022 |
|
Denzel Washington |
2022b |
|
Anna Wintour |
2025 |
|
Michelle Yeoh |
2024 |
|
Raul Yzaguirre |
2022 |
Sources: Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents; White House, "President Biden Announces Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom," press release, January 4, 2025, https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/04/president-biden-announces-recipients-of-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom-3; White House, "President Biden Awards Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction to His Holiness Pope Francis," press release, January 11, 2025, https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/11/president-biden-awards-presidential-medal-of-freedom-with-distinction-to-his-holiness-pope-francis.
|
Name |
Year |
|
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
2016 |
|
John H. Adams |
2011 |
|
Alvin Ailey |
2014 |
|
Madeleine Albright |
2012 |
|
Isabel Allende |
2014 |
|
Maya Angelou |
2011 |
|
Ernie Banks |
2013 |
|
Yogi Berra |
2015 |
|
Joseph R. Biden Jr.a |
2017 |
|
Ben Bradlee |
2013 |
|
Nancy Brinker |
2009 |
|
Tom Brokaw |
2014 |
|
Warren Buffett |
2011 |
|
George H. W. Bush |
2011 |
|
Bonnie Carroll |
2015 |
|
James Earl Chaney |
2014 |
|
Shirley Chisholm |
2015 |
|
William J. Clinton |
2013 |
|
Elouise Cobell |
2016 |
|
Robert De Niro |
2016 |
|
Ellen DeGeneres |
2016 |
|
John David Dingell |
2014 |
|
John Michael Doar |
2012 |
|
Mildred Spiewak Dresselhaus |
2014 |
|
Bob Dylan |
2012 |
|
Emilio Estefan Jr. |
2015 |
|
Gloria Estefan |
2015 |
|
William H. Foege |
2012 |
|
Billy Frank |
2015 |
|
Richard Lawrence Garwin |
2016 |
|
Bill Gates |
2016 |
|
Melinda Gates |
2016 |
|
Robert M. Gates |
2011 |
|
Frank O. Gehry |
2016 |
|
John Glenn |
2012 |
|
Andrew Goodman |
2014 |
|
Pedro Jose Greer Jr. |
2009 |
|
Lee H. Hamilton |
2015 |
|
Margaret Hamilton |
2016 |
|
Tom Hanks |
2016 |
|
Suzan Shown Harjo |
2014 |
|
Stephen Hawking |
2009 |
|
Gordon Hirabayashi |
2012 |
|
Grace Hopper |
2016 |
|
Dolores Huerta |
2012 |
|
Daniel Inouye |
2013 |
|
Jasper Johns |
2011 |
|
Katherine Johnson |
2015 |
|
Michael Jordan |
2016 |
|
Daniel Kahneman |
2013 |
|
Jan Karski |
2012 |
|
Jack French Kemp |
2009 |
|
Edward M. Kennedy |
2009 |
|
Ethel Kennedy |
2014 |
|
Billie Jean King |
2009 |
|
Gerda Weissmann Klein |
2011 |
|
John Robert Lewis |
2011 |
|
Maya Lin |
2016 |
|
Tom Little |
2011 |
|
Juliette Gordon Low |
2012 |
|
Joseph E. Lowery |
2009 |
|
Richard Green Lugar |
2013 |
|
Loretta Lynn |
2013 |
|
Yo-Yo Ma |
2011 |
|
Willie Mays |
2015 |
|
Joseph Medicine Crow |
2009 |
|
Sylvia Mendez |
2011 |
|
Angela Merkel |
2011 |
|
Lorne Michaels |
2016 |
|
Barbara Mikulski |
2015 |
|
Abner Joseph Mikva |
2014 |
|
Harvey Milk |
2009 |
|
Patsy Takemoto Mink |
2014 |
|
Newton Minow |
2016 |
|
Mario Molina |
2013 |
|
Toni Morrison |
2012 |
|
Stan Musial |
2011 |
|
Sandra Day O'Connor |
2009 |
|
Eduardo Padrón |
2016 |
|
Shimon Peres |
2012 |
|
Itzhak Perlman |
2015 |
|
Sidney Poitier |
2009 |
|
Robert Redford |
2016 |
|
Sally K. Ride |
2013 |
|
Chita Rivera |
2009 |
|
Mary Robinson |
2009 |
|
Diana Ross |
2016 |
|
Janet D. Rowley |
2009 |
|
Edward Roybal |
2014 |
|
William Doyle Ruckelshaus |
2015 |
|
Bill Russell |
2011 |
|
Bayard Rustin |
2013 |
|
Arturo Sandoval |
2013 |
|
Michael Henry Schwerner |
2014 |
|
Vin Scully |
2016 |
|
Charlie Sifford |
2014 |
|
Dean Smith |
2013 |
|
Jean Kennedy Smith |
2011 |
|
Robert M. Solow |
2014 |
|
Stephen Sondheim |
2015 |
|
Steven Spielberg |
2015 |
|
Bruce Springsteen |
2016 |
|
Gloria Steinem |
2013 |
|
John Paul Stevens |
2012 |
|
Meryl Streep |
2014 |
|
Barbra Streisand |
2015 |
|
Pat Summitt |
2012 |
|
John J. Sweeney |
2011 |
|
James Taylor |
2015 |
|
Marlo Thomas |
2014 |
|
Desmond Tutu |
2009 |
|
Cicely Tyson |
2016 |
|
C. T. Vivian |
2013 |
|
Patricia M. Wald |
2013 |
|
Oprah Winfrey |
2013 |
|
Stevie Wonder |
2014 |
|
Minoru Yasui |
2015 |
|
Muhammad Yunus |
2009 |
|
Name |
Year |
|
Hank Aaron |
2002 |
|
Muhammad Ali |
2005 |
|
Robert LeRoy Bartley |
2003 |
|
Jacques Barzun |
2003 |
|
Gary Becker |
2007 |
|
Oscar Elias Biscet |
2007 |
|
Tony Blair |
2009 |
|
L. Paul Bremer |
2004 |
|
Edward W. Brooke |
2004 |
|
Carol Burnett |
2005 |
|
Ben Carson |
2008 |
|
Vinton G. Cerf |
2005 |
|
Julia Child |
2003 |
|
Roberto Clemente |
2003 |
|
Van Cliburn |
2003 |
|
Francis Collins |
2007 |
|
Ruth Johnson Colvin |
2006 |
|
Robert Conquest |
2005 |
|
Bill Cosby |
2002 |
|
Ryan C. Crocker |
2009 |
|
Doris Day |
2004 |
|
Placido Domingo |
2002 |
|
Peter F. Drucker |
2002 |
|
Anthony S. Fauci |
2008 |
|
Norman C. Francis |
2006 |
|
Aretha Franklin |
2005 |
|
Tommy R. Franks |
2004 |
|
Katharine Graham |
2002 |
|
Alan Greenspan |
2005 |
|
Vartan Gregorian |
2004 |
|
Andy Griffith |
2005 |
|
Gilbert Melville Grosvenor |
2004 |
|
Paul Harvey |
2005 |
|
Vaclav Havel |
2003 |
|
Donald A. Henderson |
2002 |
|
Charlton Heston |
2003 |
|
Gordon B. Hinckley |
2004 |
|
Benjamin L. Hooks |
2007 |
|
John Howard |
2009 |
|
Henry Hyde |
2007 |
|
Pope John Paul II |
2004 |
|
Paul Johnson |
2006 |
|
Robert E. Kahn |
2005 |
|
B. B. King |
2006 |
|
Irving William Kristol |
2002 |
|
Brian Lamb |
2007 |
|
Tom Lantos |
2008 |
|
Estee Lauder |
2004 |
|
Joshua Lederberg |
2006 |
|
Harper Lee |
2007 |
|
Nelson Mandela |
2002 |
|
David McCullough |
2006 |
|
Norman Yoshio Mineta |
2006 |
|
Gillespie V. ("Sonny") Montgomery |
2005 |
|
Gordon E. Moore |
2002 |
|
Rita Moreno |
2004 |
|
Richard B. Myers |
2005 |
|
Jack Nicklaus |
2005 |
|
Buck O'Neil |
2006 |
|
Peter Pace |
2008 |
|
Arnold Palmer |
2004 |
|
Arnall Patz |
2004 |
|
Norman Podhoretz |
2004 |
|
Nancy Reagan |
2002 |
|
George Islay MacNeill Robertson |
2003 |
|
Frank Robinson |
2005 |
|
Fred Rogers |
2002 |
|
A. M. Rosenthal |
2002 |
|
Paul Rusesabagina |
2005 |
|
William L. Safire |
2006 |
|
Donna Shalala |
2008 |
|
Natan Sharansky |
2006 |
|
Laurence H. Silberman |
2008 |
|
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf |
2007 |
|
Edward Teller |
2003 |
|
George Tenet |
2004 |
|
Dave Thomas |
2003 |
|
Alvaro Uribe |
2009 |
|
Byron R. White |
2003 |
|
James Q. Wilson |
2003 |
|
John Wooden |
2003 |
|
Walter Wriston |
2004 |
Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States.
|
Name |
Year |
|
Arnold Aronson |
1998 |
|
Arthur Ashe |
1993 |
|
Brooke Astor |
1998 |
|
Lloyd Bentsen |
1999 |
|
Joseph Bernardin |
1996 |
|
Herbert "Herblock" Block |
1994 |
|
James Scott Brady |
1996 |
|
William J. Brennan Jr. |
1993 |
|
Edgar M. Bronfman Sr. |
1999 |
|
James E. Burke |
2000 |
|
James E. Carter Jr. |
1999 |
|
Rosalynn Carter |
1999 |
|
John Hubbard Chafee |
2000 |
|
Peggy Charren |
1995 |
|
Cesar Chavez |
1994 |
|
Wesley Clark |
2000 |
|
William T. Coleman Jr. |
1995 |
|
Robert Coles |
1998 |
|
Joan Ganz Cooney |
1995 |
|
William James Crowe |
2000 |
|
Justin Dart Jr. |
1998 |
|
Bob Dole |
1997 |
|
Marjory Stoneman Douglas |
1993 |
|
Evelyn Dubrow |
1999 |
|
Marian Wright Edelman |
2000 |
|
James Farmer |
1998 |
|
Dante Bruno Fascell |
1998 |
|
Maria Isolina Ferre |
1999 |
|
Zachary Fisher |
1998 |
|
Arthur Sherwood Flemming |
1994 |
|
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
1999 |
|
John Hope Franklin |
1995 |
|
J. William Fulbright |
1993 |
|
Millard Fuller |
1996 |
|
John Kenneth Galbraith |
2000 |
|
James P. Grant |
1994 |
|
David A. Hamburg |
1996 |
|
Dorothy Irene Height |
1994 |
|
Frances Hesselbein |
1998 |
|
Leon A. Higginbotham Jr. |
1995 |
|
George G. Higgins |
2000 |
|
Oliver W. Hill |
1999 |
|
Jesse Jackson |
2000 |
|
Mildred Jeffrey |
2000 |
|
Frank Johnson Jr. |
1995 |
|
John H. Johnson |
1996 |
|
Barbara Jordan |
1994 |
|
Max M. Kampelman |
1999 |
|
Lane Kirkland |
1994 |
|
Helmut Kohl |
1999 |
|
C. Everett Koop |
1995 |
|
Fred Korematsu |
1998 |
|
Mathilde Krim |
2000 |
|
Eugene M. Lang |
1996 |
|
Sol Myron Linowitz |
1998 |
|
Wilma Mankiller |
1998 |
|
Thurgood Marshall |
1993 |
|
George Stanley McGovern |
2000 |
|
Bob Michel |
1994 |
|
George John Mitchell |
1999 |
|
Daniel Patrick Moynihan |
2000 |
|
Margaret Murie |
1998 |
|
Gaylord Nelson |
1995 |
|
Jan Nowak |
1996 |
|
Mario G. Obledo |
1998 |
|
Antonia Pantoja |
1996 |
|
Rosa Parks |
1996 |
|
William James Perry |
1997 |
|
Colin Powella |
1993 |
|
Joseph L. Rauh Jr. |
1993 |
|
Martha Raye |
1993 |
|
Walter Philip Reuther |
1995 |
|
Cruz Reynoso |
2000 |
|
Elliot Richardson |
1998 |
|
David Rockefeller |
1998 |
|
James W. Rouse |
1995 |
|
Ginetta Sagan |
1996 |
|
John Shalikashvili |
1997 |
|
Albert Shanker |
1998 |
|
Sargent Shriver |
1994 |
|
Aung San Suu Kyi |
2000 |
|
Gardner C. Taylor |
2000 |
|
Mo Udall |
1996 |
|
William C. Velasquez |
1995 |
|
Lew R. Wasserman |
1995 |
|
Edgar Wayburn |
1999 |
|
Simon Wiesenthal |
2000 |
|
John Minor Wisdom |
1993 |
|
Elmo R. Zumwalt |
1998 |
|
Name |
Year |
|
James Addison Baker III |
1991 |
|
Lucille Ball |
1989 |
|
David Brinkley |
1992 |
|
William F. Buckley Jr. |
1991 |
|
Johnny Carson |
1992 |
|
Dick Cheney |
1991 |
|
Javier Perez de Cuellar |
1991 |
|
C. Douglas Dillon |
1989 |
|
James Harold Doolittle |
1989 |
|
Luis A. Ferre |
1991 |
|
Ella Fitzgerald |
1992 |
|
Betty Ford |
1991 |
|
Hannah Holborn Gray |
1991 |
|
Friedrich August von Hayek |
1991 |
|
Audrey Hepburn |
1992 |
|
George F. Kennan |
1989 |
|
Tip O'Neill |
1991 |
|
I. M. Pei |
1992 |
|
Claude Pepper |
1989 |
|
Richard Petty |
1992 |
|
Colin Powell |
1991 |
|
Ronald W. Reagana |
1993 |
|
Harry W. Schlaudeman |
1992 |
|
H. Norman Schwarzkopf |
1991 |
|
Brent Scowcroft |
1991 |
|
Margaret Chase Smith |
1989 |
|
Isaac Stern |
1992 |
|
Leon Sullivan |
1991 |
|
Margaret Thatcher |
1991 |
|
Strom Thurmond |
1993 |
|
Russell Eroll Train |
1991 |
|
John William Vessey |
1992 |
|
Lech Walesa |
1989 |
|
Vernon Anthony Walters |
1991 |
|
Sam Walton |
1992 |
|
William Hedgcock Webster |
1991 |
|
Elie Wiesel |
1992 |
|
Ted Williams |
1991 |
|
Name |
Year |
|
Walter H. Annenberg |
1986 |
|
Anne Legendre Armstrong |
1987 |
|
Pearl Bailey |
1988 |
|
Howard Henry Baker Jr. |
1984 |
|
George Balanchine |
1983 |
|
Malcolm Baldrige |
1988 |
|
Count Basie |
1985 |
|
Red Blaik |
1986 |
|
Eubie Blake |
1981 |
|
Irving Brown |
1988 |
|
Paul William Bryant |
1983 |
|
Warren E. Burger |
1988 |
|
James Burnham |
1983 |
|
James Cagney |
1984 |
|
Peter Alexander Rupert Carrington |
1988 |
|
Whittaker Chambers |
1984 |
|
James Edward Cheek |
1983 |
|
Leo Cherne |
1984 |
|
Terence James Cooke |
1984 |
|
Denton Arthur Cooley |
1984 |
|
Jacques-Yves Cousteau |
1985 |
|
Justin Whitlock Dart |
1987 |
|
Tennessee Ernie Ford |
1984 |
|
Milton Friedman |
1988 |
|
R. Buckminster Fuller |
1983 |
|
Hector Perez Garcia |
1984 |
|
Barry Goldwater |
1986 |
|
Andrew Jackson Goodpaster |
1984 |
|
Billy Graham |
1983 |
|
Ella Grasso |
1981 |
|
Philip Charles Habib |
1982 |
|
Bryce N. Harlow |
1981 |
|
Helen Hayes |
1986 |
|
Eric Hoffer |
1983 |
|
Jerome Heartwell Holland |
1985 |
|
Sidney Hook |
1985 |
|
Vladimir Horowitz |
1986 |
|
Henry M. Jackson |
1984 |
|
Jacob Koppel Javits |
1983 |
|
Walter Henry Judd |
1981 |
|
Irving Robert Kaufman |
1987 |
|
Danny Kaye |
1987 |
|
Jeane Duane Jordan Kirkpatrick |
1985 |
|
Lincoln Kirstein |
1984 |
|
Louis L'Amour |
1984 |
|
Morris I. Leibman |
1981 |
|
Lyman Louis Lemnitzer |
1987 |
|
George Michael Low |
1985 |
|
Clare Boothe Luce |
1983 |
|
Joseph Luns |
1984 |
|
Jean Marie Faircloth MacArthur |
1988 |
|
Dumas Malone |
1983 |
|
Mike Mansfield |
1989 |
|
J. Willard Marriott |
1988 |
|
John A. McCone |
1987 |
|
Mabel Mercer |
1983 |
|
Paul Henry Nitze |
1985 |
|
David Packard |
1988 |
|
Frederick Douglass Patterson |
1987 |
|
Norman Vincent Peale |
1984 |
|
Nathan Perlmutter |
1987 |
|
Simon Ramo |
1983 |
|
Frank Reynolds |
1985 |
|
Matthew Bunker Ridgway |
1986 |
|
S. Dillon Ripley |
1985 |
|
Jackie Robinson |
1984 |
|
Carlos Pena Romulo |
1984 |
|
Mstislav Rostropovich |
1987 |
|
Vermont Connecticut Royster |
1986 |
|
Albert Bruce Sabin |
1986 |
|
Anwar Sadat |
1984 |
|
Eunice Kennedy Shriver |
1984 |
|
George P. Shultz |
1989 |
|
Frank Sinatra |
1985 |
|
Kate Smith |
1982 |
|
Roger L. Stevens |
1988 |
|
Jimmy Stewart |
1985 |
|
Mother Teresa |
1985 |
|
Charles Bates Thornton |
1981 |
|
William Bertalan Walsh |
1987 |
|
Albert Coady Wedemeyer |
1985 |
|
Caspar Willard Weinbergera |
1987 |
|
Meredith Willson |
1987 |
|
Albert J. Wohlstetter |
1985 |
|
Roberta Wohlstetter |
1985 |
|
Chuck Yeager |
1985 |
|
Name |
Year |
|
Ansel Adams |
1980 |
|
Horace Marden Albright |
1980 |
|
Roger Nash Baldwin |
1981 |
|
Harold Brown |
1981 |
|
Zbigniew Brzezinski |
1981 |
|
Rachel Louise Carson |
1980 |
|
Lucia Chase |
1980 |
|
Warren Christopher |
1981 |
|
Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. |
1981 |
|
Kirk Douglas |
1981 |
|
Arthur Joseph Goldberg |
1978 |
|
Hubert H. Humphrey |
1980 |
|
Archbishop Iakovos |
1980 |
|
Lyndon B. Johnson |
1980 |
|
Martin Luther King Jr. |
1977 |
|
Margaret Craig McNamara |
1981 |
|
Margaret Mead |
1979 |
|
Karl Menninger |
1981 |
|
Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. |
1980 |
|
Edmund S. Muskie |
1981 |
|
Esther Peterson |
1981 |
|
Roger Tory Peterson |
1980 |
|
Hyman George Rickover |
1980 |
|
Jonas Edward Salk |
1977 |
|
Beverly Sills |
1980 |
|
Gerald Coad Smith |
1981 |
|
Robert Schwarz Strauss |
1981 |
|
Elbert P. Tuttle |
1981 |
|
Earl Warren |
1981 |
|
Robert Penn Warren |
1980 |
|
John Wayne |
1980 |
|
Eudora Welty |
1980 |
|
Tennessee Williams |
1980 |
|
Andrew Young |
1981 |
Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States.
|
Name |
Year |
|
Iorwith Wilbur Abela |
1977 |
|
John Bardeena |
1977 |
|
Irving Berlina |
1977 |
|
Norman Ernest Borlauga |
1977 |
|
Omar Nelson Bradleya |
1977 |
|
David Kirkpatrick Este Brucea |
1976 |
|
Arleigh Albert Burkea |
1977 |
|
Alexander Caldera |
1977 |
|
Bruce Cattona |
1977 |
|
Joe DiMaggioa |
1977 |
|
Ariel Duranta |
1977 |
|
Will Duranta |
1977 |
|
Arthur Fiedlera |
1977 |
|
Henry Jacob Friendlya |
1977 |
|
Martha Grahama |
1976 |
|
Lady Bird Johnsona |
1977 |
|
Henry Alfred Kissingera |
1977 |
|
Archibald MacLeisha |
1977 |
|
James A. Michenera |
1977 |
|
Georgia O'Keeffea |
1977 |
|
Jesse Owensa |
1976 |
|
Nelson A. Rockefellera |
1977 |
|
Norman Rockwella |
1977 |
|
Arthur Rubinsteina |
1976 |
|
Donald Henry Rumsfelda |
1977 |
|
Catherine Filene Shousea |
1977 |
|
Lowell Jackson Thomasa |
1977 |
|
James Watsona |
1977 |
|
Name |
Year |
|
Edwin Aldrina |
1969 |
|
Apollo 13 Mission Operations Team |
1970 |
|
Neil Alden Armstronga |
1969 |
|
Earl C. Behrens |
1970 |
|
Manilo Giovanni Brosio |
1971 |
|
Michael Collinsa |
1969 |
|
Duke Ellington |
1969 |
|
Edward Thomas Folliard |
1970 |
|
John Ford |
1973 |
|
Samuel Goldwyn |
1971 |
|
Fred W. Haise |
1970 |
|
William M. Henry |
1970 |
|
Paul G. Hoffman |
1974 |
|
William J. Hopkins |
1971 |
|
Arthur Krock |
1970 |
|
Melvin Robert Laird Jr. |
1974 |
|
David Lawrence |
1970 |
|
George Gould Lincoln |
1970 |
|
Jim Lovell |
1970 |
|
Charles LeRoy Lowman |
1974 |
|
Raymond Charles Moley |
1970 |
|
Eugene Ormandy |
1970 |
|
William P. Rogers |
1973 |
|
Adela Rogers St. Johns |
1970 |
|
Jack Swigert |
1970 |
|
John Paul Vann |
1972 |
|
DeWitt Wallace |
1972 |
|
Lila Bell Acheson Wallace |
1972 |
|
Name |
Year |
|
Dean Gooderham Achesona |
1964 |
|
Marian Anderson |
1963 |
|
Eugene Robert Blacka |
1969 |
|
Detlev W. Bronk |
1964 |
|
Ralph Johnson Bunchea |
1963 |
|
McGeorge Bundy |
1969 |
|
Ellsworth Bunkera |
1963 |
|
Ellsworth Bunkera |
1967 |
|
Pablo Casals |
1963 |
|
Genevieve Caulfield |
1963 |
|
Clark Clifforda |
1969 |
|
James B. Conanta |
1963 |
|
Aaron Copland |
1964 |
|
Willem de Kooning |
1964 |
|
Michael E. DeBakey |
1969 |
|
Walt Disney |
1964 |
|
James Frank Dobie |
1964 |
|
David Dubinsky |
1969 |
|
Lena Frances Edwards |
1964 |
|
T. S. Eliot |
1964 |
|
Ralph Ellison |
1969 |
|
John Franklin Enders |
1963 |
|
Lynn Fontanne |
1964 |
|
Henry Ford II |
1969 |
|
Felix Frankfurtera |
1963 |
|
John William Gardner |
1964 |
|
W. Averell Harrimana |
1969 |
|
Theodore M. Hesburgh |
1964 |
|
Karl Holton |
1963 |
|
Bob Hope |
1969 |
|
Pope John XXIIIa |
1963 |
|
Clarence Leonard Johnson |
1964 |
|
Edgar Fosburgh Kaiser |
1969 |
|
Frederick Russell Kappel |
1964 |
|
Helen Keller |
1964 |
|
John F. Kennedya |
1963 |
|
Robert John Herman Kiphuth |
1963 |
|
Robert William Komer |
1967 |
|
Edwin Herbert Land |
1963 |
|
Mary Woodward Lasker |
1969 |
|
Herbert Henry Lehman |
1963 |
|
John Llewellyn Lewis |
1964 |
|
Walter Lippmann |
1964 |
|
Eugene M. Locke |
1967 |
|
Robert Abercrombie Lovetta |
1963 |
|
Alfred Lunt |
1964 |
|
J. Clifford MacDonald |
1963 |
|
John Williams Macy |
1969 |
|
Luis Munoz Marina |
1963 |
|
John J. McCloya |
1963 |
|
Ralph McGill |
1964 |
|
Robert S. McNamara |
1968 |
|
George Meany |
1963 |
|
Alexander Meiklejohn |
1963 |
|
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe |
1963 |
|
Jean Monneta |
1963 |
|
Samuel Eliot Morison |
1964 |
|
Lewis Mumford |
1964 |
|
Edward R. Murrowa |
1964 |
|
Reinhold Niebuhr |
1964 |
|
Gregory Peck |
1969 |
|
Leontyne Price |
1964 |
|
Clarence Belden Randall |
1963 |
|
A. Philip Randolph |
1964 |
|
Laurance S. Rockefeller |
1969 |
|
Walt Rostowa |
1969 |
|
Dean Ruska |
1969 |
|
Carl Sandburg |
1964 |
|
Rudolf Serkin |
1963 |
|
Merriman Smith |
1969 |
|
Edward Steichen |
1963 |
|
John Steinbeck |
1964 |
|
Helen Taussig |
1964 |
|
George William Taylor |
1963 |
|
Cyrus Vancea |
1969 |
|
Carl Vinsona |
1964 |
|
Alan T. Waterman |
1963 |
|
Thomas J. Watson Jr. |
1964 |
|
Mark S. Watson |
1963 |
|
Annie Dodge Wauneka |
1963 |
|
James Edwin Webb |
1968 |
|
E. B. White |
1963 |
|
Paul Dudley White |
1964 |
|
William Smith White |
1969 |
|
Thornton Niven Wilder |
1963 |
|
Roy Wilkins |
1969 |
|
Edmund Wilson |
1963 |
|
Andrew Wyeth |
1963 |
|
Whitney M. Young Jr. |
1969 |
Table 13 lists all 673 awards of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, listed in alphabetical order by recipient's last name. The recipients who are known to have been awarded the medal "with distinction" are marked with a table note (a).32
|
Name |
Year |
President |
|
Hank Aaron |
2002 |
George W. Bush |
|
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Iorwith Wilbur Abela |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Dean Gooderham Achesona |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Ansel Adams |
1980 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
John H. Adams |
2011 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Miriam Adelson |
2018 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Alvin Ailey |
2014 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Horace Marden Albright |
1980 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Madeleine Albright |
2012 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Edwin Aldrina |
1969 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Muhammad Ali |
2005 |
George W. Bush |
|
Isabel Allende |
2014 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Marian Anderson |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
José Andrés |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Maya Angelou |
2011 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Walter H. Annenberg |
1986 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Apollo 13 Mission Operations Team |
1970 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Anne Legendre Armstrong |
1987 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Neil Alden Armstronga |
1969 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Arnold Aronson |
1998 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Arthur Ashe |
1993 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Brooke Astor |
1998 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Pearl Bailey |
1988 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
James Addison Baker III |
1991 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Howard Henry Baker Jr. |
1984 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
George Balanchine |
1983 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Malcolm Baldrige |
1988 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Roger Nash Baldwin |
1981 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Lucille Ball |
1989 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Ernie Banks |
2013 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
John Bardeena |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Robert LeRoy Bartley |
2003 |
George W. Bush |
|
Jacques Barzun |
2003 |
George W. Bush |
|
Count Basie |
1985 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Gary Becker |
2007 |
George W. Bush |
|
Earl C. Behrens |
1970 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Lloyd Bentsen |
1999 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Irving Berlina |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Joseph Bernardin |
1996 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Yogi Berra |
2015 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Joseph R. Biden Jr.a |
2017 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Simone Biles |
2022 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Oscar Elias Biscet |
2007 |
George W. Bush |
|
Eugene Robert Blacka |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Red Blaik |
1986 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Tony Blair |
2009 |
George W. Bush |
|
Eubie Blake |
1981 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Herbert "Herblock" Block |
1994 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Michael Bloomberg |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Bono |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Norman Ernest Borlauga |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Greg Boyle |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Ben Bradlee |
2013 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Omar Nelson Bradleya |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
James Scott Brady |
1996 |
William J. Clinton |
|
L. Paul Bremer |
2004 |
George W. Bush |
|
William J. Brennan Jr. |
1993 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Nancy Brinker |
2009 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
David Brinkley |
1992 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Tom Brokaw |
2014 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Edgar M. Bronfman Sr. |
1999 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Detlev W. Bronk |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Edward W. Brooke |
2004 |
George W. Bush |
|
Manilo Giovanni Brosio |
1971 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Harold Brown |
1981 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Irving Brown |
1988 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
David Kirkpatrick Este Brucea |
1976 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Paul William Bryant |
1983 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Zbigniew Brzezinski |
1981 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
William F. Buckley Jr. |
1991 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Warren Buffett |
2011 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Ralph Johnson Bunchea |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
McGeorge Bundy |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Ellsworth Bunkera |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Ellsworth Bunkera |
1967 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Warren E. Burger |
1988 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Arleigh Albert Burkea |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
James E. Burke |
2000 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Carol Burnett |
2005 |
George W. Bush |
|
James Burnham |
1983 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
George H. W. Bush |
2011 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
James Cagney |
1984 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Alexander Caldera |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Simone Campbell |
2022 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Peter Alexander Rupert Carrington |
1988 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Bonnie Carroll |
2015 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Ben Carson |
2008 |
George W. Bush |
|
Johnny Carson |
1992 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Rachel Louise Carson |
1980 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Ashton B. Carter |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
James E. Carter Jr. |
1999 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Rosalynn Carter |
1999 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Pablo Casals |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Bruce Cattona |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Genevieve Caulfield |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Vinton G. Cerf |
2005 |
George W. Bush |
|
John Hubbard Chafee |
2000 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Whittaker Chambers |
1984 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
James Earl Chaney |
2014 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Peggy Charren |
1995 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Lucia Chase |
1980 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Cesar Chavez |
1994 |
William J. Clinton |
|
James Edward Cheek |
1983 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Dick Cheney |
1991 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Leo Cherne |
1984 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Julia Child |
2003 |
George W. Bush |
|
Shirley Chisholm |
2015 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Warren Christopher |
1981 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Wesley Clark |
2000 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Roberto Clemente |
2003 |
George W. Bush |
|
Van Cliburn |
2003 |
George W. Bush |
|
Clark Clifforda |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Hillary Rodham Clinton |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
William J. Clinton |
2013 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
James Clyburn |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Elouise Cobell |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
William T. Coleman Jr. |
1995 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Robert Coles |
1998 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Francis Collins |
2007 |
George W. Bush |
|
Michael Collinsa |
1969 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Ruth Johnson Colvin |
2006 |
George W. Bush |
|
James B. Conanta |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Robert Conquest |
2005 |
George W. Bush |
|
Terence James Cooke |
1984 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Denton Arthur Cooley |
1984 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Joan Ganz Cooney |
1995 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Aaron Copland |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Bill Cosby |
2002 |
George W. Bush |
|
Jacques-Yves Cousteau |
1985 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Bob Cousy |
2019 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Ryan C. Crocker |
2009 |
George W. Bush |
|
Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. |
1981 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
William James Crowe |
2000 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Justin Dart Jr. |
1998 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Justin Whitlock Dart |
1987 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Doris Day |
2004 |
George W. Bush |
|
Javier Perez de Cuellar |
1991 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Willem de Kooning |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Robert De Niro |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Michael E. DeBakey |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Ellen DeGeneres |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
C. Douglas Dillon |
1989 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Joe DiMaggioa |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
John David Dingell |
2014 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Walt Disney |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
John Michael Doar |
2012 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
James Frank Dobie |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Bob Dole |
1997 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Elizabeth Dole |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Placido Domingo |
2002 |
George W. Bush |
|
Phil Donahue |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
James Harold Doolittle |
1989 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Kirk Douglas |
1981 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Marjory Stoneman Douglas |
1993 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Mildred Spiewak Dresselhaus |
2014 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Peter F. Drucker |
2002 |
George W. Bush |
|
David Dubinsky |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Evelyn Dubrow |
1999 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Ariel Duranta |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Will Duranta |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Bob Dylan |
2012 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Marian Wright Edelman |
2000 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Lena Frances Edwards |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
T. S. Eliot |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Duke Ellington |
1969 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Ralph Ellison |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
John Franklin Enders |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Emilio Estefan Jr. |
2015 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Gloria Estefan |
2015 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Medgar Evers |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
James Farmer |
1998 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Dante Bruno Fascell |
1998 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Anthony S. Fauci |
2008 |
George W. Bush |
|
Luis A. Ferre |
1991 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Maria Isolina Ferre |
1999 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Arthur Fiedlera |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Zachary Fisher |
1998 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Ella Fitzgerald |
1992 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Arthur Sherwood Flemming |
1994 |
William J. Clinton |
|
William H. Foege |
2012 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Edward Thomas Folliard |
1970 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Lynn Fontanne |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Henry Ford II |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
1999 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Betty Ford |
1991 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
John Ford |
1973 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Tennessee Ernie Ford |
1984 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Michael J. Fox |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Pope Francis Ia |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Norman C. Francis |
2006 |
George W. Bush |
|
Billy Frank |
2015 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Felix Frankfurtera |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Aretha Franklin |
2005 |
George W. Bush |
|
John Hope Franklin |
1995 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Tommy R. Franks |
2004 |
George W. Bush |
|
Milton Friedman |
1988 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Henry Jacob Friendlya |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
J. William Fulbright |
1993 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Millard Fuller |
1996 |
William J. Clinton |
|
R. Buckminster Fuller |
1983 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Dan Gable |
2020 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
John Kenneth Galbraith |
2000 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Hector Perez Garcia |
1984 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Juliet García |
2022 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
John William Gardner |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Richard Lawrence Garwin |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Bill Gates |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Melinda Gates |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Robert M. Gates |
2011 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Frank O. Gehry |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Gabrielle Giffords |
2022 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Tim Gill |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
John Glenn |
2012 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Arthur Joseph Goldberg |
1978 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Barry Goldwater |
1986 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Samuel Goldwyn |
1971 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Jane Goodall |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Andrew Goodman |
2014 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Andrew Jackson Goodpaster |
1984 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Albert Gore Jr. |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Billy Graham |
1983 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Katharine Graham |
2002 |
George W. Bush |
|
Martha Grahama |
1976 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
James P. Grant |
1994 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Ella Grasso |
1981 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Fred Gray Sr. |
2022 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Hannah Holborn Gray |
1991 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Alan Greenspan |
2005 |
George W. Bush |
|
Pedro Jose Greer Jr. |
2009 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Vartan Gregorian |
2004 |
George W. Bush |
|
Andy Griffith |
2005 |
George W. Bush |
|
Gilbert Melville Grosvenor |
2004 |
George W. Bush |
|
Philip Charles Habib |
1982 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Fred W. Haise |
1970 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
David A. Hamburg |
1996 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Fannie Lou Hamer |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Lee H. Hamilton |
2015 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Margaret Hamilton |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Tom Hanks |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Suzan Shown Harjo |
2014 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Bryce N. Harlow |
1981 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
W. Averell Harrimana |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Paul Harvey |
2005 |
George W. Bush |
|
Orrin G. Hatch |
2018 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Vaclav Havel |
2003 |
George W. Bush |
|
Stephen Hawking |
2009 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Friedrich August von Hayek |
1991 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Helen Hayes |
1986 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Dorothy Irene Height |
1994 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Donald A. Henderson |
2002 |
George W. Bush |
|
William M. Henry |
1970 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Audrey Hepburn |
1992 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Theodore M. Hesburgh |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Frances Hesselbein |
1998 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Charlton Heston |
2003 |
George W. Bush |
|
Leon A. Higginbotham Jr. |
1995 |
William J. Clinton |
|
George G. Higgins |
2000 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Oliver W. Hill |
1999 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Gordon B. Hinckley |
2004 |
George W. Bush |
|
Gordon Hirabayashi |
2012 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Eric Hoffer |
1983 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Paul G. Hoffman |
1974 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Jerome Heartwell Holland |
1985 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Karl Holton |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Lou Holtz |
2020 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Sidney Hook |
1985 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Benjamin L. Hooks |
2007 |
George W. Bush |
|
Bob Hope |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
William J. Hopkins |
1971 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Grace Hopper |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Vladimir Horowitz |
1986 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
John Howard |
2009 |
George W. Bush |
|
Dolores Huerta |
2012 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Hubert H. Humphrey |
1980 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Henry Hyde |
2007 |
George W. Bush |
|
Archbishop Iakovos |
1980 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Daniel Inouye |
2013 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Henry M. Jackson |
1984 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Jesse Jackson |
2000 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Jacob Koppel Javits |
1983 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Mildred Jeffrey |
2000 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Steve Jobs |
2022 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Pope John Paul II |
2004 |
George W. Bush |
|
Pope John XXIIIa |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Jasper Johns |
2011 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Frank Johnson Jr. |
1995 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Clarence Leonard Johnson |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
John H. Johnson |
1996 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Katherine Johnson |
2015 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Lady Bird Johnsona |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Lyndon B. Johnson |
1980 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Magic Johnson |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Paul Johnson |
2006 |
George W. Bush |
|
Clarence B. Jones |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Barbara Jordan |
1994 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Jim Jordan |
2021 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Michael Jordan |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Walter Henry Judd |
1981 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Robert E. Kahn |
2005 |
George W. Bush |
|
Daniel Kahneman |
2013 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Edgar Fosburgh Kaiser |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Max M. Kampelman |
1999 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Frederick Russell Kappel |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Alexander Karloutsos |
2022 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Jan Karski |
2012 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Irving Robert Kaufman |
1987 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Danny Kaye |
1987 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Jack Keane |
2020 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Helen Keller |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Jack French Kemp |
2009 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
George F. Kennan |
1989 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Edward M. Kennedy |
2009 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Ethel Kennedy |
2014 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
John F. Kennedya |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Robert Francis Kennedy |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
John Kerry |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Khizr Khan |
2022 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Martin Luther King Jr. |
1977 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
B. B. King |
2006 |
George W. Bush |
|
Billie Jean King |
2009 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Robert John Herman Kiphuth |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Lane Kirkland |
1994 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Jeane Duane Jordan Kirkpatrick |
1985 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Lincoln Kirstein |
1984 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Henry Alfred Kissingera |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Gerda Weissmann Klein |
2011 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Helmut Kohl |
1999 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Robert William Komer |
1967 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
C. Everett Koop |
1995 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Fred Korematsu |
1998 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Mathilde Krim |
2000 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Irving William Kristol |
2002 |
George W. Bush |
|
Arthur Krock |
1970 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Arthur Betz Laffer |
2019 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Melvin Robert Laird Jr. |
1974 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Brian Lamb |
2007 |
George W. Bush |
|
Louis L'Amour |
1984 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Edwin Herbert Land |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Eugene M. Lang |
1996 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Tom Lantos |
2008 |
George W. Bush |
|
Mary Woodward Lasker |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Estee Lauder |
2004 |
George W. Bush |
|
Ralph Lauren |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Frank R. Lautenberg |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
David Lawrence |
1970 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Katie Ledecky |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Joshua Lederberg |
2006 |
George W. Bush |
|
Harper Lee |
2007 |
George W. Bush |
|
Opal Lee |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Herbert Henry Lehman |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Morris I. Leibman |
1981 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Lyman Louis Lemnitzer |
1987 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
John Llewellyn Lewis |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
John Robert Lewis |
2011 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Rush Limbaugh |
2020 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Maya Lin |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
George Gould Lincoln |
1970 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Sandra Lindsay |
2022 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Sol Myron Linowitz |
1998 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Walter Lippmann |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Tom Little |
2011 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Eugene M. Locke |
1967 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Jim Lovell |
1970 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Robert Abercrombie Lovetta |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
George Michael Low |
1985 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Juliette Gordon Low |
2012 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Joseph E. Lowery |
2009 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Charles LeRoy Lowman |
1974 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Clare Boothe Luce |
1983 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Richard Green Lugar |
2013 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Joseph Luns |
1984 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Alfred Lunt |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Loretta Lynn |
2013 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Yo-Yo Ma |
2011 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Jean Marie Faircloth MacArthur |
1988 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
J. Clifford MacDonald |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Archibald MacLeisha |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
John Williams Macy |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Dumas Malone |
1983 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Nelson Mandela |
2002 |
George W. Bush |
|
Wilma Mankiller |
1998 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Mike Mansfield |
1989 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Luis Munoz Marina |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
J. Willard Marriott |
1988 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Thurgood Marshall |
1993 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Willie Mays |
2015 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
John McCain |
2022 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
John J. McCloya |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
John A. McCone |
1987 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
David McCullough |
2006 |
George W. Bush |
|
Ralph McGill |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
George Stanley McGovern |
2000 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Margaret Craig McNamara |
1981 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Robert S. McNamara |
1968 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Margaret Mead |
1979 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
George Meany |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Joseph Medicine Crow |
2009 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Edwin Meese |
2019 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Alexander Meiklejohn |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Sylvia Mendez |
2011 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Karl Menninger |
1981 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Mabel Mercer |
1983 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Angela Merkel |
2011 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Lionel Messi |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Lorne Michaels |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Bob Michel |
1994 |
William J. Clinton |
|
James A. Michenera |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Barbara Mikulski |
2015 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Abner Joseph Mikva |
2014 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Harvey Milk |
2009 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Norman Yoshio Mineta |
2006 |
George W. Bush |
|
Patsy Takemoto Mink |
2014 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Newton Minow |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. |
1980 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
George John Mitchell |
1999 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Raymond Charles Moley |
1970 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Mario Molina |
2013 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Jean Monneta |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Gillespie V. ("Sonny") Montgomery |
2005 |
George W. Bush |
|
Gordon E. Moore |
2002 |
George W. Bush |
|
Rita Moreno |
2004 |
George W. Bush |
|
Samuel Eliot Morison |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Toni Morrison |
2012 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Daniel Patrick Moynihan |
2000 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Lewis Mumford |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Margaret Murie |
1998 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Edward R. Murrowa |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Stan Musial |
2011 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Edmund S. Muskie |
1981 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Richard B. Myers |
2005 |
George W. Bush |
|
Diane Nash |
2022 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Gaylord Nelson |
1995 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Jack Nicklaus |
2005 |
George W. Bush |
|
Reinhold Niebuhr |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Paul Henry Nitze |
1985 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Jan Nowak |
1996 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Devin Nunes |
2021 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Bill Nye |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Sandra Day O'Connor |
2009 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Mario G. Obledo |
1998 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Ellen Ochoa |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Georgia O'Keeffea |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Buck O'Neil |
2006 |
George W. Bush |
|
Tip O'Neill |
1991 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Eugene Ormandy |
1970 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Jesse Owensa |
1976 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Peter Pace |
2008 |
George W. Bush |
|
David Packard |
1988 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Eduardo Padrón |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Alan Cedric Page |
2018 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Arnold Palmer |
2004 |
George W. Bush |
|
Antonia Pantoja |
1996 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Rosa Parks |
1996 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Frederick Douglass Patterson |
1987 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Arnall Patz |
2004 |
George W. Bush |
|
Norman Vincent Peale |
1984 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Gregory Peck |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
I. M. Pei |
1992 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Nancy Pelosi |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Roger Penske |
2019 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Claude Pepper |
1989 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Shimon Peres |
2012 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Itzhak Perlman |
2015 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Nathan Perlmutter |
1987 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
William James Perry |
1997 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Esther Peterson |
1981 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Roger Tory Peterson |
1980 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Richard Petty |
1992 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Gary Jim Player |
2021 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Norman Podhoretz |
2004 |
George W. Bush |
|
Sidney Poitier |
2009 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Colin Powell |
1991 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Colin Powella |
1993 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Elvis Presley |
2018 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Leontyne Price |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Simon Ramo |
1983 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Clarence Belden Randall |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
A. Philip Randolph |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Megan Rapinoe |
2022 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Joseph L. Rauh Jr. |
1993 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Martha Raye |
1993 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Nancy Reagan |
2002 |
George W. Bush |
|
Ronald W. Reagana |
1993 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Robert Redford |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Walter Philip Reuther |
1995 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Frank Reynolds |
1985 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Cruz Reynoso |
2000 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Cecile Richards |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Elliot Richardson |
1998 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Hyman George Rickover |
1980 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Sally K. Ride |
2013 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Matthew Bunker Ridgway |
1986 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Jane Rigby |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
S. Dillon Ripley |
1985 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Chita Rivera |
2009 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Mariano Rivera |
2019 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
George Islay MacNeill Robertson |
2003 |
George W. Bush |
|
Frank Robinson |
2005 |
George W. Bush |
|
Jackie Robinson |
1984 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Mary Robinson |
2009 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
David Rockefeller |
1998 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Laurance S. Rockefeller |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Nelson A. Rockefellera |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Norman Rockwella |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Fred Rogers |
2002 |
George W. Bush |
|
William P. Rogers |
1973 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Teresa Romero |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
George W. Romney |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Carlos Pena Romulo |
1984 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
A. M. Rosenthal |
2002 |
George W. Bush |
|
Diana Ross |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Walt Rostowa |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Mstislav Rostropovich |
1987 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
James W. Rouse |
1995 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Janet D. Rowley |
2009 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Edward Roybal |
2014 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Vermont Connecticut Royster |
1986 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
David M. Rubenstein |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Arthur Rubinsteina |
1976 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
William Doyle Ruckelshaus |
2015 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Donald Henry Rumsfelda |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Paul Rusesabagina |
2005 |
George W. Bush |
|
Dean Ruska |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Bill Russell |
2011 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Bayard Rustin |
2013 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Babe Ruth |
2018 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Jim Ryun |
2020 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Albert Bruce Sabin |
1986 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Anwar Sadat |
1984 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
William L. Safire |
2006 |
George W. Bush |
|
Ginetta Sagan |
1996 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Jonas Edward Salk |
1977 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Carl Sandburg |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Arturo Sandoval |
2013 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Antonin Scalia |
2018 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Harry W. Schlaudeman |
1992 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
H. Norman Schwarzkopf |
1991 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Michael Henry Schwerner |
2014 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Brent Scowcroft |
1991 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Vin Scully |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Rudolf Serkin |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Donna Shalala |
2008 |
George W. Bush |
|
John Shalikashvili |
1997 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Albert Shanker |
1998 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Natan Sharansky |
2006 |
George W. Bush |
|
Judy Shepard |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Catherine Filene Shousea |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Eunice Kennedy Shriver |
1984 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Sargent Shriver |
1994 |
William J. Clinton |
|
George P. Shultz |
1989 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Charlie Sifford |
2014 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Laurence H. Silberman |
2008 |
George W. Bush |
|
Beverly Sills |
1980 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Alan Simpson |
2022 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Frank Sinatra |
1985 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf |
2007 |
George W. Bush |
|
Dean Smith |
2013 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Gerald Coad Smith |
1981 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Jean Kennedy Smith |
2011 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Kate Smith |
1982 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Margaret Chase Smith |
1989 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Merriman Smith |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Robert M. Solow |
2014 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Stephen Sondheim |
2015 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Annika Sorenstam |
2021 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
George Soros |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Steven Spielberg |
2015 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Bruce Springsteen |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Adela Rogers St. Johns |
1970 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Roger Thomas Staubach |
2018 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Edward Steichen |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
John Steinbeck |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Gloria Steinem |
2013 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Isaac Stern |
1992 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
George Stevens Jr. |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
John Paul Stevens |
2012 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Roger L. Stevens |
1988 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Jimmy Stewart |
1985 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Jens Stoltenberg |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Robert Schwarz Strauss |
1981 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Meryl Streep |
2014 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Barbra Streisand |
2015 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Leon Sullivan |
1991 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Pat Summitt |
2012 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Aung San Suu Kyi |
2000 |
William J. Clinton |
|
John J. Sweeney |
2011 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Jack Swigert |
1970 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Helen Taussig |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Gardner C. Taylor |
2000 |
William J. Clinton |
|
George William Taylor |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
James Taylor |
2015 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Edward Teller |
2003 |
George W. Bush |
|
George Tenet |
2004 |
George W. Bush |
|
Mother Teresa |
1985 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Margaret Thatcher |
1991 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Dave Thomas |
2003 |
George W. Bush |
|
Lowell Jackson Thomasa |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Marlo Thomas |
2014 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Charles Bates Thornton |
1981 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Jim Thorpe |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Strom Thurmond |
1993 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Russell Eroll Train |
1991 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Richard Trumka |
2022 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Elbert P. Tuttle |
1981 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Desmond Tutu |
2009 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Cicely Tyson |
2016 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Mo Udall |
1996 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Alvaro Uribe |
2009 |
George W. Bush |
|
Cyrus Vancea |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
John Paul Vann |
1972 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Wilma L. Vaught |
2022 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
William C. Velasquez |
1995 |
William J. Clinton |
|
John William Vessey |
1992 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Carl Vinsona |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
C. T. Vivian |
2013 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Patricia M. Wald |
2013 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Lech Walesa |
1989 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
DeWitt Wallace |
1972 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
Lila Bell Acheson Wallace |
1972 |
Richard M. Nixon |
|
William Bertalan Walsh |
1987 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Vernon Anthony Walters |
1991 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Sam Walton |
1992 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Earl Warren |
1981 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Robert Penn Warren |
1980 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Denzel Washington |
2022b |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Lew R. Wasserman |
1995 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Alan T. Waterman |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Thomas J. Watson Jr. |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
James Watsona |
1977 |
Gerald R. Ford Jr. |
|
Mark S. Watson |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Annie Dodge Wauneka |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Edgar Wayburn |
1999 |
William J. Clinton |
|
John Wayne |
1980 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
James Edwin Webb |
1968 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
William Hedgcock Webster |
1991 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Albert Coady Wedemeyer |
1985 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Caspar Willard Weinbergera |
1987 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Eudora Welty |
1980 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Jerry West |
2019 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Byron R. White |
2003 |
George W. Bush |
|
E. B. White |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Paul Dudley White |
1964 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
William Smith White |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Elie Wiesel |
1992 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Simon Wiesenthal |
2000 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Thornton Niven Wilder |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Roy Wilkins |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Ted Williams |
1991 |
George H. W. Bush |
|
Tennessee Williams |
1980 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Meredith Willson |
1987 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Edmund Wilson |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
James Q. Wilson |
2003 |
George W. Bush |
|
Oprah Winfrey |
2013 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Anna Wintour |
2025 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
John Minor Wisdom |
1993 |
William J. Clinton |
|
Albert J. Wohlstetter |
1985 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Roberta Wohlstetter |
1985 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Stevie Wonder |
2014 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
John Wooden |
2003 |
George W. Bush |
|
Tiger Woods |
2019 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Walter Wriston |
2004 |
George W. Bush |
|
Andrew Wyeth |
1963 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Minoru Yasui |
2015 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Chuck Yeager |
1985 |
Ronald W. Reagan |
|
Michelle Yeoh |
2024 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Whitney M. Young Jr. |
1969 |
Lyndon B. Johnson |
|
Andrew Young |
1981 |
James E. Carter Jr. |
|
Muhammad Yunus |
2009 |
Barack H. Obama |
|
Raul Yzaguirre |
2022 |
Joseph R. Biden Jr. |
|
Mildred Didrikson Zaharias |
2021 |
Donald J. Trump |
|
Elmo R. Zumwalt |
1998 |
William J. Clinton |
Sources: Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents; Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States; Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents; Associated Press, "Bush Honors Webster," July 25, 1991; Christopher Connell, "Bush Gives Thurmond An Award," Associated Press, January 12, 1993; White House, "President Biden Announces Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom," press release, January 4, 2025, https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/04/president-biden-announces-recipients-of-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom-3; White House, "President Biden Awards Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction to His Holiness Pope Francis," press release, January 11, 2025, https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/11/president-biden-awards-presidential-medal-of-freedom-with-distinction-to-his-holiness-pope-francis.
CRS Report R47020, A Guide to Major Congressional and Presidential Awards, by Barbara Salazar Torreon and Ben Leubsdorf.
CRS Report R43539, Commemorations in Congress: Options for Honoring Individuals, Groups, and Events, coordinated by Jacob R. Straus.
CRS Report R45101, Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress, by Jacob R. Straus.
CRS Report 95-519, Medal of Honor: History and Issues, by Barbara Salazar Torreon.
Footnotes
| 1. |
Executive Order 9586, "The Medal of Freedom," 10 Federal Register 8523, July 6, 1945. |
| 2. |
Executive Order 10336, "Amendment of Executive Order No. 9586 of July 6, 1945, Establishing the Medal of Freedom," 17 Federal Register 2957, April 3, 1952. |
| 3. |
Bruce Wetterau, The Presidential Medal of Freedom: Winners and Their Achievements (Washington: Congressional Quarterly Inc., 1996), p. 9. |
| 4. |
"Annual Message to the Congress on the State of the Union" (January 6, 1955) in U.S. National Archives and Records Service, Office of the Federal Register, Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1955, pp. 7-30. |
| 5. |
Congressional Record, vol. 102, part 9 (July 2, 1956), p. 11609. |
| 6. |
Congressional Record, vol. 104, part 11 (July 23, 1958), p. 14794. |
| 7. |
Congressional Record, vol. 102, part 9 (July 3, 1956), p. 11678 and vol. 104, part 11 (July 24, 1958), p. 14895. |
| 8. |
Executive Order 11085, "The Presidential Medal of Freedom," 28 Federal Register 1759, February 22, 1963. Also, in the United States Code at 5 U.S.C. §4504 note. |
| 9. |
"Statement by the President Upon Issuing Order Relating to the Medal of Freedom" (February 22, 1963) in Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1963, pp. 209-210. |
| 10. |
Ibid., p. 210 (in note). |
| 11. |
"Remarks With Under Secretary of State George W. Ball at the Presentation of the Medal of Freedom Awards" (December 6, 1963) in Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1963-1964, Book I, pp. 29-34. |
| 12. |
Jenifer V. Buckman, "H.D. Temple, Military Author, Designer, Dies; Heraldry Expert Did Redesign of Medal, Chronicled History," Richmond Times-Dispatch, January 27, 2004, p. B7; Wetterau, Presidential Medal of Freedom, p. 15. |
| 13. |
"Symbolism of the Design of the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction and the Presidential Medal of Freedom," n.d., series 8, box 102, folder 6, no. 21, President's Office Files, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, at https://www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/archives/JFKPOF/102/JFKPOF-102-006. |
| 14. |
"Remarks With Under Secretary of State George W. Ball at the Presentation of the Medal of Freedom Awards," p. 30. |
| 15. |
"Presidential Medal of Freedom" in The Presidency A to Z, 5th ed., eds. Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley (Thousand Oaks, CA: CQ Press, 2013), pp. 451-452. |
| 16. |
Lawrence M. Watson, The Presidential Medal of Freedom (Claymont, DE: Orders and Medals Society of America, 2014), p. 39. |
| 17. |
Mary Mel French, United States Protocol: The Guide to Official Diplomatic Etiquette (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2010), pp. 271, 275; Department of the Army, Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, Pamphlet 670-1, January 26, 2021, p. 260, at https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30948-PAM_670-1-000-WEB-1.pdf#page=277; and Article 5307 in Navy Personnel Command, United States Navy Uniform Regulations, NAVPERS 15665J, at https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/References/US-Navy-Uniforms/Uniform-Regulations/Chapter-5/5301-Awards/#5307. |
| 18. |
Juliet Eilperin, "One of the Last Washington Mysteries: How to Get the Medal of Freedom," The Washington Post, November 23, 2015, at https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/one-of-the-last-washington-mysteries-how-to-get-the-medal-of-freedom/2015/11/23/d3351fa2-91f3-11e5-b5e4-279b4501e8a6_story.html. |
| 19. |
Executive Order 11515, "Terminating Certain Bodies Established by the President," 35 Federal Register 4543, March 13, 1970. This executive order eliminated a nomination process through the now-defunct Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board that had been created in President Kennedy's 1963 executive order. |
| 20. |
For example, see videos available online from the 1981 ceremony (at https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/video/medal-freedom-ceremony-president-reagan-gives-remarks-and-presents-awards-east-room) and the 2022 ceremony (at https://www.c-span.org/video/?521521-1/presidential-medal-freedom-ceremony). |
| 21. |
For example, see Rep. Lee H. Hamilton, "Nominating Dante B. Fascell for the Presidential Medal of Freedom," extension of remarks, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 144 (October 21, 1998), p. E2287; Sen. Roger Wicker, "Miss. Delegation Requests Presidential Medal of Freedom for Civil Rights Leader Medgar Evers," press release, November 4, 2016, at https://www.wicker.senate.gov/2016/11/miss-delegation-requests-presidential-medal-of-freedom-for-civil-rights-leader-medgar-evers; and Rep. Joaquin Castro, "Congressman Castro Recommends Veteran Advocates Le Roy and Rosie Torres for the Presidential Medal of Freedom," press release, January 31, 2023, at https://castro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-castro-recommends-veteran-advocates-le-roy-and-rosie-torres-for-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom. |
| 22. |
For example, see Sen. Max Cleland, "Senate Resolution 23—Expressing the Sense of the Senate That the President Should Award the Presidential Medal of Freedom Posthumously to Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays in Honor of His Distinguished Career as An Educator, Civil and Human Rights Leader, and Public Theologian," remarks in the Senate, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 147 (February 14, 2001), pp. S1434-S1435; "Expressing the Sense of Congress That the President Posthumously Award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Harry W. Colmery," House debate, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 150 (July 6, 2004), pp. H5162-H5165; Rep. Barbara Comstock, "In Honor of Bonnie Carroll, Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom for Her Commitment to Healing Families of Fallen Members of the Armed Services," extension of remarks, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 161 (December 1, 2015), p. E1684; and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, "Recognizing Dr. Eduardo J. Padron on Receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom," Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 162 (December 7, 2016), p. H7285. |
| 23. |
For example, see S.Res. 23 (107th Cong.) for Benjamin Elijah Mays, H.Con.Res. 313 (108th Cong.) for Pope John Paul II, S.Con.Res. 91 (109th Cong.) for Satchel Paige, H.Res. 926 (114th Cong.) for Henrietta Lacks, and S.Con.Res. 20 (116th Cong.) for Harry W. Colmery. |
| 24. |
For example, see S.Res. 310 (107th Cong.) for Justin Dart Jr., H.Res. 708 (111th Cong.) for Nancy Brinker, H.Res. 1743 (111th Cong.) for Gerda Weissmann Klein, and S.Res. 61 (117th Cong.) for George P. Shultz. |
| 25. |
H.R. 4354 (114th Cong.) and H.R. 6810 (115th Cong.) expressed the sense of Congress that Bill Cosby's medal, awarded in 2002, should be revoked. |
| 26. |
Krishnadev Calamur, "Obama: 'No Precedent' To Revoke Bill Cosby's Presidential Medal Of Freedom," National Public Radio, July 15, 2015, at https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/07/15/423258004/obama-no-precedent-to-revoke-bill-cosby-s-presidential-medal-of-honor. |
| 27. |
To compile this list, CRS searched Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States volumes for 1963 to 2016, and the Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents for 2017 to the present, for mentions of the medal. Additional recipients were identified using the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, contemporaneous news reports, and White House press releases. In compiling this list, CRS attempted to be thorough; however, the list of medals in this report may not be comprehensive. |
| 28. |
While awarding the medal to the Apollo 13 Mission Operations Team, President Richard M. Nixon mentioned five individuals: Sig Sjoberg, Glynn Lunney, Milt Windler, Gerald Griffin, and Gene Krantz. See "Remarks on Presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Apollo 13 Mission Operations Team in Houston" (April 18, 1970) in Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Richard M. Nixon, 1970, pp. 366-369. |
| 29. |
Kyle C. Kopko et al., "The Politics of the Presidential Medal of Freedom: A Fifty-Year Analysis, 1963-2013," New England Journal of Political Science, vol. 8, no. 2 (Fall 2015), pp. 156-184. See Table 4, pp. 174-175. |
| 30. |
Names are generally presented as they appear in biographical reference sources. For names that varied from source to source, CRS typically selected the most common option. For example, Babe Ruth (posthumously recognized in 2018) appears under that name in the Almanac of Famous People, American Decades, Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, and St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, though he is "George Herman Ruth" in the Dictionary of American Biography and Merriam Webster's Biographical Dictionary, and "George Herman Ruth Jr." in the Encyclopedia of World Biography Online. |
| 31. |
Information about whether the Presidential Medal of Freedom was awarded "with distinction" comes from Glenn P. Hogan, The Presidential Medal of Freedom (Ann Arbor, MI: Glenn P. Hogan, 1996), pp. 155-156; Candace Elizabeth Todd, "Designating Heroes: Theory and Analysis of Presidential Epideictic Awards" (PhD diss., University of Iowa, 1998), pp. 189-203; Wetterau, Presidential Medal of Freedom; and contemporaneous presidential remarks and announcements. The 56 instances of "with distinction" noted in this report may not be comprehensive. |
| 32. |
As in Tables 2-12, information about whether the Presidential Medal of Freedom was awarded "with distinction" comes from Hogan, Presidential Medal of Freedom, pp. 155-156; Todd, "Designating Heroes," pp. 189-203; Wetterau, Presidential Medal of Freedom; and contemporaneous presidential remarks and announcements. The 56 instances of "with distinction" noted in this report may not be comprehensive. |