US President Joe Biden and erstwhile caput of authorities Hillary Clinton look connected arsenic erstwhile president Bill Clinton (not pictured) speaks during the Clinton Global Initiative yearly gathering successful New York connected September 23, 2024.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | AFP | Getty Images
In the East Room of the White House connected a peculiarly frigid Saturday afternoon, President Joe Biden bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 of the astir celebrated names successful politics, sports, entertainment, civilian rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy and science.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton aroused a lasting ovation from the assemblage arsenic she received her medal. Clinton was accompanied to the lawsuit by her hubby erstwhile President Bill Clinton, girl Chelsea Clinton and grandchildren. Democratic philanthropist George Soros and actor-director Denzel Washington were besides awarded the nation's highest civilian grant successful a White House ceremony.
"For the last clip arsenic president I person the grant bestowing the Medal of Freedom, our nation's highest civilian honor, connected a radical of extraordinary, genuinely bonzer people, who gave their ineffable effort, their ineffable effort, to signifier the civilization and the origin of America," Biden said successful his opening remarks.
"Let maine conscionable accidental to each of you, convey you, convey you, convey you for each you've done to assistance this country," Biden said Saturday.
Four medals were awarded posthumously. They went to George W. Romney, who served arsenic some a Michigan politician and caput of lodging and municipality development; erstwhile Attorney General and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy; Ash Carter, a erstwhile caput of defense; and Fannie Lou Hamer, who founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and laid the groundwork for the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Kennedy is begetter to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for wellness and quality services secretary. Biden said, "Bobby is 1 of my existent governmental heroes. I emotion and I miss him dearly."
Romney is the begetter of erstwhile Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, 1 of Trump's strongest blimpish critics.
Biden has days near successful the Presidential bureau and has spent the past fewer days issuing awards and medals to valiant subject veterans, courageous instrumentality enforcement officials and exceptional Americans.
The White House said the Medal of Freedom recipients person made "exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, oregon information of the United States, satellite peace, oregon different important societal, nationalist oregon backstage endeavors."
Major philanthropists receiving the grant see Spanish American cook José Andrés, whose World Central Kitchen foundation has go 1 of the world's astir recognized nutrient alleviation organizations, and Bono, the beforehand antheral for stone set U2 and a societal justness activist.
Soros' lad Alex Soros accepted the medal connected his father's behalf. In an emailed statement, Soros said: "As an migrant who recovered state and prosperity successful America, I americium profoundly moved by this honor."
Sports and amusement stars recognized see nonrecreational shot subordinate Lionel Messi, who did not be the event; retired Los Angeles Lakers hoops fable and businessman Earvin "Magic" Johnson; histrion Michael J. Fox, who is an outspoken advocator for Parkinson's illness probe and development; and William Sanford Nye, known to generations of students arsenic "Bill Nye the Science Guy."
Other awardees see conservationist Jane Goodall; longtime Vogue Magazine editor-in-chief Anna Wintour; American manner decorator Ralph Lauren; American Film Institute laminitis George Stevens Jr.; entrepreneur and LGBTQ+ activistic Tim Gill; and David Rubenstein, co-founder of The Carlyle Group planetary concern firm.
Lauren is the archetypal manner decorator to person the honor.
Last year, Biden bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom connected 19 people, including the precocious Medgar Evers, House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina and histrion Michelle Yeoh.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom was awarded 654 times betwixt 1963 and 2024, according to the Congressional Research Service. Notable Medal of Freedom recipients from the past see Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou and Mother Teresa.
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