Medal of Freedom recipients
President Obama honored actors Robert DeNiro, Cicely Tyson, Tom Hanks, Robert Redford and a bevy of other notables with the nation’s highest civilian honor on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016.
Mr. Obama recognized 21 people with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House.
In this photo, President Obama speaks before presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, November 22, 2016.
Ellen DeGeneres
The award is given to individuals who have made meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the U.S., to world peace or to cultural or other major public or private endeavors.
In this photo, President Barack Obama presents teary-eyed actress and comedian Ellen DeGeneres with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, November 22, 2016.
Ellen DeGeneres
President Barack Obama reacts with comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres after presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to DeGeneres during a ceremony in the White House East Room in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2016.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., November 22, 2016.
Robert DeNiro
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to actor Robert DeNiro in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2016.
Bill and Melinda Gates
Bill (C) and Melinda (L) Gates receive their Presidential Medals of Freedom from U.S. President Barack Obama (R) in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2016.
Bill and Melinda Gates
President Barack Obama (R) awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Microsoft founder Bill Gates (L) and his wife Melinda Gates, who have donated billions of dollars globally to promote health and fight poverty, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, D.C.
Diana Ross
President Barack Obama presents vocalist and musician Diana Ross with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, during a ceremony honoring 21 recipients, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., November 22, 2016.
Tom Hanks
President Barack Obama presents actor Tom Hanks with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, during a ceremony honoring 21 recipients, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., November 22, 2016.
Cicely Tyson
President Barack Obama presents actress Cicely Tyson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, during a ceremony honoring 21 recipients, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., November 22, 2016.
Bruce Springsteen
President Barack Obama presents musician Bruce Springsteen with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, during a ceremony honoring 21 recipients, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., November 22, 2016.
Physicist Richard Garwin
President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to physicist Richard Garwin during a ceremony in the White House East Room in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2016.
Vin Scully
President Barack Obama awards broadcaster Vin Scully the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., November 22, 2016.
Margaret Hamilton
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to NASA mathematician and computer software pioneer Margaret Hamilton during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, D.C.
Eduardo Padron
President Barack Obama awards the President of Miami Dade College Eduardo Padron the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2016.
Newton N. Minow
U.S. President Barack Obama awards Newton N. Minow (R) the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2016.
Lorne Michaels
President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Saturday Night Live creator and producer Lorne Michaels during a ceremony in the White House East Room in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2016.
Michael Jordan
President Barack Obama awards NBA star Michael Jordan the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2016.
Maya Lin
President Barack Obama awards artist and designer Maya Lin the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., November 22, 2016.
Robert Redford
President Barack Obama awards actor and director Robert Redford (R) the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., November 22, 2016.
Bruce Springsteen
Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients singer Bruce Springsteen and actress Cicely Tyson are seated during a Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony in the White House East Room in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2016.
Ellen DeGeneres and Robert DeNiro
Comedian Ellen DeGeneres (L) applauds actor Robert DeNiro (R) at a ceremony awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2016.
Recipients of Presidential Medal of Freedom
Broadcaster and National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Vin Scully (C) looks down at his residential Medal of Freedom while being applauded by popular music icon Diana Ross (L) and rock and roll legend Bruce Springsteen (R) during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, D.C.
Michael Jordan and President Obama
Presient Barack Obama smiles at retired NBA basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan (L) before awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the White House East Room in Washington, D.C., November 22, 2016.
President Obama and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
President Barack Obama (C) pretends to “skyhook” over NBA all-time leading scorer and social justice advocate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar before awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom to during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, D.C.
Tom Hanks and President Obama
President Barack Obama reacts with actor Tom Hanks before presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hanks during a ceremony in the White House East Room in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2016.
Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony
President Barack Obama speaks during his final Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony as president in the White House East Room in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2016.
Recipients of Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of freedom recipients comedian Ellen DeGeneres, actor Robert De Niro, physicist Richard Garwin, Bill and Melinda Gates (L-R) applaud during a Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony in the White House East Room in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2016.
Architect Frank Gehry
Architect Frank Gehry departs after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom at a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016, in Washington, D.C.
Recipients of Presidential Medal of Freedom
NBA star Michael Jordan (R top) and rock icon Bruce Springsteen (R) laugh along with some of the other 21 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom as U.S. President Barack Obama speaks before presenting the nation’s highest civilian honor, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., November 22, 2016.
Diana Ross and President Obama
President Barack Obama hugs vocalist and musician Diana Ross during presentation of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, during a ceremony honoring 21 recipients, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, November 22, 2016.
President Obama
President Barack Obama is applauded by Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients including actor Robert Redford (R) during a ceremony in the White House East Room in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2016.
Margaret Hamilton
Computer scientist Margaret Hamilton (L) receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from resident Barack Obama during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., November 22, 2016.
Robert De Niro
Actor Robert De Niro arrives from the Cross Hall of the White House prior to a Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2016.
Ellen DeGeneres
Comedian Ellen DeGeneres heads to her seat before a ceremony awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to various receipients in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2016.
Recipients of Presidential Medal of Freedom
Actor Robert DeNiro(R) waits next to Ellen DeGeneres(C) before U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., November 22, 2016.
First lady Michelle Obama and President Obama
First lady Michelle Obama and U.S. President Barack Obama arrive from the Cross Hall of the White House prior to a Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony in the White House East Room in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2016.
Presidential Medals of Freedom
Presidential Medals of Freedom are seen on a table prior to the start of the ceremony in the East Room of the White House Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2016.
Susan Rice
U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice heads to her seat before a ceremony awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to various receipients in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., November 22, 2016.
Recipients of Presidential Medal of Freedom
Actors Tom Hanks (C top), Robert Redford (L bottom), vocalist Diana Ross (C bottom), broadcaster Vin Scully (R bottom) and mathematician and scientist Margaret H. Hamilton (L top) smile along with some of the other 21 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom as U.S. President Barack Obama speaks before presenting the nation’s highest civilian honor, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, November 22, 2016.