Presidential Medal of Freedom honorees

President Barack Obama recognized 17 Americans, including Steven Spielberg and Yogi Berra, with the nation's highest civilian award -- the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Obama presented the medal to thirteen living and four posthumous pioneers in science, sports, public service, human rights, politics and arts.

In this photo, President Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to film director Steven Spielberg during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Nov 24, 2015.

Barbra Streisand

President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to singer Barbra Streisand during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington Nov. 24, 2015.

Steven Spielberg & Barbra Streisand

President Barack Obama (2nd L) greets filmmaker Steven Spielberg (L) and singer Barbra Streisand (R) after they were presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during an East Room ceremony Nov. 24, 2015 at the White House in Washington, DC.

Gloria & Emilio Estefan

President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Gloria Estefan, as her husband Emilio Estefan (L) claps, during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Nov. 24, 2015.

Willie Mays

U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former professional baseball player Willie Mays during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Nov. 24, 2015. Mays was among the first African-American players in Major League Baseball.

"It's because of giants like Willie that someone like me could even think about running for president," Obama said.

Stephen Sondheim

U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to composer and lyricists Stephen Sondheim during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Nov. 24, 2015.

President Barack Obama

President Barack Obama (C) leads guests in a standing ovation for the recipients of this year's Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House Nov. 24, 2015 in Washington, DC.

Bonnie Carroll

President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Bonnie Carroll during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Nov. 24, 2015.

Carroll, a life-long public servant, devoted her life to caring for the military and veterans. She founded the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) to support families and loved ones of military heroes killed during their service.

William Ruckelshaus

U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to attorney William Ruckelshaus during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington. D.C., Nov. 24, 2015.

Ruckelshaus is a former chief of the Environmental Protection Agency, who shaped the guiding principles of the agency, including a nationwide ban on the pesticide DDT and an agreement with the automobile industry to require catalytic converters to reduce automobile pollution.

Katherine G. Johnson

President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to NASA mathematician Katherine G. Johnson during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Nov. 24, 2015.

Johnson is a pioneer in American space history whose calculations influenced every major space program, including the flight of the first American into space.

Presidential Medal of Freedom

Theater composers and lyricists Stephen Sondheim (L), filmmaker Steven Spielberg (2nd L) and singer Barbra Streisand (R) celebrate after they were presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama during an East Room ceremony, Nov. 24, 2015 at the White House in Washington, DC.

James Taylor

President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to singer-songwriter James Taylor during an East Room ceremony Nov. 24, 2015 at the White House in Washington, DC.

Senator Barbara Mikulski

President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Nov. 24, 2015.

Mikulski is a lifelong public servant, who has held elected office since 1971. She became the longest serving female Senator in 2011, the longest serving woman in Congress in 2012, and the first female Senator to chair the Senate Appropriations Committee in 2012.

Lee Hamilton

President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to member of the U.S. Homeland Security Advisory council Lee Hamilton during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 24, 2015.

Hamilton is a longtime advocate of American national security and international relations. Of Hamilton, Obama said he helped guide the nation through the Cold War and had a consistent commitment to bipartisanship.

Katherine Johnson & Willie Mays

Pioneering NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson (L) and Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays at the ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Nov. 24, 2015 in Washington, D.C.

Steven Spielberg

Director Steven Spielberg receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 24, 2015.

Steven Spielberg

Director Steven Spielberg after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 24, 2015.

Michelle Obama

First lady Michelle Obama leaves after attending the Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 24, 2015.

Emilio Estefan

President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to producer Emilio Estefan as he stands next to his wife singer Gloria Estefan during an event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 24, 2015.

Emilio Estefan

Music producer Emilio Estefan after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., Nov. 24, 2015.

Itzhak Perlman

Master violinist and teacher Itzhak Perlman (R) maneuvers his electric scooter into place next to pioneering NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson (L) and Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays during a ceremony where they were presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the East Room of the White House, Nov. 24, 2015 in Washington, D.C.

Presidential Medal of Freedom

Theater composers and lyricists Stephen Sondheim (L), filmmaker Steven Spielberg (2nd L) and singer Barbra Streisand (R) celebrate after they were presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Barack Obama during an East Room ceremony on Nov. 24, 2015 at the White House in Washington, D.C.

Presidential Medal of Freedom

Larry Berra (L), son of baseball legend Yogi Berra, receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom on behalf of his father from President Barack Obama (R) during an East Room ceremony on Nov. 24, 2015 at the White House in Washington, D.C.

Yogi Berra, who died in September, was a famed Yankees' catcher, an 18-time All-Star and 10-time World Series champion.

Presidential Medal of Freedom

Andre Dubois (L), grandnephew of former U.S. Rep. Shirley Chisholm (D-NY), receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom on behalf of the late congresswoman from President Barack Obama (R) during an East Room ceremony on Nov. 24, 2015 at the White House in Washington, D.C.

Chisholm was the first African-American woman elected to Congress and a founding member of what would become the Congressional Black Caucus.

Presidential Medal of Freedom

Peggen Frank, receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom on behalf of her father-in-law, Native American environmental leader and treaty rights activist Billy Frank, Jr., from President Barack Obama (R) during an East Room ceremony on Nov. 24, 2015 at the White House in Washington, D.C.

Posthumous recipients included Indian tribal advocate Billy Frank Jr., who led "fish-ins"-- similar to sit-ins-- during the tribal "fish wars" of the 1960s and 1970s, and civil rights leader Minoru Yasui, who challenged the constitutionality of a military curfew order during World War II on the grounds of racial discrimination and spent months in solitary confinement during the legal battle.