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See Again
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Frank Sinatra
- President Ronald Reagan presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to singer Frank Sinatra in 1985.
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Robert De Niro
- President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hollywood star Robert De Niro on November 22, 2016.
© Getty Images
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Simone Biles
- President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to gymnast and Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles on July 7, 2022. Biles is the youngest person ever to receive the award, at the age of 25.
© Getty Images
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Tiger Woods
- President Donald Trump presents golf icon Tiger Woods the Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House on May 6, 2019.
© Getty Images
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Duke Ellington
- President Richard Nixon presents jazz pianist, composer, and band leader, Duke Ellington, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on April 29, 1969.
© Getty Images
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Pope John Paul II
- President George W. Bush presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Pope John Paul II in the Sala Clementina, Vatican, on June 4, 2004.
© Getty Images
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Rev. Jesse Jackson
- President Bill Clinton awards Baptist minister and politician Rev. Jesse Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the East Room of the White House on August 9, 2000.
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Michael Jordan
- President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to NBA icon Michael Jordan, on November 22, 2016.
© Getty Images
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Megan Rapinoe
- Soccer star and LGBTQ+ rights advocate Megan Rapinoe is given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by president Joe Biden on July 7, 2022.
© Getty Images
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Muhammad Ali
- President George W. Bush awards former boxing champion Muhammad Ali the Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 9, 2005.
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Mother Teresa
- President Ronald Reagan presents the Medal of Freedom to Roman Catholic nun and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mother Teresa in 1985.
© Getty Images
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Barbra Streisand
- Singer and actress Barbra Streisand receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama on November 24, 2015.
© Getty Images
12 / 35 Fotos
Rosa Parks
- Civil rights activist Rosa Parks and President Bill Clinton stand with during the Congressional Black Caucus dinner on September 14 , 1996 in Washington D.C. Rosa Parks received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
© Getty Images
13 / 35 Fotos
Bob Dylan
- Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan is presented with a Presidential Medal of Freedom by president Barack Obama on May 29, 2012.
© Getty Images
14 / 35 Fotos
Tom Hanks
- Actor Tom Hanks is awarded the Presidential Medal Of Freedom by President Barack Obama on November 22, 2016.
© Getty Images
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Kirk Douglas
- Actor and filmmaker Kirk Douglas is given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by president Jimmy Carter in 1980.
© Getty Images
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B.B. King
- Blues icon Riley "B.B." King receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from president George W. Bush on December 15, 2006.
© Getty Images
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Margaret Thatcher
- Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom by president George H.W. Bush in 1991.
© Getty Images
18 / 35 Fotos
Stevie Wonder
- President Barack Obama presents singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 24, 2014.
© Getty Images
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Bruce Springsteen
- Singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by president Barack Obama on November 22, 2016.
© Getty Images
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Oprah Winfrey
- President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to talk show host Oprah Winfrey on November 20, 2013.
© Getty Images
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Bill Gates
- President Barack Obama awards Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 22, 2016.
© Getty Images
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Diana Ross
- President Barack Obama presents singer Diana Ross with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the East Room of the White House on November 22, 2016.
© Getty Images
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Stephen Hawking
- President Barack Obama awards the Medal of Freedom to theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking on August 12, 2009.
© Getty Images
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Ellen DeGeneres
- President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres on November 22, 2016.
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Meryl Streep
- Actress Meryl Streep receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama on November 24, 2014.
© Getty Images
26 / 35 Fotos
Colin Powell
- First Lady Barbara Bush places the Presidential Medal of Freedom around the neck of US Army General Colin Powell. The medal was awarded by President George H.W. Bush on July 3, 1991.
© Getty Images
27 / 35 Fotos
Steven Spielberg
- President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to film director Steven Spielberg on November 24, 2015.
© Getty Images
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Robert Redford
- Actor Robert Redford receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama on November 22, 2016.
© Getty Images
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Sidney Poitier
- President Barack Obama awards the Medal of Freedom to Academy Award-winning actor Sidney Poitier on August 12, 2009.
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George H.W. Bush
- President Barack Obama presents former US president George H.W. Bush with the 2010 Medal of Freedom on February 15, 2011.
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Bill Clinton
- President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former US president Bill Clinton on November 20, 2013.
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Joe Biden
- President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Freedom to then Vice President and future President of the United States Joe Biden on January 12, 2017.
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Warren Buffett
- Businessman and philanthropist Warren Buffett is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by president Barack Obama on February 15, 2011. See also: The most inspirational quotes from American presidents
© Getty Images
34 / 35 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 35 Fotos
Frank Sinatra
- President Ronald Reagan presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to singer Frank Sinatra in 1985.
© Getty Images
1 / 35 Fotos
Robert De Niro
- President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hollywood star Robert De Niro on November 22, 2016.
© Getty Images
2 / 35 Fotos
Simone Biles
- President Joe Biden presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to gymnast and Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles on July 7, 2022. Biles is the youngest person ever to receive the award, at the age of 25.
© Getty Images
3 / 35 Fotos
Tiger Woods
- President Donald Trump presents golf icon Tiger Woods the Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House on May 6, 2019.
© Getty Images
4 / 35 Fotos
Duke Ellington
- President Richard Nixon presents jazz pianist, composer, and band leader, Duke Ellington, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on April 29, 1969.
© Getty Images
5 / 35 Fotos
Pope John Paul II
- President George W. Bush presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Pope John Paul II in the Sala Clementina, Vatican, on June 4, 2004.
© Getty Images
6 / 35 Fotos
Rev. Jesse Jackson
- President Bill Clinton awards Baptist minister and politician Rev. Jesse Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the East Room of the White House on August 9, 2000.
© Getty Images
7 / 35 Fotos
Michael Jordan
- President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to NBA icon Michael Jordan, on November 22, 2016.
© Getty Images
8 / 35 Fotos
Megan Rapinoe
- Soccer star and LGBTQ+ rights advocate Megan Rapinoe is given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by president Joe Biden on July 7, 2022.
© Getty Images
9 / 35 Fotos
Muhammad Ali
- President George W. Bush awards former boxing champion Muhammad Ali the Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 9, 2005.
© Getty Images
10 / 35 Fotos
Mother Teresa
- President Ronald Reagan presents the Medal of Freedom to Roman Catholic nun and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mother Teresa in 1985.
© Getty Images
11 / 35 Fotos
Barbra Streisand
- Singer and actress Barbra Streisand receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama on November 24, 2015.
© Getty Images
12 / 35 Fotos
Rosa Parks
- Civil rights activist Rosa Parks and President Bill Clinton stand with during the Congressional Black Caucus dinner on September 14 , 1996 in Washington D.C. Rosa Parks received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
© Getty Images
13 / 35 Fotos
Bob Dylan
- Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan is presented with a Presidential Medal of Freedom by president Barack Obama on May 29, 2012.
© Getty Images
14 / 35 Fotos
Tom Hanks
- Actor Tom Hanks is awarded the Presidential Medal Of Freedom by President Barack Obama on November 22, 2016.
© Getty Images
15 / 35 Fotos
Kirk Douglas
- Actor and filmmaker Kirk Douglas is given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by president Jimmy Carter in 1980.
© Getty Images
16 / 35 Fotos
B.B. King
- Blues icon Riley "B.B." King receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from president George W. Bush on December 15, 2006.
© Getty Images
17 / 35 Fotos
Margaret Thatcher
- Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom by president George H.W. Bush in 1991.
© Getty Images
18 / 35 Fotos
Stevie Wonder
- President Barack Obama presents singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 24, 2014.
© Getty Images
19 / 35 Fotos
Bruce Springsteen
- Singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by president Barack Obama on November 22, 2016.
© Getty Images
20 / 35 Fotos
Oprah Winfrey
- President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to talk show host Oprah Winfrey on November 20, 2013.
© Getty Images
21 / 35 Fotos
Bill Gates
- President Barack Obama awards Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on November 22, 2016.
© Getty Images
22 / 35 Fotos
Diana Ross
- President Barack Obama presents singer Diana Ross with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the East Room of the White House on November 22, 2016.
© Getty Images
23 / 35 Fotos
Stephen Hawking
- President Barack Obama awards the Medal of Freedom to theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking on August 12, 2009.
© Getty Images
24 / 35 Fotos
Ellen DeGeneres
- President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres on November 22, 2016.
© Getty Images
25 / 35 Fotos
Meryl Streep
- Actress Meryl Streep receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama on November 24, 2014.
© Getty Images
26 / 35 Fotos
Colin Powell
- First Lady Barbara Bush places the Presidential Medal of Freedom around the neck of US Army General Colin Powell. The medal was awarded by President George H.W. Bush on July 3, 1991.
© Getty Images
27 / 35 Fotos
Steven Spielberg
- President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to film director Steven Spielberg on November 24, 2015.
© Getty Images
28 / 35 Fotos
Robert Redford
- Actor Robert Redford receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama on November 22, 2016.
© Getty Images
29 / 35 Fotos
Sidney Poitier
- President Barack Obama awards the Medal of Freedom to Academy Award-winning actor Sidney Poitier on August 12, 2009.
© Getty Images
30 / 35 Fotos
George H.W. Bush
- President Barack Obama presents former US president George H.W. Bush with the 2010 Medal of Freedom on February 15, 2011.
© Getty Images
31 / 35 Fotos
Bill Clinton
- President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former US president Bill Clinton on November 20, 2013.
© Getty Images
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Joe Biden
- President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Freedom to then Vice President and future President of the United States Joe Biden on January 12, 2017.
© Getty Images
33 / 35 Fotos
Warren Buffett
- Businessman and philanthropist Warren Buffett is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by president Barack Obama on February 15, 2011. See also: The most inspirational quotes from American presidents
© Getty Images
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Famous people who received a Presidential Medal of Freedom
From musicians to actors, and everything in between
© Getty Images
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award in the US. It's has been awarded by the US president, ever since President John F. Kennedy established it by Executive Order on February 22, 1963. The medal recognizes those who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."
In this gallery, we look at some of the famous personalities who have been presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Click through and get to know them.
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