Presidential Medal of Freedom
August 1, 2023
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
Ben Leubsdorf
significant achievements in the arts, public service, science, or other fields.
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Created by President Harry S. Truman as the Medal of Freedom in 1945, 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 2022, the Presidential Medal of Freedom was awarded 633 times to 630 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 when a medal is known to have been awarded “with distinction.”
Congressional Research Service

Presidential Medal of Freedom

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.
Background
History
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

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.
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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
Design and Protocol
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is a white
star over a red pentagon, surrounded by five
Figure 1. Presidential Medal of Freedom
gold eagles. At the star’s center is a blue
Front of the medal awarded to Rosa Parks in 1996.
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
Source: Library of Congress.
Medal of Freedom as “the Nation’s highest civil honor.”14 It has also been described as “the

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.
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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
Role for Members of Congress
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

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
(continued...)
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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 633 times between 1963 and 2022.27
The recipients included 630 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.

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 and contemporaneous news reports.
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.
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Table 1. Number of Presidential Medals of Freedom, by President
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
Wil iam J. Clinton
89
George W. Bush
82
Barack H. Obama
118
Donald J. Trump
24
Joseph R. Biden Jr.
17b
Total
633
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, and news reports.
Note: Current as of June 2023.
a. Includes 31 honorees selected by President John F. Kennedy before his assassination.
b. Current incumbent.
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
Table 2. Presidential Medals of Freedom: Joseph R. Biden Jr. (2021-Present)
Name
Year
Simone Biles
2022
Simone Campbell
2022
Juliet García
2022
Gabrielle Giffords
2022
Fred Gray Sr.
2022
Steve Jobs
2022

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. The 55
instances of “with distinction” noted in this report may not be comprehensive.
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Name
Year
Alexander Karloutsos
2022
Khizr Khan
2022
Sandra Lindsay
2022
John McCain
2022
Diane Nash
2022
Megan Rapinoe
2022
Alan Simpson
2022
Richard Trumka
2022
Wilma L. Vaught
2022
Denzel Washington
2022
Raul Yzaguirre
2022
Source: Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents.
Note: List current as of June 2023.
Table 3. Presidential Medals of Freedom: Donald J. Trump (2017-2021)
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
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Name
Year
Jerry West
2019
Tiger Woods
2019
Mildred Didrikson Zaharias
2021
Source: Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents.
Table 4. Presidential Medals of Freedom: Barack H. Obama (2009-2017)
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 Carrol
2015
James Earl Chaney
2014
Shirley Chisholm
2015
Wil iam J. Clinton
2013
Elouise Cobell
2016
Robert De Niro
2016
El en DeGeneres
2016
John David Dingell
2014
John Michael Doar
2012
Mildred Spiewak Dresselhaus
2014
Bob Dylan
2012
Emilio Estefan Jr.
2015
Gloria Estefan
2015
Wil iam H. Foege
2012
Bil y Frank
2015
Richard Lawrence Garwin
2016
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Name
Year
Bil 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
Bil ie 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
Wil ie Mays
2015
Joseph Medicine Crow
2009
Sylvia Mendez
2011
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Name
Year
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
Wil iam Doyle Ruckelshaus
2015
Bil Russell
2011
Bayard Rustin
2013
Arturo Sandoval
2013
Michael Henry Schwerner
2014
Vin Scul y
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
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Name
Year
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
Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States.
a. Medal known to be awarded “with distinction.”
Table 5. Presidential Medals of Freedom: George W. Bush (2001-2009)
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 Col ins
2007
Ruth Johnson Colvin
2006
Robert Conquest
2005
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Name
Year
Bil 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 Melvil e 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 Wil iam Kristol
2002
Brian Lamb
2007
Tom Lantos
2008
Estee Lauder
2004
Joshua Lederberg
2006
Harper Lee
2007
Nelson Mandela
2002
David McCul ough
2006
Norman Yoshio Mineta
2006
Gil espie V. (“Sonny”)
2005
Montgomery
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Name
Year
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 MacNeil
2003
Robertson
Frank Robinson
2005
Fred Rogers
2002
A.M. Rosenthal
2002
Paul Rusesabagina
2005
Wil iam L. Safire
2006
Donna Shalala
2008
Natan Sharansky
2006
Laurence H. Silberman
2008
El en 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.
Table 6. Presidential Medals of Freedom: William J. Clinton (1993-2001)
Name
Year
Arnold Aronson
1998
Arthur Ashe
1993
Brooke Astor
1998
Lloyd Bentsen
1999
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Name
Year
Joseph Bernardin
1996
Herbert “Herblock” Block
1994
James Scott Brady
1996
Wil iam 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
Wil iam T. Coleman Jr.
1995
Robert Coles
1998
Joan Ganz Cooney
1995
Wil iam 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. Wil iam Fulbright
1993
Mil ard Ful er
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
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Name
Year
Oliver W. Hil
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 Mankil er
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
Wil iam James Perry
1997
Colin Powel a
1993
Joseph L. Rauh Jr.
1993
Martha Raye
1993
Walter Philip Reuther
1995
Cruz Reynoso
2000
El iot Richardson
1998
David Rockefeller
1998
James W. Rouse
1995
Ginetta Sagan
1996
John Shalikashvili
1997
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Presidential Medal of Freedom

Name
Year
Albert Shanker
1998
Sargent Shriver
1994
Aung San Suu Kyi
2000
Gardner C. Taylor
2000
Mo Udal
1996
Wil iam C. Velasquez
1995
Lew R. Wasserman
1995
Edgar Wayburn
1999
Simon Wiesenthal
2000
John Minor Wisdom
1993
Elmo R. Zumwalt
1998
Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States.
a. Medal known to be awarded “with distinction.”
Table 7. Presidential Medals of Freedom: George H.W. Bush (1989-1993)
Name
Year
James Addison Baker III
1991
Lucil e Ball
1989
David Brinkley
1992
Wil iam F. Buckley Jr.
1991
Johnny Carson
1992
Dick Cheney
1991
Javier Perez de Cuellar
1991
C. Douglas Dil on
1989
James Harold Doolittle
1989
Luis A. Ferre
1991
El a Fitzgerald
1992
Betty Ford
1991
Hannah Holborn Gray
1991
Friedrich August von Hayek
1991
Audrey Hepburn
1992
George F. Kennan
1989
Tip O’Neil
1991
I.M. Pei
1992
Claude Pepper
1989
Richard Petty
1992
Colin Powel
1991
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link to page 19 Presidential Medal of Freedom

Name
Year
Ronald W. Reagana
1993
Harry W. Schlaudeman
1992
H. Norman Schwarzkopf
1991
Brent Scowcroft
1991
Margaret Chase Smith
1989
Isaac Stern
1992
Leon Sul ivan
1991
Margaret Thatcher
1991
Strom Thurmond
1993
Russell Erol Train
1991
John Wil iam Vessey
1992
Lech Walesa
1989
Vernon Anthony Walters
1991
Sam Walton
1992
Wil iam Hedgcock Webster
1991
Elie Wiesel
1992
Ted Wil iams
1991
Sources: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States; Associated Press, “Bush Honors Webster,” July 25,
1991; Christopher Connell, “Bush Gives Thurmond An Award,” Associated Press, January 12, 1993.
a. Medal known to be awarded “with distinction.”
Table 8. Presidential Medals of Freedom: Ronald W. Reagan (1981-1989)
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 Wil iam Bryant
1983
Warren E. Burger
1988
James Burnham
1983
James Cagney
1984
Peter Alexander Rupert
1988
Carrington
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Presidential Medal of Freedom

Name
Year
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 Ful er
1983
Hector Perez Garcia
1984
Barry Goldwater
1986
Andrew Jackson Goodpaster
1984
Bil y Graham
1983
El a Grasso
1981
Philip Charles Habib
1982
Bryce N. Harlow
1981
Helen Hayes
1986
Eric Hoffer
1983
Jerome Heartwell Hol and
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. Wil ard Marriott
1988
John A. McCone
1987
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link to page 21 Presidential Medal of Freedom

Name
Year
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. Dil on 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
Wil iam Bertalan Walsh
1987
Albert Coady Wedemeyer
1985
Caspar Wil ard Weinbergera
1987
Meredith Wil son
1987
Albert J. Wohlstetter
1985
Roberta Wohlstetter
1985
Chuck Yeager
1985
Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States.
a. Medal known to be awarded “with distinction.”
Table 9. Presidential Medals of Freedom: James E. Carter Jr. (1977-1981)
Name
Year
Ansel Adams
1980
Horace Marden Albright
1980
Roger Nash Baldwin
1981
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link to page 23 link to page 23 Presidential Medal of Freedom

Name
Year
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 Sil s
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 Wil iams
1980
Andrew Young
1981
Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States.
Table 10. Presidential Medals of Freedom: Gerald R. Ford Jr. (1974-1977)
Name
Year
Iorwith Wilbur Abela
1977
John Bardeena
1977
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Name
Year
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
Wil 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
Sources: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents.
a. Medals known to be awarded “with distinction.”
Table 11. Presidential Medals of Freedom: Richard M. Nixon (1969-1974)
Name
Year
Edwin Aldrina
1969
Apol o 13 Mission Operations
1970
Team
Neil Alden Armstronga
1969
Earl C. Behrens
1970
Manilo Giovanni Brosio
1971
Michael Col insa
1969
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Name
Year
Duke El ington
1969
Edward Thomas Fol iard
1970
John Ford
1973
Samuel Goldwyn
1971
Fred W. Haise
1970
Wil iam M. Henry
1970
Paul G. Hoffman
1974
Wil iam 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
Wil iam P. Rogers
1973
Adela Rogers St. Johns
1970
Jack Swigert
1970
John Paul Vann
1972
DeWitt Wallace
1972
Lila Bell Acheson Wallace
1972
Source: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States.
a. Medals known to be awarded “with distinction.”
Table 12. Presidential Medals of Freedom: Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969)
Name
Year
Dean Gooderham Achesona
1964
Marian Anderson
1963
Eugene Robert Blacka
1969
Detlev W. Bronk
1964
Ralph Johnson Bunchea
1963
McGeorge Bundy
1969
El sworth Bunkera
1963
El sworth Bunkera
1967
Pablo Casals
1963
Genevieve Caulfield
1963
Congressional Research Service

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link to page 27 link to page 27 link to page 27 link to page 27 link to page 27 link to page 27 link to page 27 Presidential Medal of Freedom

Name
Year
Clark Clifforda
1969
James B. Conanta
1963
Aaron Copland
1964
Wil em 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 El ison
1969
John Franklin Enders
1963
Lynn Fontanne
1964
Henry Ford II
1969
Felix Frankfurtera
1963
John Wil iam 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 Wil iam Komer
1967
Edwin Herbert Land
1963
Mary Woodward Lasker
1969
Herbert Henry Lehman
1963
John Llewel yn Lewis
1964
Walter Lippmann
1964
Eugene M. Locke
1967
Robert Abercrombie Lovetta
1963
Alfred Lunt
1964
J. Clifford MacDonald
1963
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link to page 27 link to page 27 link to page 27 link to page 27 link to page 27 link to page 27 link to page 27 link to page 27 Presidential Medal of Freedom

Name
Year
John Wil iams Macy
1969
Luis Munoz Marina
1963
John J. McCloya
1963
Ralph McGil
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 Wil iam 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
Wil iam Smith White
1969
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Name
Year
Thornton Niven Wilder
1963
Roy Wilkins
1969
Edmund Wilson
1963
Andrew Wyeth
1963
Whitney M. Young Jr.
1969
Sources: Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents.
a. Medals known to be awarded “with distinction.”
Table 13 lists all 633 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, listed in alphabetical order
by last name. The recipients who are known to have been awarded the medal “with distinction”
are marked with a table note (a).32
Table 13. Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients, 1963-2022
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
Maya Angelou
2011 Barack H. Obama
Walter H. Annenberg
1986 Ronald W. Reagan
Apol o 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 Wil iam J. Clinton
Arthur Ashe
1993 Wil iam J. Clinton

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. The 55 instances of “with distinction”
noted in this report may not be comprehensive.
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Name
Year
President
Brooke Astor
1998 Wil iam 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.
Lucil e 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 Wil iam J. Clinton
Irving Berlina
1977 Gerald R. Ford Jr.
Joseph Bernardin
1996 Wil iam 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 Wil iam J. Clinton
Norman Ernest Borlauga
1977 Gerald R. Ford Jr.
Ben Bradlee
2013 Barack H. Obama
Omar Nelson Bradleya
1977 Gerald R. Ford Jr.
James Scott Brady
1996 Wil iam J. Clinton
L. Paul Bremer
2004 George W. Bush
Wil iam J. Brennan Jr.
1993 Wil iam 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 Wil iam J. Clinton
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link to page 44 link to page 44 link to page 44 link to page 44 link to page 44 link to page 44 link to page 44 Presidential Medal of Freedom

Name
Year
President
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 Wil iam Bryant
1983 Ronald W. Reagan
Zbigniew Brzezinski
1981 James E. Carter Jr.
Wil iam 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
El sworth Bunkera
1963 Lyndon B. Johnson
El sworth Bunkera
1967 Lyndon B. Johnson
Warren E. Burger
1988 Ronald W. Reagan
Arleigh Albert Burkea
1977 Gerald R. Ford Jr.
James E. Burke
2000 Wil iam 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 Carrol
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.
James E. Carter Jr.
1999 Wil iam J. Clinton
Rosalynn Carter
1999 Wil iam 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 Wil iam J. Clinton
Whittaker Chambers
1984 Ronald W. Reagan
James Earl Chaney
2014 Barack H. Obama
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link to page 44 link to page 44 link to page 44 Presidential Medal of Freedom

Name
Year
President
Peggy Charren
1995 Wil iam J. Clinton
Lucia Chase
1980 James E. Carter Jr.
Cesar Chavez
1994 Wil iam 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 Wil iam J. Clinton
Roberto Clemente
2003 George W. Bush
Van Cliburn
2003 George W. Bush
Clark Clifforda
1969 Lyndon B. Johnson
Wil iam J. Clinton
2013 Barack H. Obama
Elouise Cobell
2016 Barack H. Obama
Wil iam T. Coleman Jr.
1995 Wil iam J. Clinton
Robert Coles
1998 Wil iam J. Clinton
Francis Col ins
2007 George W. Bush
Michael Col insa
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 Wil iam J. Clinton
Aaron Copland
1964 Lyndon B. Johnson
Bil 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.
Wil iam James Crowe
2000 Wil iam J. Clinton
Justin Dart Jr.
1998 Wil iam J. Clinton
Justin Whitlock Dart
1987 Ronald W. Reagan
Doris Day
2004 George W. Bush
Javier Perez de Cuellar
1991 George H.W. Bush
Wil em de Kooning
1964 Lyndon B. Johnson
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Name
Year
President
Robert De Niro
2016 Barack H. Obama
Michael E. DeBakey
1969 Lyndon B. Johnson
El en DeGeneres
2016 Barack H. Obama
C. Douglas Dil on
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 Wil iam J. Clinton
Placido Domingo
2002 George W. Bush
James Harold Doolittle
1989 George H.W. Bush
Kirk Douglas
1981 James E. Carter Jr.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas
1993 Wil iam 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 Wil iam J. Clinton
Ariel Duranta
1977 Gerald R. Ford Jr.
Wil Duranta
1977 Gerald R. Ford Jr.
Bob Dylan
2012 Barack H. Obama
Marian Wright Edelman
2000 Wil iam J. Clinton
Lena Frances Edwards
1964 Lyndon B. Johnson
T.S. Eliot
1964 Lyndon B. Johnson
Duke El ington
1969 Richard M. Nixon
Ralph El ison
1969 Lyndon B. Johnson
John Franklin Enders
1963 Lyndon B. Johnson
Emilio Estefan Jr.
2015 Barack H. Obama
Gloria Estefan
2015 Barack H. Obama
James Farmer
1998 Wil iam J. Clinton
Dante Bruno Fascell
1998 Wil iam J. Clinton
Anthony S. Fauci
2008 George W. Bush
Luis A. Ferre
1991 George H.W. Bush
Maria Isolina Ferre
1999 Wil iam J. Clinton
Arthur Fiedlera
1977 Gerald R. Ford Jr.
Zachary Fisher
1998 Wil iam J. Clinton
El a Fitzgerald
1992 George H.W. Bush
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link to page 44 link to page 44 Presidential Medal of Freedom

Name
Year
President
Arthur Sherwood Flemming
1994 Wil iam J. Clinton
Wil iam H. Foege
2012 Barack H. Obama
Edward Thomas Fol iard
1970 Richard M. Nixon
Lynn Fontanne
1964 Lyndon B. Johnson
Henry Ford II
1969 Lyndon B. Johnson
Gerald R. Ford Jr.
1999 Wil iam J. Clinton
Betty Ford
1991 George H.W. Bush
John Ford
1973 Richard M. Nixon
Tennessee Ernie Ford
1984 Ronald W. Reagan
Norman C. Francis
2006 George W. Bush
Bil y Frank
2015 Barack H. Obama
Felix Frankfurtera
1963 Lyndon B. Johnson
Aretha Franklin
2005 George W. Bush
John Hope Franklin
1995 Wil iam J. Clinton
Tommy R. Franks
2004 George W. Bush
Milton Friedman
1988 Ronald W. Reagan
Henry Jacob Friendlya
1977 Gerald R. Ford Jr.
J. Wil iam Fulbright
1993 Wil iam J. Clinton
Mil ard Ful er
1996 Wil iam J. Clinton
R. Buckminster Ful er
1983 Ronald W. Reagan
Dan Gable
2020 Donald J. Trump
John Kenneth Galbraith
2000 Wil iam J. Clinton
Hector Perez Garcia
1984 Ronald W. Reagan
Juliet García
2022 Joseph R. Biden Jr.
John Wil iam Gardner
1964 Lyndon B. Johnson
Richard Lawrence Garwin
2016 Barack H. Obama
Bil 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.
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
Andrew Goodman
2014 Barack H. Obama
Andrew Jackson Goodpaster
1984 Ronald W. Reagan
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Name
Year
President
Bil y Graham
1983 Ronald W. Reagan
Katharine Graham
2002 George W. Bush
Martha Grahama
1976 Gerald R. Ford Jr.
James P. Grant
1994 Wil iam J. Clinton
El a 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 Melvil e Grosvenor
2004 George W. Bush
Philip Charles Habib
1982 Ronald W. Reagan
Fred W. Haise
1970 Richard M. Nixon
David A. Hamburg
1996 Wil iam J. Clinton
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 Wil iam J. Clinton
Donald A. Henderson
2002 George W. Bush
Wil iam M. Henry
1970 Richard M. Nixon
Audrey Hepburn
1992 George H.W. Bush
Theodore M. Hesburgh
1964 Lyndon B. Johnson
Frances Hesselbein
1998 Wil iam J. Clinton
Charlton Heston
2003 George W. Bush
Leon A. Higginbotham Jr.
1995 Wil iam J. Clinton
George G. Higgins
2000 Wil iam J. Clinton
Oliver W. Hil
1999 Wil iam J. Clinton
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link to page 44 link to page 44 Presidential Medal of Freedom

Name
Year
President
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 Hol and
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
Wil iam 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 Wil iam J. Clinton
Jacob Koppel Javits
1983 Ronald W. Reagan
Mildred Jeffrey
2000 Wil iam 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 Wil iam J. Clinton
Clarence Leonard Johnson
1964 Lyndon B. Johnson
John H. Johnson
1996 Wil iam J. Clinton
Katherine Johnson
2015 Barack H. Obama
Lady Bird Johnsona
1977 Gerald R. Ford Jr.
Lyndon B. Johnson
1980 James E. Carter Jr.
Paul Johnson
2006 George W. Bush
Barbara Jordan
1994 Wil iam J. Clinton
Jim Jordan
2021 Donald J. Trump
Michael Jordan
2016 Barack H. Obama
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Name
Year
President
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 Wil iam 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
Khizr Khan
2022 Joseph R. Biden Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr.
1977 James E. Carter Jr.
B.B. King
2006 George W. Bush
Bil ie Jean King
2009 Barack H. Obama
Robert John Herman Kiphuth
1963 Lyndon B. Johnson
Lane Kirkland
1994 Wil iam 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 Wil iam J. Clinton
Robert Wil iam Komer
1967 Lyndon B. Johnson
C. Everett Koop
1995 Wil iam J. Clinton
Fred Korematsu
1998 Wil iam J. Clinton
Mathilde Krim
2000 Wil iam J. Clinton
Irving Wil iam 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
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Name
Year
President
Louis L’Amour
1984 Ronald W. Reagan
Edwin Herbert Land
1963 Lyndon B. Johnson
Eugene M. Lang
1996 Wil iam J. Clinton
Tom Lantos
2008 George W. Bush
Mary Woodward Lasker
1969 Lyndon B. Johnson
Estee Lauder
2004 George W. Bush
David Lawrence
1970 Richard M. Nixon
Joshua Lederberg
2006 George W. Bush
Harper Lee
2007 George W. Bush
Herbert Henry Lehman
1963 Lyndon B. Johnson
Morris I. Leibman
1981 Ronald W. Reagan
Lyman Louis Lemnitzer
1987 Ronald W. Reagan
John Llewel yn 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 Wil iam 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.
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Name
Year
President
John Wil iams Macy
1969 Lyndon B. Johnson
Dumas Malone
1983 Ronald W. Reagan
Nelson Mandela
2002 George W. Bush
Wilma Mankil er
1998 Wil iam J. Clinton
Mike Mansfield
1989 Ronald W. Reagan
Luis Munoz Marina
1963 Lyndon B. Johnson
J. Wil ard Marriott
1988 Ronald W. Reagan
Thurgood Marshall
1993 Wil iam J. Clinton
Wil ie 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 McCul ough
2006 George W. Bush
Ralph McGil
1964 Lyndon B. Johnson
George Stanley McGovern
2000 Wil iam 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
Lorne Michaels
2016 Barack H. Obama
Bob Michel
1994 Wil iam 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.
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Name
Year
President
George John Mitchell
1999 Wil iam J. Clinton
Raymond Charles Moley
1970 Richard M. Nixon
Mario Molina
2013 Barack H. Obama
Jean Monneta
1963 Lyndon B. Johnson
Gil espie 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 Wil iam J. Clinton
Lewis Mumford
1964 Lyndon B. Johnson
Margaret Murie
1998 Wil iam 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 Wil iam J. Clinton
Jack Nicklaus
2005 George W. Bush
Reinhold Niebuhr
1964 Lyndon B. Johnson
Paul Henry Nitze
1985 Ronald W. Reagan
Jan Nowak
1996 Wil iam J. Clinton
Devin Nunes
2021 Donald J. Trump
Sandra Day O’Connor
2009 Barack H. Obama
Mario G. Obledo
1998 Wil iam J. Clinton
Georgia O’Keeffea
1977 Gerald R. Ford Jr.
Buck O’Neil
2006 George W. Bush
Tip O’Neil
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 Wil iam J. Clinton
Rosa Parks
1996 Wil iam J. Clinton
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Name
Year
President
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
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
Wil iam James Perry
1997 Wil iam 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 Powel
1991 George H.W. Bush
Colin Powel a
1993 Wil iam 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 Wil iam J. Clinton
Martha Raye
1993 Wil iam 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 Wil iam J. Clinton
Frank Reynolds
1985 Ronald W. Reagan
Cruz Reynoso
2000 Wil iam J. Clinton
El iot Richardson
1998 Wil iam J. Clinton
Hyman George Rickover
1980 James E. Carter Jr.
Sally K. Ride
2013 Barack H. Obama
Matthew Bunker Ridgway
1986 Ronald W. Reagan
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Name
Year
President
S. Dil on Ripley
1985 Ronald W. Reagan
Chita Rivera
2009 Barack H. Obama
Mariano Rivera
2019 Donald J. Trump
George Islay MacNeil 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 Wil iam 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
Wil iam P. Rogers
1973 Richard M. Nixon
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 Wil iam J. Clinton
Janet D. Rowley
2009 Barack H. Obama
Edward Roybal
2014 Barack H. Obama
Vermont Connecticut Royster
1986 Ronald W. Reagan
Arthur Rubinsteina
1976 Gerald R. Ford Jr.
Wil iam 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
Bil 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
Wil iam L. Safire
2006 George W. Bush
Ginetta Sagan
1996 Wil iam J. Clinton
Jonas Edward Salk
1977 James E. Carter Jr.
Carl Sandburg
1964 Lyndon B. Johnson
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link to page 44 Presidential Medal of Freedom

Name
Year
President
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 Scul y
2016 Barack H. Obama
Rudolf Serkin
1963 Lyndon B. Johnson
Donna Shalala
2008 George W. Bush
John Shalikashvili
1997 Wil iam J. Clinton
Albert Shanker
1998 Wil iam J. Clinton
Natan Sharansky
2006 George W. Bush
Catherine Filene Shousea
1977 Gerald R. Ford Jr.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
1984 Ronald W. Reagan
Sargent Shriver
1994 Wil iam J. Clinton
George P. Shultz
1989 Ronald W. Reagan
Charlie Sifford
2014 Barack H. Obama
Laurence H. Silberman
2008 George W. Bush
Beverly Sil s
1980 James E. Carter Jr.
Alan Simpson
2022 Joseph R. Biden Jr.
Frank Sinatra
1985 Ronald W. Reagan
El en 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
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
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Name
Year
President
Gloria Steinem
2013 Barack H. Obama
Isaac Stern
1992 George H.W. Bush
John Paul Stevens
2012 Barack H. Obama
Roger L. Stevens
1988 Ronald W. Reagan
Jimmy Stewart
1985 Ronald W. Reagan
Robert Schwarz Strauss
1981 James E. Carter Jr.
Meryl Streep
2014 Barack H. Obama
Barbra Streisand
2015 Barack H. Obama
Leon Sul ivan
1991 George H.W. Bush
Pat Summitt
2012 Barack H. Obama
Aung San Suu Kyi
2000 Wil iam 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 Wil iam J. Clinton
George Wil iam 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
Strom Thurmond
1993 George H.W. Bush
Russell Erol 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 Udal
1996 Wil iam 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.
Wil iam C. Velasquez
1995 Wil iam J. Clinton
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Name
Year
President
John Wil iam 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
Wil iam 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
2022 Joseph R. Biden Jr.
Lew R. Wasserman
1995 Wil iam 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 Wil iam J. Clinton
John Wayne
1980 James E. Carter Jr.
James Edwin Webb
1968 Lyndon B. Johnson
Wil iam Hedgcock Webster
1991 George H.W. Bush
Albert Coady Wedemeyer
1985 Ronald W. Reagan
Caspar Wil ard 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
Wil iam Smith White
1969 Lyndon B. Johnson
Elie Wiesel
1992 George H.W. Bush
Simon Wiesenthal
2000 Wil iam J. Clinton
Thornton Niven Wilder
1963 Lyndon B. Johnson
Roy Wilkins
1969 Lyndon B. Johnson
Ted Wil iams
1991 George H.W. Bush
Tennessee Wil iams
1980 James E. Carter Jr.
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Presidential Medal of Freedom

Name
Year
President
Meredith Wil son
1987 Ronald W. Reagan
Edmund Wilson
1963 Lyndon B. Johnson
James Q. Wilson
2003 George W. Bush
Oprah Winfrey
2013 Barack H. Obama
John Minor Wisdom
1993 Wil iam 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
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 Wil iam 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.
a. Medals known to be awarded “with distinction.”
Related CRS Products
CRS Report R47020, A Guide to Major Congressional and Presidential Awards, by Barbara
Salazar Torreon.
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.
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Presidential Medal of Freedom

Author Information

Ben Leubsdorf

Research Librarian

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