WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor to greater than a dozen politicians, philanthropists and cultural icons throughout a ceremony on the White House Saturday.
Nineteen people acquired the Presidential Medal of Freedom, together with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and billionaire donor George Soros. Four folks had been honored posthumously.
In a speech on the ceremony, Biden known as the award recipients, “a group of individuals, with completely different backgrounds and beliefs and abilities, completely different generations and completely different agendas, utilizing their exceptional items and unwavering ardour to strengthen our resolve as one nation underneath god indivisible, liberty and justice for all.”
He addressed the group, telling them, “you answered the decision to serve and led others to do the identical factor, and also you defend the values of America even after they’re underneath assault, as a result of they’ve been.”
The medal is “introduced to people who’ve made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or safety of the United States, world peace, or different important societal, public or personal endeavors,” the White House stated in a information launch forward of the ceremony.
“These nineteen Americans are nice leaders who’ve made America a greater place,” the assertion added. “They are nice leaders as a result of they’re good individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to their nation and the world.”
Clinton acquired the award about two weeks earlier than her former political rival, President-elect Donald Trump, might be sworn in for a second time period. In 2016, Clinton grew to become the primary girl nominated by a serious celebration for president earlier than shedding to Trump.
Soros, who based the Open Society Foundations, has contributed greater than $32 billion to his group, which helps quite a lot of human rights and pro-democracy causes, in line with his web site. He can also be a serious Democratic donor.
Other recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Saturday included humanitarian and chef José Andrés, whose World Central Kitchen has helped present meals for civilians in battle zones and areas hit by pure disasters; Jane Goodall, a extremely acclaimed conservationist and scientist; and Bill Nye, a science educator who rose to fame with the present “Bill Nye the Science Guy.”
Several leisure, sports activities and cultural icons had been additionally honored, together with U2 singer Bono, actors Michael J. Fox and Denzel Washington, athletes Lionel Messi and Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and style icons Anna Wintour and Ralph Lauren.
Biden additionally honored a number of recipients posthumously, together with Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968 throughout a presidential run. Kennedy was a senator representing New York and had served as legal professional basic through the administration of his brother, President John F. Kennedy.
Also honored posthumously was Ashton Carter, who was secretary of protection through the Obama administration and oversaw the United States’ push towards the Islamic State, and George Romney, the governor of Michigan through the Nineteen Sixties and the daddy of former Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah.
Biden himself acquired the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2017 through the closing days of the Obama administration. Then-President Barack Obama stunned Biden with the award, which was introduced “with distinction,” an added honor.
Biden has awarded the medal to dozens of others throughout his 4 years in workplace. The ceremonies normally happen about yearly, although Biden additionally awarded former Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards with the medal in November.
Earlier this week, Biden awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal to twenty recipients, together with Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. Thompson and Cheney served on the House Jan. 6 committee and have confronted Trump’s ire. The Presidential Citizens Medal is the second-highest civilian honor, behind the Presidential Medal of Freedom.