The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian honor, and President Biden is awarding Hillary Clinton, Denzel Washington and 17 others the according to the White House are people "who have made America a better place."
Getty: Tom Brenner
Amongst the honorees we again, Hilary Clinton, who served as first lady, senator, secretary of state, and was the first woman to be nominated for president by a major political party; actors Michael J. Fox and Denzel Washington, U2 frontman Bono, soccer star Lionel Messi and billionaire philanthropist George Soros.
Those receiving the award posthumously are former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer, former Defense Secretary Ash Carter and former Michigan Gov. George W. Romney.
Getty: Tom Brenner
President Biden also honored ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, retired Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson, chef and World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, science educator Bill Nye "The Science Guy," LGBTQ activist and entrepreneur Tim Gill, billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein and American Film Institute founder George Stevens Jr.
Biden gave brief remarks before presenting the awards on Saturday afternoon, taking a moment to collectively address the nominees.
"Together, you leave an incredible mark - and I mean this sincerely, this group - you leave an incredible mark on our country," he said.
According to the White House, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is "presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors." The award was established by Robert F. Kennedy's brother, the late President John F. Kennedy, in 1963.
