This is a partial list of recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, listed chronologically within the aspect of life in which each recipient is or was renowned. The

Presidential Medal of Freedom The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award of the United States, along with the Congressional Gold Medal. It is an award bestowed by the president of the United States to recognize people who have made "an especially merit ...

is awarded by the president of the United States "for 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." Honorees are selected by the president or recommended to them by the

Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board The Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board was a board created for recommending civilians for awards from the U.S. Federal government for distinguished service. It was originally established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on June 27, 1957 b ...

Background

Typically the medal is bestowed upon the recipient by the sitting president who has chosen them. However, the first recipients selected by President

John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination ...

before his assassination were formally awarded by his successor in office,

Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson (; August 27, 1908January 22, 1973), often referred to by his initials LBJ, was an American politician who served as the 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969. He had previously served as the 37th vice ...

. President

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...

awarded 123 medals, the most ever, followed by President Ronald Reagan with 100 medal recipients."Medal of Freedom Ceremony" (August 12, 2009)
, a

news release A press release is an official statement delivered to members of the news media for the purpose of providing information, creating an official statement, or making an announcement directed for public release. Press releases are also considere ...

, August 12, 2009, from the White House Press Secretary a
whitehouse.gov
the

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in ...

's official website. Retrieved August 22, 2009. Two people,

Ellsworth Bunker Ellsworth F. Bunker (May 11, 1894 – September 27, 1984) was an American businessman and diplomat (including being the ambassador to Argentina, Italy, India, Nepal and South Vietnam). He is perhaps best known for being a hawk on the war in Vietn ...

and Colin Powell, are two-time recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Colin Powell received his second award with Distinction, while Ellsworth Bunker was given both of his awards with distinction. Eight Presidents have themselves received the medal at some point in their life. John F. Kennedy was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963.

was also posthumously awarded, in 1980. Ronald Reagan became the first living former president to get the award in 1993. Gerald Ford and

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 76th governor of Georgia from 1 ...

were both given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999. George H. W. Bush was given the award in 2011, and

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...

in 2013. Joe Biden received the medal in 2017 when he was vice president, and is the first president to receive the medal before their presidency. In 2015, President

stated that there was no precedent to revoke a Presidential Medal of Freedom, regarding the award given to stand-up comedian and actor

Bill Cosby William Henry Cosby Jr. ( ; born July 12, 1937) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and media personality. He made significant contributions to American and African-American culture, and is well known in the United States for his eccentric ...

. After being awarded the medal, Cosby was convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault, though the convictions were later overturned. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is distinct from the

Medal of Freedom The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award of the United States, along with the Congressional Gold Medal. It is an award bestowed by the president of the United States to recognize people who have made "an especially merit ...

, an antecedent award issued prior to 1963 to honor US civilian contributions to

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. At the age of 25, athlete and activist

Simone Biles Simone Arianne Biles (; born March 14, 1997) is an American artistic gymnast. Her seven Olympic medals tied with Shannon Miller for the most Olympic medals won by an American gymnast. Having won 25 World Championship medals, she is the most de ...

is the youngest person to receive this award as of 2022.

Declinations of the award

Bill Belichick William Stephen Belichick (; born April 16, 1952) is an American professional football coach who is the head coach of the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Additionally, he exercises extensive authority over the Patri ...

, coach of the New England Patriots, turned down the medal after the 2021 United States Capitol attack. Country musician

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...

turned down the medal twice. Parton said she turned it down the first time because her husband was ill, and the second time because of the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

List

* † – Awarded posthumously * WD – Awarded "With Distinction"

Awarded by John F. Kennedy

selected 31 recipients to be awarded in 1963. After his assassination they were officially awarded by Lyndon B. Johnson.

Awarded by Lyndon B. Johnson

awarded 58 medals between 1963 and 1969, excluding 31 which were selected by John F. Kennedy.

Awarded by Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...

awarded 28 medals between 1969 and 1974.

Awarded by Gerald Ford

Gerald Ford awarded 26 medals between 1974 and 1977.

Awarded by Jimmy Carter

awarded 34 medals between 1977 and 1981.

Awarded by Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan awarded 86 medals between 1981 and 1989.

Awarded by George H. W. Bush

George H. W. Bush awarded 42 medals between 1989 and 1993.

Awarded by Bill Clinton

awarded 89 medals between 1993 and 2001.

Awarded by George W. Bush

George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...

awarded 73 medals between 2001 and 2009.

Awarded by Barack Obama

awarded 132 medals between 2009 and 2017.

Awarded by Donald Trump

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...

awarded 24 medals between 2017 and 2021.

Awarded by Joe Biden

Notes

Bibliography

* – contains a list of awardees from 1963 to approximately 1995

References

External links

{{Commons category, Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Medal of Freedom
Official site for the Medal of Freedom for the Obama administration
Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients, 1963–2002
(alphabetical pp. 51–61, chronological pp. 62–69), The White House

United States Senate

The Political Graveyard

Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients President most commonly refers to: * President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

List