Politics & Government
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor during a ceremony at the White House in Washington D.C., on Wednesday, August 12, 2009. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)
MCT
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Sidney Poitier during a ceremony at the White House in Washington D.C., on Wednesday, August 12, 2009. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)
MCT
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Dr. Janet Davison Rowley. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)
Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT
Stephen Hawking received the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Pedro Jose Joe Greer Jr., during a ceremony at the White House in Washington D.C., on Wednesday, August 12, 2009. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)
MCT
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Stuart Milk on behalf of his uncle, Harvey Bernard Milk, during a ceremony at the White House in Washington D.C., on Wednesday, August 12, 2009. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)
MCT
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Sen. Ted Kennedy's daughter, Kara, during a ceremony at the White House in Washington D.C., on Wednesday, August 12, 2009. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)
MCT
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Joanne Kemp on behalf of her husband, statesman and sports icon Jack French Kemp, during a ceremony at the White House in Washington D.C., on Wednesday, August 12, 2009. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)
MCT
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu during a ceremony at the White House in Washington D.C., on Wednesday, August 12, 2009. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)
MCT
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Professor Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh during a ceremony at the White House in Washington D.C., on Wednesday, August 12, 2009. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)
MCT
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Chita Rivera during a ceremony at the White House in Washington D.C., on Wednesday, August 12, 2009. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)
MCT
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Joseph Medicine Crow during a ceremony at the White House in Washington D.C., on Wednesday, August 12, 2009. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)
MCT
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Reverend Joseph E. Lowery during a ceremony at the White House in Washington D.C., on Wednesday, August 12, 2009. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)
MCT
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Billie Jean King during a ceremony at the White House in Washington D.C., on Wednesday, August 12, 2009. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)
MCT
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Nancy Goodman Brinker during a ceremony at the White House in Washington D.C., on Wednesday, August 12, 2009. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)
MCT
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Pedro Jose "Joe" Greer Jr., during a ceremony at the White House in Washington D.C., on Wednesday, August 12, 2009. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/MCT)
MCT
President Barack Obama presents a 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom to the former President of Ireland Mary Robinson. (Scott Applewhite / AP)
Scott Applewhite / AP
of 16
i
