kids encyclopedia robot

List of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is a very important award given by the president of the United States. It's given to people who have made amazing contributions to the security or national interests of the U.S., to world peace, or to cultural or other important public or private efforts. It's one of the highest honors a civilian can receive in the United States.

History of the Medal

The Presidential Medal of Freedom was first created by President John F. Kennedy. Usually, the president who chooses someone for the medal is the one who gives it to them. However, the first people chosen by President Kennedy received their medals from President Lyndon B. Johnson after Kennedy's passing.

President Barack Obama has given out the most medals, with 118 awards. President Bill Clinton is next, having awarded 89 medals. Two people, Ellsworth Bunker and Colin Powell, have received the medal twice.

Eight U.S. Presidents have also received this medal themselves:

In 2022, at just 25 years old, athlete and activist Simone Biles became the youngest person ever to receive the award.

Turning Down the Award

Sometimes, people choose not to accept the medal. For example, Bill Belichick, a famous football coach, was offered the medal by President Donald Trump. He first said yes, but then changed his mind and turned it down.

Country music star Dolly Parton also turned down the medal twice from Donald Trump. She explained that the first time was because her husband was ill, and the second time was due to the global pandemic.

What "With Distinction" Means

The Presidential Medal of Freedom can sometimes be given "with Distinction." This means the award is given for truly extraordinary achievements. It's a special way to recognize someone's incredible impact.

As of July 17, 2025, 27 individuals have received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (with Distinction). Ellsworth Bunker received it twice, making a total of 28 awards with this special honor.

Some people who received the medal "with Distinction" include:

  • Ralph Bunche (1963) – A political scientist and the first person of African descent to win a Nobel Prize.
  • Neil Armstrong (1969) – The first person to walk on the Moon.
  • Martha Graham (1976) – A famous modern dancer and choreographer.
  • Ronald Reagan (1993) – The 40th President of the United States.
  • Colin Powell (1993) – A military general and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  • Pope John Paul II (2004) – The head of the Catholic Church.
  • Joe Biden (2017) – The 47th Vice President of the United States.
  • Pope Francis (2025) – The head of the Catholic Church.

List of Medal Recipients

Here is a list of some notable people who have received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

  • † – Awarded after their passing
  • WD – Awarded "with Distinction"

Awarded by John F. Kennedy

President John F. Kennedy chose 31 people to receive the medal in 1963. After his passing, President Lyndon B. Johnson officially presented these awards.

Recipient Year Notes Notable as
Anderson, MarianMarian Anderson 1963 Famous singer (contralto) and the first African-American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera
Bunche, RalphRalph Bunche WD Political scientist and the first person of African descent to receive a Nobel Prize
Casals, PabloPablo Casals World-renowned cellist
Frankfurter, FelixFelix Frankfurter WD Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Monnet, JeanJean Monnet WD An important figure in the creation of the European Union

Awarded by Lyndon B. Johnson

President Lyndon B. Johnson awarded 58 medals between 1963 and 1969, in addition to the 31 chosen by President Kennedy.

Recipient Year Notes Notable as
John XXIII, John XXIII 1963 Head of the Catholic Church
Kennedy, John F.John F. Kennedy 35th President of the United States
Disney, WaltWalt Disney 1964 Co-founder of The Walt Disney Company
Keller, HelenHelen Keller Disability rights advocate and human rights activist
Murrow, Edward R.Edward R. Murrow WD Famous broadcast journalist and World War II correspondent
Price, LeontyneLeontyne Price Soprano singer and the first African-American soprano to gain international fame
Randolph, A. PhilipA. Philip Randolph Founder and president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters

Awarded by Richard Nixon

President Richard Nixon awarded 28 medals between 1969 and 1974.

Recipient Year Notes Notable as
Aldrin, BuzzBuzz Aldrin 1969 WD Astronaut and Apollo 11 crew member
Armstrong, NeilNeil Armstrong WD Astronaut and the first person to walk on the Moon
Collins, MichaelMichael Collins WD Astronaut and Apollo 11 crew member
Ellington, DukeDuke Ellington 1969 Legendary Jazz Pianist and composer
Harriman, W. AverellW. Averell Harriman WD Former Governor of New York and United States Secretary of Commerce

Awarded by Gerald Ford

President Gerald Ford awarded 28 medals between 1974 and 1977.

Recipient Year Notes Notable as
Graham, MarthaMartha Graham 1976 WD Pioneering modern dancer and choreographer
Owens, JesseJesse Owens Olympic track and field athlete
Rubinstein, ArthurArthur Rubinstein WD World-famous classical pianist
Rumsfeld, DonaldDonald Rumsfeld WD Former United States Secretary of Defense
DiMaggio, JoeJoe DiMaggio 1977 Legendary professional baseball player
Johnson, Lady BirdLady Bird Johnson First Lady of the United States
O'Keeffe, GeorgiaGeorgia O'Keeffe Famous American modernist artist and painter

Awarded by Jimmy Carter

President Jimmy Carter awarded 34 medals between 1977 and 1981.

Recipient Year Notes Notable as
King Jr., Martin LutherMartin Luther King Jr. 1977 Prominent leader in the Civil Rights Movement
Salk, JonasJonas Salk Virologist and developer of the Polio Vaccine
Adams, AnselAnsel Adams 1980 Famous landscape photographer and environmentalist
Carson, RachelRachel Carson Marine biologist and leader in the global environmental movement
Johnson, Lyndon B.Lyndon B. Johnson 36th President of the United States
Sills, BeverlyBeverly Sills Renowned operatic soprano
Wayne, JohnJohn Wayne Iconic actor

Awarded by Ronald Reagan

President Ronald Reagan awarded 86 medals between 1981 and 1989.

Recipient Year Notes Notable as
Graham, BillyBilly Graham 1983 Famous evangelist and minister
Burnham, JamesJames Burnham Political theorist and leader of the American Conservative Movement
Fuller, BuckminsterBuckminster Fuller Architect, inventor, and futurist
Cagney, JamesJames Cagney 1984 Actor and dancer
Robinson, JackieJackie Robinson Professional baseball player and civil rights advocate
el-Sadat, AnwarAnwar el-Sadat 3rd President of Egypt
Shriver, Eunice KennedyEunice Kennedy Shriver Philanthropist and founder of the Special Olympics
Cousteau, JacquesJacques Cousteau 1985 French naval officer, oceanographer, and co-inventor of the Aqua-Lung
Sinatra, FrankFrank Sinatra Legendary singer and actor
Teresa, MotherMother Teresa Catholic nun, humanitarian, and founder of the Missionaries of Charity
Yeager, ChuckChuck Yeager U.S. Air Force officer and the first confirmed pilot to exceed the Speed of Sound

Awarded by George H. W. Bush

President George H. W. Bush awarded 38 medals between 1989 and 1993.

Recipient Year Notes Notable as
Ball, LucilleLucille Ball 1989 Actress, comedian, and producer
Doolittle, JimmyJimmy Doolittle Military general and commander of the Doolittle Raid
Wałęsa, LechLech Wałęsa Chairman of the Solidarity movement in Poland
Cheney, DickDick Cheney 1991 Former United States Secretary of Defense and future Vice President
Ford, BettyBetty Ford First Lady of the United States
Powell, ColinColin Powell 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Thatcher, MargaretMargaret Thatcher Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Carson, JohnnyJohnny Carson 1992 Popular television host
Fitzgerald, EllaElla Fitzgerald Legendary jazz singer
Hepburn, AudreyAudrey Hepburn Actress and humanitarian
Reagan, RonaldRonald Reagan 1993 WD 40th President of the United States

Awarded by Bill Clinton

President Bill Clinton awarded 89 medals between 1993 and 2001.

Recipient Year Notes Notable as
Ashe, ArthurArthur Ashe 1993 Professional tennis player
Marshall, ThurgoodThurgood Marshall First African-American Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Powell, ColinColin Powell WD 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chavez, CesarCesar Chavez 1994 Labor leader and civil rights activist
Height, DorothyDorothy Height Civil rights and women's rights activist
Jordan, BarbaraBarbara Jordan Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
Koop, C. EverettC. Everett Koop 1995 13th Surgeon General of the United States
Reuther, WalterWalter Reuther President of the United Automobile Workers union
Parks, RosaRosa Parks 1996 Civil rights activist
Carter, JimmyJimmy Carter 1999 39th President of the United States and humanitarian
Carter, RosalynnRosalynn Carter First Lady of the United States and humanitarian
Ford, GeraldGerald Ford 38th President of the United States
Jackson, JesseJesse Jackson 2000 Political activist and civil rights leader
Suu Kyi, Aung SanAung San Suu Kyi General Secretary of the National League for Democracy

Awarded by George W. Bush

President George W. Bush awarded 82 medals between 2001 and 2009.

Recipient Year Notes Notable as
Aaron, HankHank Aaron 2002 Professional baseball player
Mandela, NelsonNelson Mandela Anti-apartheid activist and President of South Africa
Reagan, NancyNancy Reagan First Lady of the United States
Rogers, FredFred Rogers Beloved television host and Presbyterian minister
Child, JuliaJulia Child 2003 Cooking teacher and television personality
Clemente, RobertoRoberto Clemente Professional baseball player
Heston, CharltonCharlton Heston Actor and political activist
John Paul II, John Paul II 2004 WD Head of the Catholic Church
Moreno, RitaRita Moreno Actress, dancer, and singer
Palmer, ArnoldArnold Palmer Professional golfer
Ali, MuhammadMuhammad Ali 2005 Professional boxer and human rights activist
Franklin, ArethaAretha Franklin Singer-songwriter and pianist
Nicklaus, JackJack Nicklaus Professional golfer
King, B.B.B.B. King 2006 Legendary blues singer-songwriter
Lee, HarperHarper Lee 2007 Novelist and civil rights activist
Fauci, AnthonyAnthony Fauci 2008 Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Awarded by Barack Obama

President Barack Obama awarded 118 medals between 2009 and 2017.

Recipient Year Notes Notable as
Hawking, StephenStephen Hawking 2009 Theoretical physicist
Kennedy, TedTed Kennedy United States Senator from Massachusetts
King, Billie JeanBillie Jean King Professional tennis player and gender equality advocate
O'Connor, Sandra DaySandra Day O'Connor First female Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court
Poitier, SidneySidney Poitier Actor and the first African-American to win an Academy Award
Angelou, MayaMaya Angelou 2011 Poet and civil rights activist
Bush, George H. W.George H. W. Bush 41st President of the United States
Lewis, JohnJohn Lewis Civil rights activist and member of the U.S. House of Representatives
Merkel, AngelaAngela Merkel Chancellor of Germany
Dylan, BobBob Dylan 2012 Singer-songwriter
Glenn, JohnJohn Glenn Astronaut and United States Senator
Morrison, ToniToni Morrison Novelist and civil rights activist
Clinton, BillBill Clinton 2013 42nd President of the United States
Ride, SallySally Ride Astronaut and physicist
Steinem, GloriaGloria Steinem Journalist and social political activist
Winfrey, OprahOprah Winfrey Talk show host, actress, and philanthropist
Streep, MerylMeryl Streep 2014 Actress
Wonder, StevieStevie Wonder Singer-songwriter
Spielberg, StevenSteven Spielberg 2015 Director, producer, and screenwriter
Johnson, KatherineKatherine Johnson Mathematician whose calculations were crucial for early U.S. crewed spaceflights
Mays, WillieWillie Mays Professional baseball player
De Niro, RobertRobert De Niro 2016 Actor and producer
Hanks, TomTom Hanks Actor
DeGeneres, EllenEllen DeGeneres Comedian, television host, and gay rights activist
Gates, BillBill Gates Philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft
Jordan, MichaelMichael Jordan Professional basketball player
Biden, JoeJoe Biden 2017 WD 47th Vice President of the United States

Awarded by Donald Trump (first presidency)

President Donald Trump awarded 24 medals between 2017 and 2021.

Recipient Year Notes Notable as
Presley, ElvisElvis Presley 2018 Singer and actor known as the "King of Rock and Roll"
Ruth, BabeBabe Ruth Legendary professional baseball player
Scalia, AntoninAntonin Scalia Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Woods, TigerTiger Woods 2019 Professional golfer

Awarded by Joe Biden

President Joe Biden awarded 57 medals between 2022 and 2025.

Recipient Year Notes Notable as
Biles, SimoneSimone Biles 2022 Olympic gymnast
Jobs, SteveSteve Jobs Entrepreneur and co-founder of Apple
McCain, JohnJohn McCain United States Senator from Arizona and Purple Heart recipient
Rapinoe, MeganMegan Rapinoe Olympic professional soccer player and human rights activist
Bloomberg, MichaelMichael Bloomberg 2024 Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and former Mayor of New York City
Gore, AlAl Gore 45th Vice President of the United States and environmentalist
Ledecky, KatieKatie Ledecky Olympic swimmer
Pelosi, NancyNancy Pelosi 52nd and first female Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Yeoh, MichelleMichelle Yeoh Actress and activist, first person of Asian descent to win an Academy Award for Best Actress
Bono 2025 Frontman of U2 and activist against AIDS and poverty
Clinton, HillaryHillary Clinton Former First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State
Fox, Michael J.Michael J. Fox Actor and advocate for Parkinson's disease research
Goodall, JaneJane Goodall Ethologist and conservationist
Johnson, MagicMagic Johnson Professional basketball player
Messi, LionelLionel Messi Professional soccer player
Nye, BillBill Nye Science communicator and TV presenter
Washington, DenzelDenzel Washington Actor, producer, and director
Francis, PopePope Francis WD Head of the Catholic Church

See also

  • List of Congressional Gold Medal recipients
kids search engine
List of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.