Former President Bill Clinton is one of 16 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom this year. The 42nd president is being honored for his service in the White House as well as for founding the Clinton Foundation, which strives "to improve global health, strengthen economies, promote health and wellness, and protect the environment," <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Fthe-press-office%2F2013%2F08%2F08%2Fpresident-obama-names-presidential-medal-freedom-recipients" target="_blank" target="_blank">according to the White House</a>.
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —
Former President Bill Clinton is one of 16 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom this year. The 42nd president is being honored for his service in the White House as well as for founding the Clinton Foundation, which strives "to improve global health, strengthen economies, promote health and wellness, and protect the environment," according to the White House.
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Oprah Winfrey is receiving the medal for her work as a broadcast journalist and her years of philanthropic work. Here, Winfrey poses with the 2011 graduates of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Henley on Klip, South Africa.
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —
Oprah Winfrey is receiving the medal for her work as a broadcast journalist and her years of philanthropic work. Here, Winfrey poses with the 2011 graduates of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Henley on Klip, South Africa.
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As the first American female astronaut, Sally Ride, who died last year, was a role model to generations of young women, according to the White House. "She advocated passionately for science education, stood up for racial and gender equality in the classroom, and taught students from every background that there are no limits to what they can accomplish," the White House said.
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —
As the first American female astronaut, Sally Ride, who died last year, was a role model to generations of young women, according to the White House. "She advocated passionately for science education, stood up for racial and gender equality in the classroom, and taught students from every background that there are no limits to what they can accomplish," the White House said.
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Former Chicago Cub Ernie Banks is being honored for his impressive career as a baseball player. "During his 19 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, he played in 11 All-Star Games, hit over 500 home runs, and became the first National League player to win Most Valuable Player honors in back-to-back years," according to the White House.
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —
Former Chicago Cub Ernie Banks is being honored for his impressive career as a baseball player. "During his 19 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, he played in 11 All-Star Games, hit over 500 home runs, and became the first National League player to win Most Valuable Player honors in back-to-back years," according to the White House.
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Ben Bradlee, left, photographed with reporter Bob Woodward, was executive editor of The Washington Post during its coverage of the Watergate scandal and "successfully challenged the Federal Government over the right to publish the Pentagon Papers," the White House said.
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —
Ben Bradlee, left, photographed with reporter Bob Woodward, was executive editor of The Washington Post during its coverage of the Watergate scandal and "successfully challenged the Federal Government over the right to publish the Pentagon Papers," the White House said.
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Former Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana is being honored for his 30 years of public service in Congress. Lugar, a Republican, "is best known for his bipartisan leadership and decades-long commitment to reducing the threat of nuclear weapons," according to the White House.
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —
Former Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana is being honored for his 30 years of public service in Congress. Lugar, a Republican, "is best known for his bipartisan leadership and decades-long commitment to reducing the threat of nuclear weapons," according to the White House.
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Cordy Tindell "CT" Vivian was a leader during the civil rights movement of the 1960s and participated in the Freedom Rides. Here, Vivian asks an officer to make a rest stop during one of the Freedom Rides from Montgomery, Alabama, to Jackson, Mississippi, in 1961.
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —
Cordy Tindell "CT" Vivian was a leader during the civil rights movement of the 1960s and participated in the Freedom Rides. Here, Vivian asks an officer to make a rest stop during one of the Freedom Rides from Montgomery, Alabama, to Jackson, Mississippi, in 1961.
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Bayard Rustin, right, "was an unyielding activist for civil rights, dignity, and equality for all," according to the White House. Rustin died in 1987.
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —
Bayard Rustin, right, "was an unyielding activist for civil rights, dignity, and equality for all," according to the White House. Rustin died in 1987.
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Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, who fled Cuba in 1990 and became an American citizen, is "widely considered one of the greatest living jazz artists," according to the White House.
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —
Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, who fled Cuba in 1990 and became an American citizen, is "widely considered one of the greatest living jazz artists," according to the White House.
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The late Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, who died last year, was "a lifelong public servant," the White House said. "Senator Inouye was the first Japanese American to serve in Congress, representing the people of Hawaii from the moment they joined the Union," according to the White House.
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —
The late Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, who died last year, was "a lifelong public servant," the White House said. "Senator Inouye was the first Japanese American to serve in Congress, representing the people of Hawaii from the moment they joined the Union," according to the White House.
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Gloria Steinem, co-founder of Ms. magazine and an advocate for women's equality, "helped launch a wide variety of groups and publications dedicated to advancing civil rights," the White House said.
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —
Gloria Steinem, co-founder of Ms. magazine and an advocate for women's equality, "helped launch a wide variety of groups and publications dedicated to advancing civil rights," the White House said.
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Country music singer Loretta Lynn stood out in the male-dominated industry in the early 1960s and "emerged as one of the first successful female country music vocalists," according to the White House.
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —
Country music singer Loretta Lynn stood out in the male-dominated industry in the early 1960s and "emerged as one of the first successful female country music vocalists," according to the White House.
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Patricia Wald was "the first woman appointed to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and served as Chief Judge from 1986-1991," the White House said.
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —
Patricia Wald was "the first woman appointed to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and served as Chief Judge from 1986-1991," the White House said.
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Dean Smith was the head coach of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team from 1961 to 1997. During his career, "ninety-six percent of his players graduated from college," the White House said.
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —
Dean Smith was the head coach of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team from 1961 to 1997. During his career, "ninety-six percent of his players graduated from college," the White House said.
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Daniel Kahneman, a professor at Princeton University, won the Nobel Prize in economics in 2002 for his work in applying "cognitive psychology to economic analysis," the White House said.
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —
Daniel Kahneman, a professor at Princeton University, won the Nobel Prize in economics in 2002 for his work in applying "cognitive psychology to economic analysis," the White House said.
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Mario Molina won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1995 for "discovering how chlorofluorocarbons deplete the ozone layer," the White House said.
2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients —
Mario Molina won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1995 for "discovering how chlorofluorocarbons deplete the ozone layer," the White House said.
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