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U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor, to luminaries including former President Bill Clinton, talkshow host Oprah Winfrey, as well as posthumously to former senator Daniel Inouye and first female astronaut of the country Sally Ride.
In a White House ceremony, Obama called the recipients "true champions," and talked in personal terms about the recipients' contribution to society.
Obama complimented Clinton for his work in promoting charity and "lifesaving work around the world," while thanking him for " the advice and counsel that you've offered me."
Clinton criticized the fumbled Obamacare rollout recently, saying Obama should honor his promise that if people like their policies, they can keep those policies by modifying the Affordable Care Act.
The recipients of this year's award also include Ben Bradlee, executive editor of The Washington Post in the Watergate era, as well as Ernie Banks, one of the greatest baseball players in the country, former senator Richard Lugar and scientists, rights advocates and musicians and sports stars.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is America's highest civilian honor, along with the comparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by Congress, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the executive order signed by former President John F. Kennedy establishing the Presidential Medal of Freedom, as well as the first ceremony bestowing the honor on an inaugural class of 31 recipients.
Obama is to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony in Arlington National Cemetery later in the day, marking the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's assassination, which falls on Friday.
