Liam Conner
washington – President Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, on Friday to 19 recipients, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former Vice President Al Gore and Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky.
Biden spoke briefly about each honoree, praising their “relentless curiosity, inventiveness, ingenuity and hope.”
Nodding to criticism of his own age as he runs for a second term at age 81, Biden praised the Ledecky, 27 years oldarguably the greatest swimmer of all time as she prepares for the Paris Olympics this summer.
“Don’t let age get in the way,” Biden said. “Katie, age is just a number, kid.”
Biden also used the occasion to make veiled references to the threat he says former President Donald Trump poses to democracy. The two are the presumptive Democratic and Republican presidential candidates in 2024, respectively.
The president recalled that Gore conceded the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, after weeks of legal battles over the recount of votes in Florida. Trump refused to give in after Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 election and defended the rioters who attacked the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in protest of the election result.
“After winning the popular vote, he accepted the outcome of a disputed presidential election in favor of unity and trust in our institutions,” Biden said of Gore. “It was incredible to me what you did, Al – I won’t go into that.”
He called Pelosi “the greatest speaker in the House of Representatives,” saying she “used her superpowers to pass some of the most significant laws in our nation’s history.”
“On January 6, Nancy stood in the breach and stood up for democracy with her husband, Paul,” the president said. “They faced extremism with absolute courage, physical courage.”
Pelosi’s husband was attacked by a man with a hammer who broke into his San Francisco home while the then-speaker was out of town.
This is the second time that Biden awarded Presidential Medals of Freedom. The latest round of awardees includes living and deceased honorees.
The complete list of 2024 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients:
Michael Bloombergbusinessman, philanthropist and three-term mayor of New York.
Father Gregory J. Boylea Catholic Jesuit priest and founder and director of Homeboy Industries, a gang rehabilitation and reentry program.
Representative Jim Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat who served three decades in the House. He previously served as House Majority Leader and Assistant Democratic Leader.
Elizabeth Dolewho served as a senator from North Carolina from 2003 to 2009. She was also secretary of transportation under President Ronald Reagan, secretary of labor under President George HW Bush, and president of the American Red Cross.
Phil Donahuea journalist who pioneered the issue-oriented daytime talk show.
Medgar Wiley Evers is being honored posthumously. He led the fight against segregation in Mississippi after fighting for his country in World War II. He was murdered at age 37 in 1963.
Al Gore. The former vice president won the popular vote in the 2000 presidential election but ceded the presidency to George W. Bush after a weeks-long recount battle in Florida. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his work on climate change.
Clarence B. Jonesa renowned civil rights activist and lawyer who helped write Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
John Kerry, who was President Barack Obama’s Secretary of State and Special Presidential Envoy for Climate in the Biden administration. He earned a Silver Star and a Bronze Star for his actions during combat in the Vietnam War.
Frank R. Lautenberg is being honored posthumously. The five-term New Jersey senator is remembered for his work on environmental protection and consumer safety.
Katie Ledecky won seven Olympic gold medals and 21 world championship gold medals, making her the most decorated swimmer in history.
Opal Leean educator and activist who pushed to make Eleventh month is a national holiday.
Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space and the second woman director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. She flew in space four times.
Representative Nancy Pelosi of California made history in 2007 when she was elected the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House. She made history again in 2019, when she was re-elected to the position.
Jane Rigbythe main scientist of James Webb Space Telescopethe most powerful telescope ever built.
Teresa Romeropresident of the United Farm Workers and the first Latina to become president of a national union in the United States.
Judy Shepardco-founder of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, an organization created in honor of her gay son who was brutally murdered.
James Francis Thorpe is being honored posthumously. He was the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal.
Michelle Yeoh. The actress last year he won the Oscar for best actress for her role in “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, becoming the first Asian to win the category.
