WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday will nominate 19 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, including several political allies such as former Vice President Al Gore, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former House Speaker , Nancy Pelosi.
Other recipients include Olympic swimming champion Katie Ledecky, former Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., journalist and television talk show host Phil Donahue, former Secretary of State John Kerry and Rep. Jim Clyburn, D.S. .W.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor, given to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to “the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant social, public, or private endeavors.”
The awards will be presented at a ceremony at the White House on Friday.
Three Americans are receiving the medal posthumously: civil rights activist Medgar Evers, athlete Jim Thorpe and former U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J.
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“President Biden often says there is nothing beyond our ability when we act together,” the White House said in a statement. “These 19 Americans built teams, coalitions, movements, organizations and businesses that shaped America for the better. They are the pinnacle of leadership in their fields. They have consistently demonstrated throughout their careers the power of community, hard work and service .”
Biden is a past recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, receiving the honor as President Barack Obama’s vice president in 2017 before the end of his second term.
The full list of 19 recipients:
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg is a businessman, philanthropist and former three-term mayor of New York.
Gregory Boyle
Father Greg Boyle is a Catholic Jesuit priest and founder and director of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang rehabilitation and intervention program in the world.
James Clyburn
Rep. Jim Clyburn, one of Biden’s top allies, is the former Democratic assistant leader and majority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives. He has served in Congress since 1993.
Elizabeth Dole
Elizabeth Dole served her country as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Labor, and President of the American Red Cross.
Phil Donahue
Phil Donahue is a longtime journalist and host of Donahuethe first daytime talk show with audience participation.
Medgar Evers
Medgar Evers, who died in 1963, is a World War II veteran and later helped fight segregation in Mississippi. After he was murdered in his home at age 37, his wife Myrlie continued to fight to seek justice and equality on her behalf.
Al Gore
Al Gore is a former vice president and former US senator and member of the Tennessee House of Representatives. “After winning the popular vote, he accepted the outcome of a disputed presidential election in favor of our unity,” the White House said. He previously won the Nobel Peace Prize from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for his work on climate change.
Clarence Jones
Clarence B. Jones is a civil rights activist and lawyer who helped write Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
John Kerry
Secretary John Kerry is a Vietnam War veteran, former secretary of state, U.S. senator from Massachusetts and the first special presidential envoy for climate in the Biden White House.
Frank Lautenberg
Senator Frank Lautenberg, who died in 2013, was a five-term United States senator and New Jersey’s longest-serving senator.
Katie Ledecky
Katie Ledecky is the most decorated swimmer in history. She has won seven Olympic gold medals and 21 world championship gold medals.
Opal Lee
Opal Lee is an educator and activist known for her efforts to make Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday.
Ellen Ochoa
Ellen Ochoa is the first Hispanic woman in space and the second woman director of NASA’s renowned Johnson Space Center.
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi was the 52nd Speaker of the House and has represented San Francisco in Congress for more than 36 years.
Jane Rigby
Jane Rigby, an astronomer who grew up in Delaware, is the chief scientist at the world’s most powerful telescope.
Teresa Romero
Teresa Romero is the president of the United Farm Workers and the first Latina to become president of a national union in the United States.
Judy Shepard
Judy Shepard is co-founder of the Matthew Shephard Foundation, an organization created in honor of her son who was murdered in one of the country’s most notorious anti-gay hate crimes.
Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe, who died in 1953, was the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal. The country’s original multi-sport star, he went on to play professional football, baseball and basketball.
Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh is an actress known for her work in numerous blockbusters over four decades. She became the first Asian to win the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
