Learn which American Masters have received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
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Carl Sandburg was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Ralph Ellison was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969 by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
John Ford was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1973 by President Richard Nixon.
John Wayne was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in by President Jimmy Carter.
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Walter Cronkite was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan.
I.M. Pei was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1993 by President George H. W. Bush.
IM Pei in Suzhou
Julia Child was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003 by President George W. Bush.
Carol Burnett was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 by President George W. Bush.
Photographer unknown. This work is in the public domain because it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1977 and without a copyright notice.
Bob Dylan was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012 by President Obama.
Frank Gehry was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012 by President Barack Obama.
Johnny Carson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992 by President George H. W. Bush.
B.B. King was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006 by President W. Bush.
B.B. King with his band at the Royal Albert Hall, London, 2011. Photo: Kevin NIxon
Guitar = Gibson custom ES-355 "Lucille"
All reproductions of any of these images must have the following copyright credit: Kevin Nixon/Guitarist Magazine. Copyright Future Publishing Limited, 2011. All Rights reserved.
Harper Lee was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007 by President George W. Bush.
Billie Jean King was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 by President Barack Obama.
American tennis player Billie Jean King is seen in play during the women's singles at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon in London on July 8, 1967. King defeated her opponent Anne Jones of Britain. (AP Photo)
Maya Angelou was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 by President Obama.
Loretta Lynn was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013 by President Obama.
Loretta Lynn performing at Hurricane Mills in 2015. Photo: Elliott Halpern
[Editor’s Note: The following post is part of American Masters’ #InspiringWomanPBS campaign, which highlights the powerful, creative, and innovative women in our lives. Visit the Inspiring Woman page to join the campaign and submit the story of a woman who inspires you.]
Exactly 6 years ago today, Dr. Maya Angelou was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President Barack Obama, joining an astonishing group of 15 other American Masters who have also been honored with the medal.
Explore this gallery to see the all of the American Masters who have been honored by the White House with the highest civilian award for “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
