Presidential Medal of Freedom

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is bestowed by the president of the United States and is the nation’s highest civilian honor. The medal, which originated as a recognition for helping the United States and its allies in World War II, evolved to become an honor presented to those who have demonstrated outstanding service to the United States. The president not only awards the medal, but has sole discretion over its recipients. Because of this, many presidents have honored those who have helped them or causes they care about. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is sometimes given “with distinction,” which means that the honoree is being given further acknowledgment for the achievement or service being recognized.

Background

President Harry S. Truman established the Medal of Freedom in 1945 as World War II (1939–45) was coming to a close. The United States had defeated Nazi Germany in Europe, but was still fighting the war with Japan. The award was meant to honor those who had performed “a meritorious act or service” to help the United States or its allies during the war. The president created the medal to be awarded by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of War, or the Secretary of the Navy. The first American citizen to receive the award was Anna Rosenberg, who had immigrated to the United States from Hungary in 1902. She was awarded the medal for her service overseas during the war. Rosenberg received the medal on October 29, 1945, from Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson. After the war, Truman released an executive order expanding the list of people who could be awarded the Medal of Freedom. The order also indicated that the honor could be bestowed posthumously.

President John F. Kennedy reintroduced the award in 1963, naming it the Presidential Medal of Freedom and making the medal an award given by the president, rather than cabinet secretaries. Furthermore, he broadened the qualifications for the medal stating it was to be awarded to people who made meritorious contributions to national security, world peace, or other significant contributions. President Kennedy announced thirty-one recipients of the prize in 1963; however, he was assassinated before he could present the awards. President Lyndon B. Johnson, his successor, presented the awards in Kennedy’s place. One of the first recipients of the award was African American singer Marian Anderson, who sang at the Lincoln Memorial after she was banned from performing at Constitution Hall. During his time in office, Johnson awarded fifty-seven medals himself. President Ronald Reagan topped that record, as he gave out eighty-six medals during his two-terms. By 2023 Barack Obama held the record for awarding the most Presidential Medals of Freedom, having awarded 115 during his two terms in office.

Overview

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is designed by the Institute of Heraldry—a section of the US Army—according to specifications originally laid out by President Kennedy. The institute designs all government awards, medals, insignia, and patches. The medal’s design is meant to have special symbolism. The medal is made in the shape of a white star hanging from a blue ribbon. The white start is meant to symbolize the United States and its “determination to maintain freedom and democracy” for all people. The colors of the medal—blue, white, gold, and silver—are associated with the Presidential Seal.

The president has the sole power to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom without input from any other branch of government. The award is meant to recognize people who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” However, the award is often given to people whom the current president supports or whose work aligns with their goals or beliefs. Just as presidents can use the awards to honor specific people, they can also use the award to change the political narrative in the country. Research indicates that presidents are more likely to give the awards during times of divided government, which can cause partisan conflict. For example, in the early 1970s, President Richard Nixon gave out a number of the awards during the Watergate investigation, which eventually led to his resignation from office.

Most Presidential Medals of Freedom are awarded to living recipients; however, some are also given posthumously. One of the most famous examples of this occurred in 1977 when President Jimmy Carter awarded the medal to Martin Luther King, Jr., who had been assassinated nearly a decade earlier. Many people saw King’s receiving of the award as validation of the work he had done throughout his life. Many also believed that Carter’s awarding the medal was an acknowledgment of the Black Americans who had helped him get elected to the presidency. Other recipients who were awarded posthumously include politician Harvey Milk, labor activist Cesar Chavez, and baseball player Babe Ruth.

By 2023, more than six hundred people had been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The award has honored politicians (including senators, presidents, and vice presidents), artists, actors, athletes, activists, scientists, religious leaders, business leaders, medical professionals, and journalists. Although hundreds of people have received the award, only around 4 percent have received the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction, which indicates "an additional level of veneration." Generally, very few recipients receive this extra level of distinction. Some of the recipients that have included this distinction include Joe Biden, who received the award from President Obama while Biden was serving as vice president, and Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Michael Collins, who received the award from President Nixon for their successful mission to the moon in 1969. President George H.W. Bush also honored former president Ronald Reagan with the distinction.

Bibliography

Dicker, Rachel. “These Are the Known Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom With Distinction.” US News, 18 Jan. 2017, usnews.com/news/slideshows/these-are-the-known-recipients-of-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom-with-distinction. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

Little, Becky. “The Presidential Medal of Freedom Began as a World War II Honor.” History.com, 6 Feb. 2020, www.history.com/news/presidential-medal-freedom-truman. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

“Presidential Medal of Freedom.” National Institutes of Health, irp.nih.gov/about-us/honors/presidential-medal-of-freedom. Accessed 30 Dec. 2020.

“President Biden Announces Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.” The White House, 3 May 2024, www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/05/03/president-biden-announces-recipients-of-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom-2/. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

“The Presidential Medal of Freedom.” ObamaWhiteHouse.gov, obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/campaign/medal-of-freedom. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

“Presidential Medal of Freedom.” The University of Chicago, www.uchicago.edu/about/accolades/23/. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

Sullivan, Kate. “Biden Honors 17 People with the Medal of Freedom.” CNN, 7 July 2022, www.cnn.com/2022/07/07/politics/biden-presidential-medal-of-freedom/index.html. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

Taylor, Jessica. “In A Surprise Send-Off, Obama Awards Biden Presidential Medal of Freedom.” NPR, 12 Jan. 2017, www.npr.org/2017/01/12/509545778/in-surprise-send-off-president-obama-awards-biden-presidential-medal-of-freedom. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

“U.S. Senators Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.” US Senate, 2022, www.senate.gov/senators/SenatorsPresidentialMedalFreedom.htm. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

Waxman, Olivia B. “Martin Luther King Jr. Got the Presidential Medal of Freedom 40 Years Ago. That Timing Was No Coincidence.” TIME, 11 July 2017, time.com/4850856/martin-luther-king-medal-freedom/. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.