Presidential Medal of Freedom
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The Presidential Medal of Freedom. The highest civilian award in the United States, a distinction shared with the Congressional Gold Medal. It's an honor bestowed by the President, recognizing those who've made an "especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, or world peace, or cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." This prestigious award isn't limited to U.S. citizens, and while it's civilian, it can also be presented to military personnel, worn proudly on their uniforms.
Established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy, it superseded the Medal of Freedom, a testament to civilian service created by President Harry S. Truman in 1945.
Occasionally, the award is further recognized as "with Distinction." This signifies an "additional level of veneration" for individuals already held in the highest esteem. As of June 2024, this elevated honor has been granted at least 55 times, representing about 8% of all awards, with a total of 674 medals presented.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom represents the supreme civilian decoration, a discretionary honor from the President. Its predecessor, the Medal of Freedom, held a lower precedence than the Medal for Merit, which was awarded by the President himself.
President John F. Kennedy officially established this presidential version of the decoration in 1963. With its unique insignia, expanded purpose, and far greater prestige, it became the first U.S. civilian neck decoration. When awarded with Distinction, it stands as the sole U.S. sash and star decoration. While the executive order calls for annual presentation around July 4th, it hasn't been awarded every year. The selection process, though not public, involves recommendations from the public, Cabinet, White House staff, and advisory bodies, all thoroughly vetted.
The medal can be awarded to an individual more than once. It can also be bestowed posthumously, honoring figures like John F. Kennedy, Steve Jobs, John Wayne, and Thurgood Marshall, among many others. In 1970, President Richard Nixon recognized the entire Apollo 13 mission operations team and its crew with this esteemed award. Simone Biles, the celebrated athlete and activist, is the youngest recipient, receiving the honor at just 25 years old.
The badge itself is a striking golden star with white enamel, backed by a red enamel pentagon. Its central disc features thirteen gold stars on a blue background, a nod to the Great Seal of the United States, all encircled in gold. Golden bald eagles, with wings spread wide, stand between the points of the star. It's worn around the neck on a distinctive blue ribbon with white edge stripes.
For women, there's an option to receive the award as a bow worn on the left chest. The rare Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction features a larger version of the badge, worn as a star on the left chest, accompanied by a sash worn over the right shoulder. This higher degree is identified by its size and the presence of the sash.
Beyond the full-size insignia, recipients receive a service ribbon for military uniforms, a miniature medal for formal wear, and a lapel badge for civilian attire. A silver bald eagle adorns the miniature and service ribbon, while a golden eagle signifies the "with Distinction" award. The insignia's design was expertly crafted by the Army's Institute of Heraldry.
It's important to note that there is no established process for revoking the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This has been a point of discussion regarding certain recipients.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award of the United States, alongside the Congressional Gold Medal. It is an award bestowed by decision of the president of the United States to "any person recommended to the President for award of the Medal or any person selected by the President upon his own initiative", and was created to recognize people who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to
the security or national interests of the United States, or
world peace, or
cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."
The award is not limited to U.S. citizens, and, while it is a civilian award, it can also be awarded to military personnel and worn on the uniform. It was established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy, superseding the Medal of Freedom that was established by President Harry S. Truman in 1945 to honor civilian service.
Occasionally, the medal award is further denoted as, "with distinction." There are no specific criteria for receiving the award with distinction; Executive Order 11085 simply specifies that the award should come in two degrees, and hence any decision to award the higher degree is entirely at the discretion of the president. In 2017, President Barack Obama stated that receiving the award with distinction indicates "an additional level of veneration" in a class of individuals already held in the highest esteem. As of June 2024, the medal had been awarded with distinction at least 55 times, amounting to approximately 8% of all awards. A total of 674 awards have been given.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the supreme civilian decoration that can be awarded in discretion of the president, whereas its predecessor, the Medal of Freedom, was inferior in precedence to the Medal for Merit; the Medal of Freedom was awarded by any of three Cabinet secretaries, whereas the Medal for Merit was awarded by the president, as is the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
== Overview ==
President John F. Kennedy established the presidential version of the decoration in 1963 through Executive Order 11085 (signed February 22, 1963), with unique and distinctive insignia, vastly expanded purpose, and far higher prestige. It was the first U.S. civilian neck decoration and, if awarded with Distinction, is the only U.S. sash and star decoration (the Chief Commander degree of the Legion of Merit—which may be awarded to foreign heads of state only—is a star decoration but without a sash). The executive order calls for the medal to be awarded annually on or around July 4, and at other convenient times as chosen by the president, but it has not been awarded every year (e.g., 2001, 2010). The recipient selection process is not made public, but the Trump administration stated that it included recommendations and nominations from the public, Cabinet, White House senior staff, and other presidential advisory bodies, which were then vetted prior to presentation to the President. The order establishing the medal also expanded the size and the responsibilities of the Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Board so it could serve as a major source of such recommendations.
The medal may be awarded to an individual more than once. Colin Powell received two awards, his second being with Distinction; Ellsworth Bunker received both of his awards with Distinction. It may also be awarded posthumously; examples include John F. Kennedy, Steve Jobs, Pope John XXIII, Lyndon Johnson, John Wayne, Paul "Bear" Bryant, Thurgood Marshall, Cesar Chavez, Walter Reuther, Roberto Clemente, Jack Kemp, Harvey Milk, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner, Elouise Cobell, Grace Hopper, Charlie Kirk, Antonin Scalia, Elvis Presley and Babe Ruth. Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner, civil rights workers murdered in 1964, were awarded their medals 50 years later.
In 1970, President Richard Nixon awarded the medal to the entire Apollo 13 mission operations team, as well as to the mission's crew.
Athlete and activist Simone Biles is the youngest person to receive this award at the age of 25.
== Insignia ==
The badge of the Presidential Medal of Freedom is in the form of a golden star with white enamel, with a red enamel pentagon behind it; the central disc bears thirteen gold stars on a blue enamel background (taken from the Great Seal of the United States) within a golden ring. Golden bald eagles with spread wings stand between the points of the star. It is worn around the neck on a blue ribbon having white edge stripes. Women may choose to receive the award as a bow worn on the left chest (as for Margaret Thatcher).
A special and rarely granted award, called the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, has a larger version of the same badge, which is worn as a star on the left chest. It comes with a sash that is worn over the right shoulder (similarly to the Grand Cross of an order of chivalry), with its rosette (blue with a white edge, bearing the central disc of the badge at its center) resting on the left hip. When the medal with Distinction is awarded, the star may be presented hanging from a neck ribbon and can be identified by its size, which is larger than the standard badge.
In addition to the full-size insignia, the award is accompanied by a service ribbon for wear on military service uniforms, a miniature medal pendant for wear on mess dress or civilian formal wear, and a lapel badge for wear on civilian clothes, all of which comes in the full presentation set. There is a silver bald eagle with spread wings on the miniature and service ribbon, or a golden bald eagle for a medal awarded with Distinction.
The Insignia was designed by the Army's Institute of Heraldry, led by Col. Harry Downing Temple.
== Revocation ==
There is no process for the award to be revoked. This issue has been raised regarding certain recipients, in particular regarding the award given to actor and comedian Bill Cosby.
== Recipients ==
=== Gallery ===
== See also ==
Awards and decorations of the United States government
Awards and decorations of the United States military
== References ==
== External links ==
"Presidential Medal of Freedom" (Archived 2009-08-16 at the Wayback Machine), an article (undated) from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum's official website. Accessed August 22, 2009.
"Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients", a list of recipients from May 5, 1993, through August 19, 2009, from the U.S. Senate official website. Accessed August 22, 2009.
"President Bush Honors Medal of Freedom Recipients", a news release from the White House Press Secretary, December 15, 2006, containing a transcript of President George W. Bush's opening remarks at the December 15, 2006, presentation (with link to individual citations). Hosted on the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration's official website. Accessed August 22, 2009.
"Medal of Freedom Ceremony" (August 12, 2009), a news release, August 12, 2009, from the White House Press Secretary at whitehouse.gov, the White House's official website. Accessed August 22, 2009.
Sanger, David E. (December 15, 2004). "War Figures Honored With Medal of Freedom". The New York Times.
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