Obama Awards Presidential Medal of Freedom FULL EVENT

5,190,952

40,482 3,676

Published 2016-11-22

President Obama Awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom | President Obama is finishing out his second term by honoring some superstars from the worlds of film, TV, sports and music.Robert DeNiro, Tom Hanks, Ellen DeGeneres, Robert Redford and Bruce Springsteen are among the big names who'll receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, on Nov. 22 at the White House. Cicely Tyson, Diana Ross, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan are also among the 21 medal recipients, as are Bill and Melinda Gates, sports broadcaster Vin Scully, and "Saturday Night Live" creator and producer Lorne Michaels.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to people who have "made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."

SUBSCRIBE to ABC NEWS: youtube.com/ABCNews/
Watch More on abcnews.go.com/
LIKE ABC News on FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/abcnews
FOLLOW ABC News on TWITTER:
twitter.com/abc
GOOD MORNING AMERICA'S HOMEPAGE:
gma.yahoo.com/

All Comments (21)

@AndreasKarlsson108 6 years ago

Forrest Gump: "So I went...again. And I met the President of the United States...again!"
@MattKnowsTech 7 years ago

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 37:08 Elouise Cobell (posthumous) 38:38 Ellen DeGeneres 39:52 Robert De Niro 41:12 Richard Garwin 42:23 Bill and Melinda Gates 43:35 Frank Gehry 45:00 Margaret H. Hamilton 46:16 Tom Hanks 47:30 Grace Hopper (posthumous) 48:43 Michael Jordan 49:56 Maya Lin 51:22 Lorne Michaels 52:28 Newt Minow 53:35 Eduardo Padrón 54:56 Robert Redford 56:00 Diana Ross 57:03 Vin Scully 58:32 Bruce Springsteen 59:55 Cicely Tyson 1:01:16
@caropapa 3 years ago

I have no idea how the president has such a memory, he is not reading from a prompter or papers, he has such comedic wit about him a very engaging person to listen to
@alwal1751 3 years ago

Tom Hanks' face throughout this is a total joy.
@paladin400 7 years ago

Tom hanks face while obama speaks just cracks me up. I can´t keep a straight face
@blaisebizimana2062 2 years ago

I came here to watch this again as if it is happening right now. Mr Obama you will always be in my heart.
@hollywoodcole4046 3 years ago

Can we take a minute to appreciate the grammar, the memorization... the proper diction? I mean, Trump could NEVER.
@Foolery99 7 years ago

I guess this is the American equivalent of being knighted
@utubedano 7 years ago

How does he do this without even looking at a note?? My hats off to you sir.....👌🏼👏
@SaintGilgamesh 3 years ago

Tom Hanks was having the time of his life! Just look at him clap at the beginning (and smile throughout). :)
@dejje7384 2 years ago

My first time watching this in 2022 and this was so moving. I loved Obama because he acknowledged others this was so beautiful
@russellh9894 7 years ago

One of the best things about this video is seeing Tom Hanks' reactions in the background.
@scottscott232 7 years ago

I'm not an American but this is what makes America great: the diversity of a variety of uniquely talented people that strive to better the world.
@reddrago8274 3 years ago

He gave more medals to others than any other president has. What a great man.
@Dr.Gonzo- 3 years ago

Tom Hanks just smiling in the background had me the whole time 😂
@jspres86 7 years ago

Man say what you will about the man, but he is an AMAZING speaker.
@1starfist 6 years ago

Sequence in which Obama introduced the recipients with their stories- 1. Bill and Melinda Gates, 2. Frank Gehry 3. Maya Lin 4. Margaret H Hamilton 5. Grace Hopper 6. Richard Garwin 7. Cicely Tyson 8. Robert DeNiro 9. Lorne Michaels. 10. Ellen DeGeneres, 11. Robert Redford - movie - 12. Tom Hanks, 13. Eduardo Padron 14. Elouise Cobell 15. Newt Minow 16. Vin Scully, 17. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 18. Michael Jordan 19. Diana Ross, 20. Bruce Springsteen
@kath8440 3 years ago

Cicely Tyson in her 90's and still slaying WOW!
@davidtatevosyan2909 3 years ago

I’m watching it and tears are on my eyes. All these people are legends, heroes of our time. God bless all of you....
@Hamburger24ful 7 years ago

Finally Forrest Gump gets what he deserves!!!