WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to broadcaster Vin Scully during an East Room ceremony at the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor for civilians in the United States of America. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
He seems totally amazed even to be there. Like, "I'll take this, but I can't imagine why you think I'm important enough."
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former NBA player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during an East Room ceremony at the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor for civilians in the United States of America. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
This photo is brilliant. I hope the official reason for giving Kareem the medal included his work on the celebrity diving show Splash. It DID make mention of Airplane. Roger "Not Kareem Abdul-Jabbar" Murdoch was a treasure.
Cicely Tyson
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama and actress Cicely Tyson share a moment during a Presidential Medal of Freedom presentation ceremony at the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor for civilians in the United States of America. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
I love her outfit. THE SLEEVES. She is quite a marvel. SHE IS 91, Y'ALL.
Bruuuuuuuce
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: U.S. U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to musician Bruce Springsteen during an East Room ceremony at the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor for civilians in the United States of America. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
"Psst. Bruce, I gotta be honest here, buddy... It's a town full of losers and I'm pulling out of here to win."
Robert Redford
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: Motion picture legend Robert Redford wears his Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to him by U.S. President Barack Obama during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. Obama presented the medal to 19 living and two posthumous pioneers in science, sports, public service, human rights, politics and the arts. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
I got sucked into Up Close and Personal the other day, and Legal Eagles about a month ago, and those aren't anywhere near his iconic roles but he was still so charismatic in them. That said... I was listening to ESPN the other day and someone sincerely commented that Robert has aged naturally and how fabulous that is, and... there's no SHAME in this, but: no. I remember years ago when he got his first eye job and it bummed me out. He looks more like Willem Dafoe now than himself. Which is his prerogative. But it always jolts me anew when I see him.
Bill Gates
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Bill Gates during an East Room ceremony at the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor for civilians in the United States of America. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
"Wait so... you're telling me a businessman with no experience can be PRESIDENT? THE DAY IS MINE! OPEN THE GATES, AMERICA, IT'S BILL TIME."
Diana Ross
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama embraces popular music icon Diana Ross before awarding her the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. Obama presented the medal to 19 living and two posthumous pioneers in science, sports, public service, human rights, politics and the arts. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
"My! Endless loooooooove!"
Diana Ross
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to popular music icon Diana Ross during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. Obama presented the medal to 19 living and two posthumous pioneers in science, sports, public service, human rights, politics and the arts. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
I love how gleeful she looks in this shot as she moves away her hair.
Michael Jordan
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: National Basketball Association Hall of Fame member and legendary athlete Michael Jordan smiles after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. U.S. President Barack Obama presented the medal to 19 living and two posthumous pioneers in science, sports, public service, human rights, politics and the arts. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
He looks DELIGHTED. Maybe I've seen too many Michael Jordan Crying memes over the years, so I'm irrationally surprised by the sight of him beaming.
Michael Jordan
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama hugs former NBA player Michael Jordan during the Presidential Medal of Freedom presentation ceremony at the East Room of the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor for civilians in the United States of America. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
"Heh-heh. Look who I've got my Hanes on NOW."
Obama Honors 21 Americans With Presidential Medal Of Freedom
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: Popular music singer, songwriter and rock and roll legend Bruce Springsteen (R) and National Basketball Association Hall of Fame member and legendary athlete Michael Jordan wear their Presidential Medals of Freedom awarded to them by U.S. President Barack Obama during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. Obama presented the medal to 19 living and two posthumous pioneers in science, sports, public service, human rights, politics and the arts. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
"Bruce... you're not wearing the comfort waistband, Bruce." "Huh?" "It's cool, I just couldn't help noticing, it's kinda right here staring at me. You don't need to live with pinching, Bruce."
Richard Garwin
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to physicist Richard Garwin during an East Room ceremony at the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor for civilians in the United States of America. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Informative caption! Richard Garwin, a physicist who is NOT secretly Bob Balaban as my eyeballs keep wanting me to believe, "made pioneering contributions to U.S. defense and intelligence technologies, low-temperature and nuclear physics, detection of gravitational radiation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer systems, laser printing, and nuclear arms control and nonproliferation." SCIENCE! (Wiki claims he drew the first map of a Hydrogen bomb.)
Frank Gehry
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to architect Frank Gehry during an East Room ceremony at the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor for civilians in the United States of America. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
You do not need me, nor Informative Caption, to tell you that Gehry is a prominent architect. I really love the Dancing House in Prague.
Ellen DeGeneres and Robert DeNiro
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: Actor Robert De Niro and comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres share a moment during a Presidential Medal of Freedom presentation ceremony at the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor for civilians in the United States of America. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Well, clearly everyone was sitting in alphabetical order, right? Anyway, Ellen got very emotional; it was really quite nice. I'm going to be honest: I've never heard a positive story about her from her behind-the-scenes life, but this really got me. It's cool when people who live very big lives are still genuinely, truly moved and humbled by the things that happen to them.
Maya Lin
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to artist and designer Maya Lin during an East Room ceremony at the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor for civilians in the United States of America. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Among other things, Maya designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in D.C., which is really quite wonderful.
Eduardo Padron
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Eduardo Padron, President of Miami Dade College (MDC), during an East Room ceremony at the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor for civilians in the United States of America. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Padron is an academic and president of Miami Dade College; he was honored for his work with making education accessible and inclusive.
Newt Minow
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to attorney Newt Minow during an East Room ceremony at the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor for civilians in the United States of America. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Minow is a WWII vet who served as the FCC chair for JFK, in an era where his work greatly influenced the development of TV (and its regulation) as we know it.
Lorne Michaels
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to producer and screenwriter Lorne Michaels during an East Room ceremony at the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor for civilians in the United States of America. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Lorne runs an ineffectual evil empire with his hairless cat, Mr. Bigglesworth.
Tom Hanks
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: Actor and filmmaker Tom Hanks listens during a Presidential Medal of Freedom presentation ceremony at East Room of the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor for civilians in the United States of America. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
"Look at the medal, Tom. Look. Find its secrets. What would Robert Langdon do?"
Hanx
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama stands with actor and filmmaker Tom Hanks during a Presidential Medal of Freedom presentation ceremony at the East Room of the White House November 22, 2016 in Washington, DC. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor for civilians in the United States of America. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
"This guy." "NO, THIS GUY." "THIS. THIS IS THE GUY RIGHT HERE."
