President Biden on Friday awarded the Medal of Freedom to 19 recipients, including the top longtime Democratic leader, calling them “an amazing group of people.”
“The endless curiosity, ingenuity, ingenuity and hope of 19 amazing people kept us believing in a better tomorrow,” the president said as a group of honorees sat next to him at the podium. .
Biden spoke about each recipient individually before presenting the medals. He called the medal ceremony one of his favorite events at the White House and shared that former President Kennedy created the Medal of Freedom 61 years ago.
Honorees included former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), former Vice President Al Gore (D), and Congressman James E. Clyburn (D).
Mr. Biden has particularly praised Mr. Clyburn, and Mr. Clyburn’s support in the Democratic state of South Carolina is largely due to Mr. Biden ultimately winning the nomination in 2020. There is.
“If it wasn’t for Jim, I wouldn’t be standing here as president accepting this award,” Biden said. “Jim is great, thank you.”
On January 6, 2021, the president praised Pelosi for speaking out in defense of democracy and said she would be remembered in history as the greatest Speaker of the House.
As if to dig into former President Trump’s refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election, Biden said that even though Gore won the popular vote, “for the sake of unity and trust in our organization, I will accept the results of the presidential election.” I accepted it.” He lost to Biden.
Other honorees include actor Michelle Yeoh, Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky, activist Opal Lee and former Secretary of State John Kerry.
Biden noted that Ledecky won 10 medals at the Olympics and said after this summer’s Paris Olympics, “I can’t wait to represent the United States and return to the White House with more medals.” added.
Also honored are former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (D), Gregory J. Boyle, a Jesuit Catholic priest who founded Homeboy Industries, and former U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R.N.C.). , and media personality Phil Donahue.
Bloomberg “revolutionized our economy” and “changed us and challenged us at the same time,” he said.
“He helped change hearts and minds through honest and open dialogue,” Biden said of Donahue.
“I wish you were still talking there, sweetheart.”
He also attacked civil rights activist Clarence B. Jones, astronaut Ellen Ochoa, astronomer Jane Rigby, United Farm Workers Party President Teresa Romero, and in one of the most significant incidents, It honored Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew Shepard, who later died from her injuries. One of the most infamous anti-gay hate crimes in U.S. history.
Biden said Romero was someone who “improved the lives of thousands of farmworkers” and “taught us what it means to be champions of the dignity of work.” Stated.
Biden posthumously honored civil rights activist Medgar Wiley Evers, who was murdered in 1963, former U.S. Sen. Frank R. Praise for Jim Thorpe. gold medal.
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