Biden awards Presidential Medal of Freedom to Bloomberg, Gore, Pelosi and many more

WASHINGTON ― President Joe Biden on Friday awarded 19 Americans the Presidential Medal of Freedom, including Democratic allies such as former Vice President Al Gore, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Other recipients included former Secretary of State John Kerry and Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., as well as Olympics swimming champion Katie Ledecky, actress Michelle Yeoh, former Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., and talk show host Phil Donahue.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom, established by President John F. Kennedy, is the nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the "prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors."

"It makes you proud to be an American, doesn't it?" Biden said after presenting each of the medals at a late-afternoon ceremony in the White House East Room. He called the recipients "19 incredible people, whose relentless curiosity, ingenuity and hope, have kept faith in a better tomorrow."

Biden is a past recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, receiving the honor as vice president from President Barack Obama in 2017 before the end of their second term.

Three Americans received the medal posthumously: Civil rights activist Medgar Evers, athlete Jim Thorpe and former U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J.

Before presenting her medal, Biden said Pelosi, the first woman speaker of the House, "grew up knowing the power and purpose of politics" and used her "superpowers" to pass major legislation. "History will remember you, Nancy, as the greatest speaker of the House," Biden said.

Biden said Gore "demonstrated a love of country and showed the world how to lead," recognizing his role as a climate activist in addition to his years in public office.

"After winning the popular vote, he accepted the outcome of a disputed presidential election for the sake of unity and trust in our institutions," Biden said, referring to the 2000 election that Gore narrowly lost to George W. Bush in the Electoral College. "That, to me, was amazing what you did, Al."

Biden said Clyburn had "guided South Carolina and our country with a steady hand and an enormous heart over the last half century." He added: "And I can say this without fear of contradiction: I would not be standing here as president making these awards were it not for Jim."

Here is the full list of 19 recipients:

Michael Bloomberg

Michael Bloomberg is a billionaire entrepreneur, philanthropist and former three-term mayor of New York.

Gregory Boyle

Father Greg Boyle is a Jesuit Catholic priest and the founder and director of Homeboy Industries, the world’s largest gang-intervention and rehabilitation program.

James Clyburn

Rep. Jim Clyburn, a top Biden ally, is the former assistant Democratic Leader and Majority Whip in the House of Representatives. He has served in Congress since 1993.

Elizabeth Dole

Elizabeth Dole has served her country as a U.S. senator from North Carolina, secretary of Transportation, secretary of Labor, and president of the American Red Cross. She is the widow of former Kansas Republican Sen. Bob Dole.

Phil Donahue

Phil Donahue is a journalist and longtime host of Donahue, the first daytime talk show to feature audience participation.

Medgar Wiley Evers

Medgar Evers, who was assassinated in 1963, was a World War II veteran who fought against segregation in Mississippi. After he was murdered at his home at age 37, his wife Myrlie Evers continued the fight to seek justice and equality in his name.

Al Gore

Al Gore is a former vice president and former U.S. senator and member of the House of Representatives from Tennessee. "After winning the popular vote, he accepted the outcome of a disputed presidential election for the sake of our unity," the White House said. In 2007, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for his work on climate change.

Clarence Jones

Clarence B. Jones is a civil rights activist and lawyer who helped draft Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

John Kerry

Secretary John Kerry is a Vietnam War veteran, former Secretary of State, U.S. senator from Massachusetts, and the first special presidential envoy for climate in the Biden White House.

Frank Lautenberg

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who died in 2013, was a five-term United States Senator and New Jersey’s longest-serving Senator.

Katie Ledecky

Katie Ledecky is the most decorated female swimmer in history. She has won seven Olympic gold medals and 21 world championship gold medals.

Opal Lee

Opal Lee is an educator and activist known for her efforts to make Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday.

Ellen Ochoa

Ellen Ochoa is the first Hispanic woman in space and the second female Director of NASA’s renowned Johnson Space Center.

Nancy Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi served as the 52nd Speaker of the House and has represented San Francisco in Congress for more than 36 years.

Jane Rigby

Jane Rigby, an astronomer who grew up in Delaware, is the chief scientist of the world’s most powerful telescope.

Teresa Romero

Teresa Romero is the president of the United Farm Workers and the first Latina to become president of a national union in the United States.

Judy Shepard

Judy Shepard is the co-founder of the Matthew Shephard Foundation, an organization created in honor of her son who was murdered in one of the nation’s most notorious anti-gay hate crimes.

Jim Thorpe

Jim Thorpe, who died in 1953, was the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal. The country’s original multi-sport superstar, he went on to play professional football, baseball and basketball.

Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh is an actress known for her work in a number of blockbusters over four decades. She became the first Asian to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in "Everything Everywhere All at Once."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden awards Medal of Freedom to Pelosi, Dole and 17 others