16 honorees to receive U.S. Medal of Freedom

The White House announced Thursday that Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and 14 others will receive the Medal of Freedom this year.

Recipients include Benjamin C. Bradlee the former executive editor of the Washington Post who led the paper during the Watergate era; Gloria Steinem, the women’s rights activist; Ernie Banks, the former Chicago Cubs star from Chicago, President Obama’s political hometown; Richard G. Lugar, the Republican former senator who is known to be the “teacher” of foreign policy for President Obama; and Loretta Lynn, the country music singer.

The U.S. president will award the medal posthumously to Sally Ride, the first female astronaut in space; Daniel K. Inouye, the Democratic senator from Hawaii where President Obama was born; and Bayard Rustin, the gay-rights activist who worked with Martin Luther King. Ms. Winfrey, 59, is the youngest recipient, while Mr. Bradlee (91) is the oldest.

The Medal of Freedom is the one of the greatest honor to civilians who contributed to the national interest. More than 500 people have received the award since President John F. Kennedy created it 50 years ago. The date of the ceremony at the White House has not been determined yet.