The President: Thank you. Everybody, please
have a seat. We've got some
work to do here. (laughter) This is not all
fun and games. Welcome to the White
House, everybody. Today, we celebrate
extraordinary Americans who have lifted our spirits,
strengthened our union, pushed us toward progress. I always love doing this
event, but this is a particularly
impressive class. We've got innovators
and artists. Public servants, rabble
rousers, athletes, renowned character actors -- like
the guy from Space Jam. (laughter) We pay tribute to those
distinguished individuals with our nation's highest
civilian honor -- the Presidential
Medal of Freedom. Now, let me tell you a
little bit about each of them. First, we came close to
missing out on Bill and Melinda Gates'
incredible partnership. Because apparently Bill's
opening line was, "Do you want to go out two weeks
from this coming Saturday?" (laughter) He's good with
computers, but -- (laughter) Fortunately, Melinda
believes in second chances. And the world is
better for it. For two decades, the Gates
Foundation has worked to provide lifesaving medical
care to millions -- boosting clean water supplies,
improving education for our children, rallying
aggressive international action on climate change,
cutting childhood mortality in half. The list could go on. These two have donated more
money to charitable causes than anyone, ever. Many years ago, Melinda's
mom told her an old saying: "To know that even one life
has breathed easier because you lived -- that is
success." By this and just about any other measure, few
in human history have been more successful than these
two impatient optimists. Frank Gehry has never let
popular acclaim reverse his impulse to defy convention. "I was an outsider from the
beginning," he says, "so for better or worse, I thrived
on it." The child of poor Jewish immigrants, Frank
grew up in Los Angeles, and throughout his life he
embraced the spirit of a city defined by
an open horizon. He's spent his life
rethinking shapes and mediums, seemingly the force
of gravity itself; the idea of what architecture could
be he decided to upend -- constantly repurposing every
material available, from titanium to a
paper towel tube. He's inspiring our next
generation through his advocacy for arts
education in our schools. From the Guggenheim, to
Bilbao, to Chicago's Millennium Park -- our
hometown -- to his home in Santa Monica, which I
understand caused some consternation among
his neighbors -- (laughter) - Frank's work teaches us
that while buildings may be sturdy and fixed to the
ground, like all great art, they can lift our spirits. They can soar and
broaden our horizons. When an undergraduate from
rural Appalachia first set foot on the National Mall
many years ago, she was trying to figure out a way
to show that "war is not just a victory or a loss,"
but "about individual lives." She considered how
the landscape might shape that message, rather than
the other way around. The project that Maya Lin
designed for her college class earned her a B+ -- (laughter) -- and a permanent place
in American history. (laughter) So all of you B+
students out there. (laughter) The Vietnam Veterans
Memorial has changed the way we think about monuments,
but also about how we think about sacrifice, and
patriotism, and ourselves. Maya has given us more than
just places for remembering -- she has created places
for us to make new memories. Her sculptures, chapels, and
homes are "physical act[s] of poetry," each reminding
us that the most important element in art or
architecture is human emotion. Three minutes before
Armstrong and Aldrin touched down on the moon, Apollo
11's lunar lander alarms triggered -- red and yellow
lights across the board. Our astronauts didn't
have much time. But thankfully, they
had Margaret Hamilton. A young MIT scientist -- and
a working mom in the '60s -- Margaret led the team that
created the onboard flight software that allowed the
Eagle to land safely. And keep in mind that,
at this time, software engineering wasn't
even a field yet. There were no textbooks to
follow, so, as Margaret says, "There was no choice
but to be pioneers." Luckily for us, Margaret
never stopped pioneering. And she symbolizes the
generation of unsung women who helped send
humankind into space. Her software architecture
echoes in countless technologies today. And her example speaks of
the American spirit of discovery that exists in
every little girl and little boy who know that somehow,
to look beyond the heavens is to look deep within
ourselves -- and to figure out just what is possible. If Wright is flight and
Edison is light, then Hopper is code. Born in 1906, Rear Admiral
Grace Murray Hopper followed her mother into mathematics,
earned her PhD from Yale, and set out on a long
and storied career. At age 37, and a full 15
pounds below military guidelines, the gutsy and
colorful Grace joined the Navy and was sent to work on
one of the first computers, Harvard's "Mark One." She
saw beyond the boundaries of the possible, and invented
the first compiler, which allowed programs to be
written in regular language and then translated for
computers to understand. While the women who
pioneered software were often overlooked, the most
prestigious award for young computer scientists
now bear her name. From cell phones to cyber
command, we can thank Grace Hopper for opening
programming to millions more people, helping to usher
in the information age and profoundly shaping
our digital world. Speaking of really
smart people -- (laughter) -- in the summer of 1950, a
young University of Chicago physicist found himself at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Dick Garwin was there, he
said, because Chicago paid its faculty for nine months
but his family ate for 12. So by the next summer,
Dick had helped create the hydrogen bomb. And for the rest of his
life, he dedicated himself to reducing the
threat of nuclear war. Dick's not only an architect
of the atomic age. Ever since he was a
Cleveland kid tinkering with his father's movie
projectors, he's never met a problem he didn't
want to solve. Reconnaissance satellites,
the MRI, GPS technology, the touchscreen all bear
his fingerprints. He even patented a "mussel
washer" for shellfish -- which I haven't used. The other stuff I have. (laughter) Where is he? Dick has advised nearly
every President since Eisenhower -- often
rather bluntly. Enrico Fermi -- also a
pretty smart guy himself -- is said to have called Dick
"the only true genius" he ever met. I do want to see
this mussel washer. (laughter) Along with these scientists,
artists, and thinkers, we also honor those who have
shaped our culture from the stage and the screen. In her long and
extraordinary career, Cicely Tyson has not only succeeded
as an actor, she has shaped the whole course history. Cicely was never the
likeliest of Hollywood stars. The daughter of immigrants
from the West Indies, she was raised by a hardworking
and religious mother who cleaned houses and forbade
her children to attend the movies. But once she got her
education and broke into the business, Cicely made a
conscious decision not just to say lines,
but to speak out. "I would not accept roles,"
she said, "unless they projected us, particularly
women, in a realistic light, [and] dealt with us as human
beings." And from "Sounder," to "The Trip to Bountiful,"
to "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman," Cicely's
convictions and grace have helped for us see the
dignity of every single beautiful member of
the American family. And she's just gorgeous. (laughter and applause) Yes, she is. In 1973, a critic wrote of
Robert De Niro, "This kid doesn't just act -- he takes
off into the vapors." And it was true, his
characters are iconic. A Sicilian father
turned New York mobster. A mobster who runs a casino. A mobster who needs therapy. (laughter) A father-in-law who is
scarier than a mobster. (laughter) Al Capone -- a mobster. (laughter) Robert combines dramatic
precision and, it turns out, comedic timing with his
signature eye for detail. And while the name De Niro
is synonymous with "tough guy," his true gift is the
sensitivity that he brings to each role. This son of New York artists
didn't stop at becoming one of the world's
greatest actors. He's also a director, a
philanthropist, co-founder of the Tribeca
Film Festival. Of his tireless preparation
-- from learning the saxophone to remaking his
body -- he once said, "I feel I have to earn the
right to play a part." And the result is honest and
authentic art that reveals who we really are. In 1976, Lorne Michaels
implored the Beatles to reunite on his
brand new show. In exchange, he
offered them $3,000. (laughter) And then he told them they
could share it equally, or they could give
Ringo a smaller cut. (laughter) Which was early proof that
Lorne Michaels has a good sense of humor. On Saturday Night Live, he's
created a world where a band of no-names become
comedy's biggest stars. Where our friends the
Coneheads, and cheerleaders, and land sharks, and
basement deadbeats, and motivational speakers, and
an unfrozen caveman lawyer show up, and Tom Hanks
is on "Black Jeopardy." (laughter) After four decades, even in
this fractured media culture that we've got, SNL remains
appointment viewing; a mainline into not just our
counterculture but our culture; still a challenge
to the powerful, especially folks like me. And yet even after all these
years, Lorne jokes that his tombstone should bear just
a single word that's often found in the show's
reviews -- "uneven." (laughter) As a current U.S. Senator would say: Doggone
it, Lorne - that's why people like you. He produced a Senator, too,
that's pretty impressive. Ellen DeGeneres has a way
of making you laugh about something rather
than at someone. Except when I danced on her
show -- she laughed at me. (laughter) But that's okay. It's easy to forget now,
when we've come so far, where now marriage is equal
under the law -- just how much courage was required
for Ellen to come out on the most public of stages
almost 20 years ago. Just how important it
was not just to the LGBT community, but for all of us
to see somebody so full of kindness and light, somebody
we liked so much, somebody who could be our neighbor or
our colleague or our sister challenge our own
assumptions, remind us that we have more in common than
we realize, push our country in the direction of justice. What an incredible
burden that was to bear. To risk your
career like that. People don't do
that very often. And then to have the
hopes of millions on your shoulders. But it's like Ellen says:
W all want a tortilla chip that can support the
weight of guacamole. Which really makes no sense
to me, but I thought would brighten the mood, because I
was getting kind of choked up. (laughter) And she did pay a price --
we don't remember this. I hadn't remembered it. She did, for a pretty long
stretch of time -- even in Hollywood. And yet, today, every day,
in every way, Ellen counters what too often divides us
with the countless things that bind us together --
inspires us to be better, one joke, one
dance at a time. When The Candidate wins his
race in the iconic 1972 film of the same name, which
continues, by the way, for those of you who haven't
seen it, and many of you are too young -- perhaps the
best movie about what politics is
actually like, ever. He famously asks his
campaign manager the reflective and revealing
question: "What do we do now?" And like the man he played
in that movie, Robert Redford has figured it out
and applied his talent and charm to achieve success. We admire Bob not just for
his remarkable acting, but for having figured
out what to do next. He created a platform for
independent filmmakers with the Sundance Institute. He has supported our
National Parks and our natural resources as
one of the foremost conservationists
of our generation. He's given his unmatched
charisma to unforgettable characters like Roy Hobbs,
Nathan Muir, and of course the Sundance Kid,
entertaining us for more than half a century. As an actor, director,
producer, and as an advocate, he has not stopped
-- and apparently drives so fast that he had breakfast
in Napa and dinner in Salt Lake. (laughter) At 80 years young, Robert
Redford has no plans to slow down. According to a recent
headline, the movie, Sully was the last straw. We should never
travel with Tom Hanks. (laughter) I mean, you think about, you
got pirates, plane crashes, you get marooned in airport
purgatory, volcanoes -- something happens
with Tom Hanks. (laughter) And yet somehow, we can't
resist going where he wants to take us. He's been an accidental
witness to history, a crusty women's baseball manager, an
everyman who fell in love with Meg Ryan three times. (laughter) Made it seem natural to have
a volleyball as your best friend. From a Philadelphia
courtroom, to Normandy's beachheads, to the dark
side of the moon, he has introduced us to America's
unassuming heroes. Tom says he just saw
"ordinary guys who did the right thing at the right
time." Well, it takes one to know one, and "America's
Dad" has stood up to cancer with his beloved wife, Rita. He has championed our
veterans, supported space exploration, and the truth
is, Tom has always saved his best roles for real life. He is a good man -- which is
the best title you can have. So we got innovators,
entertainers -- three more folks who've dedicated
themselves to public service. In the early 1960s,
thousands of Cuban children fled to America, seeking an
education they'd never get back home. And one refugee was
15-year-old named Eduardo Padron, whose life changed
when he enrolled at Miami Dade College. That decision led to a
bachelor's degree, then a Master's degree, then a PhD,
and then he had a choice -- he could go into corporate
America, or he could give back to his alma mater. And Eduardo made his choice
-- to create more stories just like his. As Miami Dade's President
since 1995, Dr. Padron has built a "dream factory" for
one of our nation's most diverse student bodies --
165,000 students in all. He's one of the world's
preeminent education leaders -- thinking out of the
box, supporting students throughout their lives,
embodying the belief that we're only as great
as the doors we open. Eduardo's example is one we
all can follow -- a champion for those who strive for the
same American Dream that first drew him
to our shores. When Elouise Cobell first
filed a lawsuit to recover lands and money for her
people, she didn't set out to be a hero. She said, "I just
wanted...to give justice to people that didn't have it."
And her lifelong quest to address the mismanagement
of American Indian lands, resources, and trust funds
wasn't about special treatment, but the equal
treatment at the heart of the American promise. She fought for almost 15
years -- across three Presidents, seven trials, 10
appearances before a federal appeals court. All the while, she traveled
the country some 40 weeks a year, telling the
story of her people. And in the end, this
graduate of a one-room schoolhouse became
a MacArthur Genius. She is a proud daughter of
Montana's Blackfeet Nation. Reached ultimately a
historic victory for all Native Americans. Through sheer force of will
and a belief that the truth will win out, Elouise Cobell
overcame the longest odds, reminding us that fighting
for what is right is always worth it. Now, every journalist in the
room, every media critic knows the phrase Newt
Minow coined: the "vast wasteland." But the two
words Newt prefers we remember from his speech to
the nation's broadcasters are these: "public
interest." That's been the heartbeat of his life's work
-- advocating for residents of public housing, advising
a governor and Supreme Court justice, cementing
presidential debates as our national institution,
leading the FCC. When Newt helped launch
the first communications satellites, making
nationwide broadcasts possible -- and eventually
GPS possible and cellphones possible -- he predicted it
would be more important than the moon landing. "This will launch ideas into
space," he said, "and ideas last longer than people." As
far as I know, he's the only one of today's honorees who
was present on my first date with Michelle. (laughter) Imagine our surprise when we
saw Newt, one of our bosses that summer, at the movie
theater -- Do the Right Thing. So he's been vital to
my personal interests. (laughter) And finally, we honor five
of the all-time greats in sports and music. The game of baseball has a
handful of signature sounds. You hear the
crack of the bat. You got the crowd singing in
the seventh inning stretch. And you've got the
voice of Vin Scully. Most fans listen to a game's
broadcast when they can't be at the ballpark. Generations of Dodger fans
brought their radios into the stands because you
didn't want to miss one of Vin's stories. Most play-by-play announcers
partner with an analyst in the booth to chat
about the action. Vin worked alone and
talked just with us. Since Jackie Robinson
started at second base, Vin taught us the game and
introduced us to its players. He narrated the improbable
years, the impossible heroics, turned contests
into conversations. When he heard about this
honor, Vin asked with characteristic humility,
"Are you sure? I'm just an old baseball
announcer." And we had to inform him that to Americans
of all ages, you are an old friend. In fact, I thought about him
doing all these citations, which would have been very
cool, but I thought we shouldn't make him sing
for his supper like that. (laughter) "Up next" -- (laughter) Here's how great Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar was: 1967, he had spent a year dominating
college basketball, the NCAA bans the dunk. They'd didn't say it was
about Kareem, but it was about Kareem. (laughter) When a sport changes its
rules to make it harder just for you, you
are really good. (laughter and applause) And yet despite the rule
change, he was still the sport's most
unstoppable force. It's a title he'd hold for
more than two decades, winning NBA Finals MVPs a
staggering 14 years apart. (someone sneezes) Bless you. (laughter) And as a surprisingly
similar-looking co-pilot, Roger Murdoch, once said in
the movie, Airplane -- I mean, we've got some great
actors here -- Space Jam, Airplane. (laughter) He did it all while dragging
Walton and Lanier up and down the court
for 48 minutes. But the reason we honor
Kareem is more than just a pair of goggles
and the skyhook. He stood up for his Muslim
faith when it wasn't easy and it wasn't popular. He's as comfortable sparring
with Bruce Lee as he is advocating on Capitol
Hill or writing with extraordinary eloquence
about patriotism. Physically, intellectually,
spiritually -- Kareem is one-of-a-kind -- an American
who illuminates both our most basic freedoms and
our highest aspirations. When he was five years old,
Michael Jordan nearly cut off his big toe with an axe. (laughter) Back then, his handles
needed a little work. But think -- if things had
gone differently, Air Jordan just might never
have taken flight. (laughter) I mean, you don't want to
buy a shoe with one toe missing. (laughter) We may never have seen him
switch hands in mid-air against the Lakers. Or drop 63 in the Garden. Or gut it out
in the flu game. Or hit "the shot" three
different times -- over Georgetown, over
Ehlo, over Russell. We might not have seen
him take on Larry Bird in H-O-R-S-E or lift up the
sport globally along with the Dream Team. Yet MJ is still more than
those moments; more than just the best player on the
two greatest teams of all time -- the Dream Team and
the Chicago '96 Bulls. He's more than a logo, more
than just an Internet meme. (laughter) More than just a charitable
donor or a business owner committed to diversity. There is a reason you call
someone "the Michael Jordan of" -- Michael Jordan of
neurosurgery, or the Michael Jordan of rabbis, or the
Michael Jordan of outrigger canoeing -- and they know
what you're talking about. Because Michael Jordan
is the Michael Jordan of greatness. He is the definition of
somebody so good at what they do that everybody
recognizes them. That's pretty rare. As a child, Diana Ross loved
singing and dancing for family friends --
but not for free. (laughter) She was smart enough
to pass the hat. And later, in Detroit's
Brewster housing projects, she met Mary Wilson
and Florence Ballard. Their neighbor, Smokey
Robinson, put them in front of Berry Gordy -- and the
rest was magic -- music history. The Supremes earned a
permanent place in the American soundtrack. Along with her honey voice,
her soulful sensibility, Diana exuded glamour and
grace that filled stages that helped to shape
the sound of Motown. On top of becoming one
of the most successful recording artists of all
time, raised five kids -- somehow found time to earn
an Oscar nomination for acting. Today, from the hip-hop that
samples her, to the young singers who've been inspired
by her, to the audiences that still cannot get enough
of her -- Diana Ross's influence is
inescapable as ever. He was sprung from a
cage out on Highway 9. A quiet kid from Jersey,
just trying to make sense of the temples of dreams and
mystery that dotted his hometown -- pool halls,
bars, girls and cars, altars and assembly lines. And for decades, Bruce
Springsteen has brought us all along on a journey
consumed with the bargains between ambition and
injustice, and pleasure and pain; the simple glories
and scattered heartbreak of everyday life in America. To create one of his biggest
hits, he once said, "I wanted to craft a record
that sounded like the last record on Earth...the last
one you'd ever need to hear. One glorious noise...then
the apocalypse." Every restless kid in America was
given a story: "Born to Run." He didn't stop there. Once he told us about
himself, he told us about everybody else. The steelworker in
"Youngstown." The Vietnam Vet in "Born in the
USA." The sick and the marginalized on "The Streets
of Philadelphia." The firefighter carrying the
weight of a reeling but resilient nation on "The
Rising." The young soldier reckoning with "Devils
and Dust" in Iraq. The communities knocked down
by recklessness and greed in the "Wrecking Ball." All of
us, with all our faults and our failings, every color,
and class, and creed, bound together by one defiant,
restless train rolling toward "The Land of Hope
and Dreams." These are all anthems of our America; the
reality of who we are, and the reverie of
who we want to be. "The hallmark of a rock
and roll band," Bruce Springsteen once said, is
that "the narrative you tell together is bigger than
anyone could have told on your own." And for decades,
alongside the Big Man, Little Steven, a Jersey girl
named Patti, and all the men and women of the E Street
Band, Bruce Springsteen has been carrying the rest of us
on his journey, asking us all "what is the work for
us to do in our short time here." I am the President. But he is The Boss. (laughter) And pushing 70, he's still
laying down four-hour live sets -- if you have been
at them, he is working. "Fire-breathing rock 'n'
roll." So I thought twice about giving him a medal
named for freedom because we hope he remains, in his
words, a "prisoner of rock 'n' roll" for years to come. So, I told you, this is
like a really good class. (laughter) Ladies and gentlemen, I want
you all to give it up for the recipients of the 2016
Presidential Medal of Freedom. (applause) It is a good group. All right. Now we actually got
to give them medals. So please be patient. We are going to have my
military aide read the citations. Each one of them will come
up and receive the medals, and then we'll wrap
up the program. Okay. Let's hit it. Military Aide:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. (applause) An iconic basketball player
who revolutionized the sport with his all-around play and
signature skyhook, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a 19-time
All-Star, a 6-time world champion, and the leading
scorer in NBA history. Adding to his achievements
on the court he also left his mark off of it,
advocating for civil rights, cancer research, science
education, and social justice. In doing so, Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar leaves a towering legacy of
compassion, faith, and service to others -- a
legacy based not only on the strength and grace of his
athleticism, but on the sharpness of his mind and
the size of his heart. (applause) Turk Cobell, accepting
on behalf of his mother, Elouise C. Cobell Yellowbird Woman. (applause) A member of the Blackfeet
Nation, Elouise Cobell spent her life defying the odds
and working on behalf of her people. As a young woman, she was
told that she wasn't capable of understanding accounting. So she mastered the field --
and used her expertise to champion a lawsuit whose
historic settlement has helped restore Tribal
homelands to her beloved Blackfeet Nation and
many other Tribes. Today, her tenacious and
unwavering spirit lives on in the thousands of people
and hundreds of Tribes for whom she fought and in all
those she taught to believe that it is never too late to
right the wrongs of the past and help shape
a better future. (applause) Ellen DeGeneres. (applause) In a career spanning three
decades, Ellen DeGeneres has lifted our spirits and
brought joy to our lives as a stand-up comic, actor,
and television star. In every role, she reminds
us to be kind to one another and to treat people as each
of us wants to be treated. At a pivotal moment, her
courage and candor helped change the hearts and minds
of millions of Americans, accelerating our Nation's
constant drive toward equality and
acceptance for all. Again and again, Ellen
DeGeneres has shown us that a single individual can make
the world a more fun, more open, more loving place --
so long as we "just keep swimming." (applause) Robert De Niro. (applause) For over 50 years, Robert De
Niro has delivered some of screen's most memorable
performances, cementing his place as one of the most
gifted actors of his generation. From "The Godfather Part II"
and "The Deer Hunter" to "Midnight Run" and "Heat,"
his work is legendary for its range and depth. Relentlessly committed to
his craft, De Niro embodies his characters, creating
rich, nuanced portraits that reflect the heart of
the human experience. Regardless of genre or era,
Robert De Niro continues to demonstrate that
extraordinary skill that has made him one of America's
most revered and influential artists. (applause) Richard L. Garwin. (applause) One of the most renowned
scientific and engineering minds of our time,
Dr. Richard Garwin has always answered the call to
help solve society's most challenging problems. He has coupled his
pioneering work in defense and intelligence
technologies with leadership that underscores the urgency
for humanity to control the spread of nuclear arms. Through his advice to
Republican and Democratic administrations dating to
President Eisenhower, his contributions in fundamental
research, and his inventions that power technologies that
drive our modern world, Richard Garwin has
contributed not only to this Nation's security and
prosperity, but to the quality of life for people
all over the world. (applause) William H. Gates III and Melinda French Gates. (applause) Few people have had the
profound global impact of Bill and Melinda Gates. Through their work at the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, they've
demonstrated how the most capable and fortunate among
us have a responsibility to use their talents and
resources to tackle the world's greatest challenges. From helping women and girls
lift themselves and their families out of poverty
to empowering young minds across America, they have
transformed countless lives with their generosity
and innovation. Bill and Melinda Gates
continue to inspire us with their impatient optimism
that, together, we can remake the world
as it should be. (applause) Frank Gehry. (applause) Never limited by
conventional materials, styles, or processes, Frank
Gehry's bold and thoughtful structures demonstrate
architecture's power to induce wonder and
revitalize communities. A creative mind from an
early age, he began his career by building imaginary
homes and cities with scrap material from his
grandfather's hardware store. Since then, his work
continues to strike a balance between
experimentation and functionality, resulting in
some of the 20th century's most iconic buildings. From his pioneering use of
technology to the dozens of awe-inspiring sites that
bear his signature style to his public service as a
citizen artist through his work with Turnaround Arts,
Frank Gehry has proven himself an exemplar scholar
of American innovation. (applause) Margaret Heafield Hamilton. (applause) A pioneer in technology,
Margaret Hamilton defined new forms of software
engineering and helped launch an industry that
would forever change human history. Her software architecture
led to giant leaps for humankind, writing the code
that helped America set foot on the moon. She broke barriers in
founding her own software businesses, revolutionizing
an industry and inspiring countless women to
participate in STEM fields. Her love of exploration and
innovation are the source code of the American spirit,
and her genius has inspired generations to
reach for the stars. (applause) Thomas J. Hanks. (applause) Throughout a distinguished
film career, Tom Hanks has revealed the character of
America, as well as his own. Portraying war heroes, an
astronaut, a ship captain, a cartoon cowboy, a young man
growing up too fast, and dozens of others, he's
allowed us to see ourselves -- not only as we are,
but as we aspire to be. On screen and off, Tom Hanks
has honored the sacrifices of those who have served our
Nation, called on us all to think big and to believe,
and inspired a new generation of young people
to reach for the sky. (laughter and applause) Deborah Murray, accepting on
behalf of her great aunt, Grace Murray Hopper. (applause) As a child who loved
disassembling alarm clocks, Rear Admiral Grace Murray
Hopper found her calling early. A Vassar alumna with a Ph.D. in mathematics from Yale,
Hopper served in the Navy during World War II,
becoming one of the first programmers in
early computing. Known today as the "Queen of
Code," Grace Hopper's work helped make the coding
language more practical and accessible. She invented the first
compiler, or translator, a fundamental element of
our now digital world. "Amazing Grace" was
committed to making the language of computer
programming more universal. Today, we honor her
contributions to computer science and the sense of
possibility she inspired in generations of young people. (applause) Michael J. Jordan. (laughter and applause) Powered by a drive to
compete that earned him every major award in
basketball, including six NBA championships, five Most
Valuable Player awards, and two gold medals, Michael
Jordan has a name that's become a synonym
for excellence. His wagging tongue and
high-flying dunks redefined the game, making him a
global superstar whose impact transcended
basketball and shaped our Nation's broader culture. From the courts in
Wilmington, Chapel Hill, and Chicago to the owner's suite
he occupies today, his life and example have inspired
millions of Americans to strive to "Be Like Mike." (applause) Maya Y. Lin. (applause) Boldly challenging our
understanding of the world, Maya Lin's designs have
brought people of all walks of life together in
spirits of remembrance, introspection, and humility. The manipulation of natural
terrain and topography within her works inspires us
to bridge our differences and recognize the gravity of
our collective existence. Her pieces have changed the
landscape of our country and influenced the dialogue of
our society -- never more profoundly than with her
tribute to the Americans who fell in Vietnam by cutting
a wound into the Earth to create a sacred place of
healing in our Nation's capital. (applause) Lorne Michaels. (applause) One of the most
transformative entertainment figures of our time, Lorne
Michaels followed his dreams to New York City, where he
created a sketch show that brought satire, wits, and
modern comedy to homes around the world. Under his meticulous command
as executive producer, "Saturday Night Live" has
entertained audiences across generations, reflecting --
and shaping -- critical elements of our cultural,
political, and national life. Lorne Michaels' creative
legacy stretches into late-night television,
sitcoms, and the big screen, making us laugh, challenging
us to think, and raising the bar for those who follow. As one of his show's
signature characters would say, "Well, isn't
that special?" (laughter and applause) Newton N. Minow. (applause) As a soldier, counsel to
the Governor of Illinois, Chairman of the Federal
Communications Commission, and law clerk to the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court, Newton Minow's career
has been defined by his devotion to others. Deeply committed to his
family, the law, and the American people, his
dedication to serving and empowering the public is
reflected in his efforts to ensure that broadcast media
educates and provides opportunity for all. Challenging the media to
better serve their viewers, his staunch commitment to
the power of ideas and information has transformed
telecommunications and its influential role
in our society. (applause) Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón. (applause) As a teenage refugee from
Cuba, Eduardo Padrón came to the United States to pursue
the American Dream, and he has spent his life making
that dream real for others. As president of the
community college he once attended, his thoughtful
leadership and commitment to education have transformed
Miami Dade College into one of the premier learning
institutions in the country, earning him praise
around the world. His personal story and
lasting professional influence prove that success
need not be determined by our background, but by our
dedication to others and our passion for creating America
that is as inclusive as it is prosperous. (applause) Robert Redford. (applause) Robert Redford has
captivated audiences from both sides of the camera
through entertaining motion pictures that often explore
vital social, political, and historical themes. His lifelong advocacy on
behalf of preserving our environment will prove as
an enduring legacy as his award-winning films, as will
his pioneering support for independent filmmakers
across America. His art and activism
continue to shape our Nation's cultural heritage,
inspiring millions to laugh, cry, think, and change. (applause) Diana Ross. (laughter and applause) A daughter of Detroit, Diana
Ross helped create the sound of Motown with
her iconic voice. From her groundbreaking work
with The Supremes to a solo career that has spanned
decades, she has influenced generations of young artists
and shaped our Nation's musical landscape. In addition to a GRAMMY©
Lifetime Achievement Award and countless musical
accolades, Diana Ross has distinguished herself as
an actor, earning an Oscar nomination and a
Golden Globe Award. With over 25 albums,
unforgettable hit singles, and live performances that
continue to captivate audiences around the world,
Diana Ross still reigns supreme. (applause) Next up, Vin Scully. (laughter and applause) With a voice that
transcended a sport and transformed a profession,
Vin Scully narrated America's pastime for
generations of fans. Known to millions as the
soundtrack of summer, he found time to teach us
about life and love while chronicling routine plays
and historic heroics. In victory and in defeat,
his colorful accounts reverberated through the
bleachers, across the airwaves, and into our
homes and imaginations. He is an American treasure
and a beloved storyteller, and our country's gratitude
for Vin Scully is as profound as his
love for the game. (applause) Bruce F. Springsteen. (applause) As a songwriter, a
humanitarian, America's Rock and Roll laureate, and
New Jersey's greatest ambassador, Bruce
Springsteen is, quite simply, The Boss. (laughter) Through stories about
ordinary people, from Vietnam veterans to steel
workers, his songs capture the pain and the promise of
the American experience. With his legendary E Street
Band, Bruce Springsteen leaves everything on stage
in epic, communal live performances that have
rocked audiences for decades. With empathy and honesty, he
holds up a mirror to who we are -- as Americans chasing
our dreams, and as human beings trying to
do the right thing. There's a place for everyone
in Bruce Springsteen's America. (applause) Cicely Tyson. (applause) For sixty years, Cicely
Tyson has graced the screen and the stage, enlightening
us with her groundbreaking characters and calls to
conscience, humility, and hope. Her achievements as an
actor, her devotion to her faith, and her commitment to
advancing equality for all Americans-especially women
of color -- have touched audiences of multiple
generations. From "The Autobiography
of Miss Jane Pittman," to "Sounder," to "The Trip to
Bountiful," Cicely Tyson's performances illuminate the
character of our people and the extraordinary
possibilities of America. (applause) The President: So, just on a
personal note, part of the reason that these events are
so special to me is because everybody on this stage
has touched me in a very powerful, personal way --
in ways that they probably couldn't imagine. Whether it was having been
inspired by a song, or a game, or a story, or a film,
or a monument, or in the case of Newt Minow
introducing me to Michelle -- (laughter) -- these are folks who have
helped make me who I am and think about my presidency,
and what also makes them special is, this is America. And it's useful when you
think about this incredible collection of people to
realize that this is what makes us the greatest
nation on Earth. Not because of what we -- (applause) Not because of our
differences, but because, in our difference, we find
something common to share. And what a glorious
thing that is. What a great gift
that is to America. So I want all of you
to enjoy the wonderful reception that will be
taking place afterwards. Michelle and I have to get
back to work, unfortunately, but I hear the food
is pretty good. (laughter) And I would like all of you
to give one big rousing round of applause to our
2016 honorees for the Presidential
Medal of Freedom. Give it up. (applause)
